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The Songhai people are a ethnic group in West Africa. The Songhai lived around Gao (present day Mali) and were under the power of the Mali empire since the 13th century.
In 1464, Sonni Ali declared himself emperor of the Songhai empire and conquered Timbuktu (1468) and Djenne (1475). In 1492 he died and was succeeded by his son, who was soon deposed by one of his father’s generals, Askia the Great, in 1493.
Askia the Great reigned until 1528. Several monarchs succeeded from this dynasty up to Askia Daoud, up to Askia Ishaq II. During his reign, the Morrocan al-Mansur invaded the Songhai empire.
The fought at the Battle of Tondibi in which Ishaq II capitulated in 1591. The Saadians decided that controlling the Songhai empire was too much and left. The empire dissolved into small states.
The Songhai people today live predominantly in Mali and Niger.