Sonni Dynasty
Encyclopedia
The Sonni Dynasty or Sunni Dynasty was a dynasty of rulers of the Songhai Empire
of medieval West Africa. The first ruler of the dynasty, Sunni Ali Kulun probably reigned at the end of the fourteenth century. The last ruler, Sonni Baru
, ruled until 1493 when the throne was usurped by the Askiya Muhammad I
, the founder of the Askiya Dynasty
.
describe the history of the Songhay people and provide lists of their rulers. The Tarikh al-Sudan gives a list of the earlier rulers of Za Dynasty
whose mythical founder Za Alayaman lived before the 10th century and the arrival of Islam. Both chronicles provide details on Ali Kulun (or Ali Golom) the founder of the Sunni dynasty. He revolted against the hegemony of the Malian Empire. A date is not given in the chronicles but the comment in the Tarikh al-fattash that the fifth ruler was in power at time when Mansa Musa
made his pilgrimage suggests that Ali Kulun reigned around the end of the 14th century.
Both chronicles associate Ali Kulun (or Ali Golom) with the Malian court. The Tarikh al-Sudan relates that his father was Za Yasoboy, and as a son of a subordinate ruler of the Malian Empire, he had to serve the sultan of Mali.
The chronicles do not specify where the early rulers lived. As there is evidence that Gao
remained under Malian control until the early fifteenth century, it is probably that the early Sunni rulers controlled a region to the south, with the town of Kukiya possibly serving as their capital. As the economic strength of Mali Empire relied on controlling routes across the Sahara, it would not have been necessary to control the area to the south of Gao.
Al-Sadi, the author of the Tarikh al-Sudan uses the word Sunni or Sonni for the name of the dynasty while the Tarikh al-fattash uses the forms chi and si'i. The word may have a Malinke
origin meaning "a subordinate or confidant of the ruler".
Under the rule of Sunni Sulayman, the Songhai captured the Mema region to the west of Lake Débo
. His successor, Sunni Ali
, greatly expanded the territory under Sunni control. The dynasty ended in April 1493 when Sunni Bakr Dao
was defeated in battle against Askiya Muhammad I
.
The two chronicles agree on the first and last rulers of the dynasty, but differ on the number and order of the intervening rulers.
. The surviving Arabic manuscripts differ both in the spelling and the vocalization of the names. This may be partly due to the difficulty of representing Songhay
(or proto-Songhay) sounds in Arabic and perhaps also due to different Songhay dialects. Not all the names are listed in all the surviving manuscripts.
Songhai Empire
The Songhai Empire, also known as the Songhay Empire, was a state located in western Africa. From the early 15th to the late 16th century, Songhai was one of the largest Islamic empires in history. This empire bore the same name as its leading ethnic group, the Songhai. Its capital was the city...
of medieval West Africa. The first ruler of the dynasty, Sunni Ali Kulun probably reigned at the end of the fourteenth century. The last ruler, Sonni Baru
Sonni Baru
Sonni Bāru, also known as Sonni Abū Bakr Dao was the 16th and last king of the Sonni Dynasty to rule over the Songhai Empire located in west Africa. His rule was very short, from November 1492 to April 1493. The dates of his birth and death are unknown....
, ruled until 1493 when the throne was usurped by the Askiya Muhammad I
Askia Mohammad I
Askia the Great was a Soninke emperor of the Songhai Empire in the late 15th century, the successor of Sunni Ali Ber. Askia Muhammad strengthened his country and made it the largest country in West Africa's history...
, the founder of the Askiya Dynasty
Askiya Dynasty
The Askiya Dynasty, also known as the Askia Dynasty, ruled the Songhai Empire at the height of that state's power. It was founded in 1493 by Askia Mohammad I, a general of the Songhai Empire who usurped the Sonni Dynasty. The Askiya ruled from Gao over the vast Songhai Empire until its defeat by a...
.
Sources
The seventeenth century chronicles, the Tarikh al-Sudan and the Tarikh al-fattashTarikh al-fattash
The Tarikh al-fattash is a chronicle written in Arabic in the second half of the 17th century. It provides an account of the Songhay Empire from the reign of Sonni Ali up to 1599 with a few references to events in the following century. The chronicle also mentions the earlier Mali Empire. Octave...
describe the history of the Songhay people and provide lists of their rulers. The Tarikh al-Sudan gives a list of the earlier rulers of Za Dynasty
Za Dynasty
The Za Dynasty or Zuwa Dynasty were rulers of a kingdom based in the towns of Kukiya and Gao on the Niger River in what is today modern Mali.-Oral history and the Tarikh al-Sudan:...
whose mythical founder Za Alayaman lived before the 10th century and the arrival of Islam. Both chronicles provide details on Ali Kulun (or Ali Golom) the founder of the Sunni dynasty. He revolted against the hegemony of the Malian Empire. A date is not given in the chronicles but the comment in the Tarikh al-fattash that the fifth ruler was in power at time when Mansa Musa
Mansa Musa
Musa I , commonly referred to as Mansa Musa, was the tenth mansa, which translates as "king of kings" or "emperor", of the Malian Empire...
made his pilgrimage suggests that Ali Kulun reigned around the end of the 14th century.
Both chronicles associate Ali Kulun (or Ali Golom) with the Malian court. The Tarikh al-Sudan relates that his father was Za Yasoboy, and as a son of a subordinate ruler of the Malian Empire, he had to serve the sultan of Mali.
