The Songhai Empire and its role in the spreading of Islam in Western Africa

Abstract

This paper propose itself reflexing around the reasons by which took place the gradually islamisation of Western Africa. This, as it is logical, will not be done studying the historical evolution of this region overall but has been selected as an example The Songhai Empire.This empire was, probably together with the Empire of Mali, the most poweful with respect to territorial domination, area of influence and spreading of islamic values. In fact, related to the last one of the aspects, it was the most important. However, in spite of its later relevance, originally it was restricted to a territory nearby Gao, and step by step, it started to expand itself and impose on its main rivals, as well as the aforementioned Empire of Mali. Finally, all about its political, territorial, religious, economical influences, and so on, did not translate into an adoption by Sudanese of an islamic ortodox visión, but it was dominated by the coexistance between animists and muslim elements. The last one is the most important nowadays in the region.