The Songhai (also Songhay, Songhaytarey ([soŋaj]), ([soŋaj-tah-ʀai̯])) is an area in the northwestern corner of
Niger'sTillabéri Region populated mainly by the
Songhaiborai. [1] It is considered the heartland of the Songhai people and the sanctuary of their ancient pantheon and priestly class and the place in which the original lineage of the
Sonni dynasty retreated after the coup d'etat of 1493 creating a secret society of magicians, the
Sohance.[2][3][4][5]
History
The
Songhay Empire grew out of a polity that was formed in this region of present-day Niger. This polity flourished in present-day
Mali and replaced the
Mali Empire as the major
West Sudanese power with its capital as
Gao. After being vanquished by incursions from Morocco, the Songhay state withdrew to its original homeland which is this region.
The first settlers to move back here from
Gao were the
Sonni dynasty in 1493 followed by the
Askia dynasty in 1591 who also settled
here and further south in the
Dendiganda and established smaller kingdoms after the invasion of the Songhai Empire by the Saadi dynasty of Morocco.[6]: 445 [7][8]
The nobles of the towns in this region trace their ancestry to two groups of Songhay nobility: the Si or Sonni Hamey (offspring of
Sonni Ali Ber) and Mamar Hamey (offspring of Mamar or Maamar, that being the vernacular name of
Askia Mohammad I).[9] The primary dialect spoken in this region is
Songhoyboro Ciine.[10][11][12][13]
^Bornand, Sandra (2005),
Le discours du griot généalogiste chez les Zarma du Niger, Volume 1, KARTHALA Editions, pp. 59 "Ce phénomène s'explique probablement par sa double origine: son père et sa mere sont originaires du pays sonay et c'est avec son pére qu'il a appris sa profession" and Page 171 "Cet instrument ne se trouve qu'en pays sonay, plus précisément vers Koulikoira",
ISBN9782845866256, retrieved 2021-04-27
^Levtzion, Nehemia (2007). "The Western Maghrib and Sudan". In Roland Oliver (ed.). The Cambridge History of Africa. Vol. 3. Cambridge University. pp. 331–462.