Sonni Ali facts for kids

Sonni Ali, also known as Si Ali or Sonni Ali Ber (which means "the Great"), was a very important ruler of the Songhai Empire. He ruled from about 1464 to 1492. During his time, he transformed a smaller kingdom into a powerful empire. He did this by taking control of key cities and regions like Timbuktu, Massina, the Inner Niger Delta, and Djenne. He was the 15th ruler from the Sunni dynasty.

Early Life and Background

Sonni Ali was the son of Sonni Muhammad Da'o, who was also a ruler. His mother came from Fara, a region with many traditional beliefs. Sonni Ali grew up learning about these traditions. He also received an Islamic education. He combined different beliefs in his own way.

Building the Songhai Empire

When Sonni Ali became ruler, the Songhai kingdom already controlled parts of the Niger river area. His first big achievement was taking over the ancient city of Timbuktu. This city had been controlled by the Tuareg people. In 1469, the leader of Timbuktu asked Sonni Ali for help. Sonni Ali took control and made some changes, especially regarding the scholars in Timbuktu, as he felt they were connected to the Tuareg.

Sonni Ali built a strong navy of boats on the Niger River. In 1473, he used this navy to surround the city of Djenne. The city eventually gave up after running out of food. He even tried to dig a very long canal to reach another city called Walata with his boats. However, he had to stop this project in 1483. This was because he needed to fight off an attack from the Mossi people. He also took control of other areas, like the lands of the Sanhaja called Nunu and the lands of Kunta. He wanted to conquer Borgu too, but he couldn't.

Ruling the Empire

Besides fighting outside enemies, Sonni Ali also had to deal with groups like the Fulani of Massina who sometimes raided within his borders. His main capital city was Gao. However, he moved his base to other places like Kukiya, Kabara, and Tindirma when he was leading his armies.

Sonni Ali ruled over people with different beliefs. This included Muslims in cities and people with traditional beliefs in the countryside. He himself followed some traditional African beliefs while also practicing Islam. He observed Islamic prayers, fasted, and gave to charity as Muslims do. Some historical writings criticized Sonni Ali. However, these were often written by people who supported the new rulers who took over after his family.

The End of His Reign and Succession

Sonni Ali died on November 6, 1492. How he died is not fully clear. One historical account, the Tarikh al-Sudan, says he drowned while crossing the Niger River. Another story, passed down through generations, suggests he was killed by his sister's son, Askia Muhammad Ture.

After Sonni Ali's death, his son, Sunni Baru, became king. However, Askia challenged Sunni Baru for the throne. Askia believed Sunni Baru was not a strong enough Muslim leader. Eventually, Askia defeated Sunni Baru and became the new ruler of the Songhai Empire.

See also

In Spanish: Sonni Alí para niños