Sonni Dynasty

The Sonni are a sovereign group or dynasty of Songhai eich, which traces its origin back to the Wangara, ie Mande.

The Sonni separated from the Za in Gao, the capital of the Songhai eich after they had called around 1300 AD, the Keita of Mali Empire to help. They retreated then back to the 150 Km Niger downstream Kukiya. When Mali was rocked in the late 14th century by disputes about the succession, they started with the support of mounted warriors of the Songhai a grueling guerilla warfare against the Za- ruler of Gao. They eventually sold the Za from Gao and sat under Sulayman Dama their attacks against Mali until after Mema, southwest of Timbuktu, continued.

The greatest ruler of the Sonni was Sunni Ali ( 1465-1492 ). With the help of the Songhai he conquered the vast territory between Jenne and Kebbi and thus became the founder of the Songhai eich. His son and successor Sonni Baru was defeated in 1493 by Askia Muhammad at the Battle of Ankagho at Gao. Then the members of the Sonni ruler group had to flee to get out of range of Askia in safety. Their descendants are the Sohance, which today finds as a magician in Tendirma, southwest of Timbuktu, and northwest of Tillabéry.

Bibliography

• Adam KONARE Ba: Sonni Ali Ber, Niamey 1977 ( here p 27-37 ).
• Dierk Lange: Ancient Kingdoms of West Africa, Dettelbach 2004 ( here p 495-544 ).
• Jean Rouch: Contribution à l' histoire Songhay, Dakar 1953.

• Dynasty
• History ( Mali)