The chronicles do not specify where the early rulers lived. As there is evidence that Gao
Gao
Gao is a town in eastern Mali on the River Niger lying ESE of Timbuktu. Situated on the left bank of the river at the junction with the Tilemsi valley, it is the capital of the Gao Region and had a population of 86,663 in 2009....
remained under Malian control until the early fifteenth century, it is probably that the early Sunni rulers controlled a region to the south, with the town of Kukiya possibly serving as their capital. As the economic strength of Mali Empire relied on controlling routes across the Sahara, it would not have been necessary to control the area to the south of Gao.
Al-Sadi, the author of the Tarikh al-Sudan uses the word Sunni or Sonni for the name of the dynasty while the Tarikh al-fattash uses the forms chi and si'i. The word may have a Malinke
Mande languages
The Mande languages are spoken in several countries in West Africa by the Mandé people and include Mandinka, Soninke, Bambara, Bissa, Dioula, Kagoro, Bozo, Mende, Susu, Yacouba, Vai, and Ligbi...
origin meaning "a subordinate or confidant of the ruler".
Under the rule of Sunni Sulayman, the Songhai captured the Mema region to the west of Lake Débo
Lake Débo
Lake Débo is a lake in central part of Mali, formed by the seasonal flooding of the Niger River basin.-Extent:Lake Débo, at its greatest extent, lies around 80 km from Mopti on its upstream end and 240 km from Timbuktu at its downstream end. It is the largest of many such seasonal wetlands and...
. His successor, Sunni Ali
Sonni Ali
Sonni Ali, also known as Sunni Ali Ber or "Sunni Ali", was born Ali Kolon. He reigned from about 1464 to 1492. Sunni Ali was the first king of the Songhai Empire, located in west Africa and the 15th ruler of the Sonni dynasty...
, greatly expanded the territory under Sunni control. The dynasty ended in April 1493 when Sunni Bakr Dao
Sonni Baru
Sonni Bāru, also known as Sonni Abū Bakr Dao was the 16th and last king of the Sonni Dynasty to rule over the Songhai Empire located in west Africa. His rule was very short, from November 1492 to April 1493. The dates of his birth and death are unknown....
was defeated in battle against Askiya Muhammad I
Askia Mohammad I
Askia the Great was a Soninke emperor of the Songhai Empire in the late 15th century, the successor of Sunni Ali Ber. Askia Muhammad strengthened his country and made it the largest country in West Africa's history...
.
The two chronicles agree on the first and last rulers of the dynasty, but differ on the number and order of the intervening rulers.
Rulers according to the Tarikh al-Sudan
The names with their diacritics listed below are those given in the translation of the Tarikh al-Sudan from Arabic into English by John HunwickJohn Hunwick
John Owen Hunwick is a noted professor, author, Africanist. He has published several books, articles and journals in the African Studies field. He is currently Professor Emeritus at Northwestern University having retired in 2004 after 23 years of service.-Biography:Born 1936 in Chard, Somerset, in...
. The surviving Arabic manuscripts differ both in the spelling and the vocalization of the names. This may be partly due to the difficulty of representing Songhay
Songhay languages
The Songhay, Songhai, or Songai languages are a group of closely related languages/dialects centered on the middle stretches of the Niger River in the west African states of Mali, Niger, Benin, Burkina Faso, and Nigeria. They have been widely used as a lingua franca in that region ever since the...
(or proto-Songhay) sounds in Arabic and perhaps also due to different Songhay dialects. Not all the names are listed in all the surviving manuscripts.
- Sunni ʿAlī Kulun (probably ruled early in 14th century)
- Sunni Silman Nāri (brother of ʿAlī Kulun)
- Sunni Ibrāhīm Kabay
- Sunni ʿUthmān Kanafa
- Sunni Bār Kayna Ankabī
- Sunni Mūsā
- Sunni Bukar Zunku
- Sunni Bukar Dala Buyunbu
- Sunni Mār Kiray
- Sunni Muḥammad Dao
- Sunni Muḥammad Kūkiyā
- Sunni Muḥammad Fār
- Sunni K.r.bīf
- Sunni Mār Fī Kuli Jim
- Sunni Mār Ar Kayna
- Sunni Mār Aranda
- Sunni Sulaymān
- Sunni ʿAlīSonni AliSonni Ali, also known as Sunni Ali Ber or "Sunni Ali", was born Ali Kolon. He reigned from about 1464 to 1492. Sunni Ali was the first king of the Songhai Empire, located in west Africa and the 15th ruler of the Sonni dynasty...
(ruled 1464-1492) - Sunni Bāru or Bukar DāoSonni BaruSonni Bāru, also known as Sonni Abū Bakr Dao was the 16th and last king of the Sonni Dynasty to rule over the Songhai Empire located in west Africa. His rule was very short, from November 1492 to April 1493. The dates of his birth and death are unknown....
(ruled 1492-1493)
Rulers according to the Tarikh al-fattash
The names with their diacritics listed below are those given in the translation of Tarikh al-fattash from the Arabic into French by Octave Houdas.- Sunni Ali-Golom (revolted from Mali c. 1275 during the reign of Mansa Khalifa)
- Sunni Silman-Nâri
- Sunni Ibrâhîm-Kabayao
- Sunni Ousmân-Guifo
- Sunni Mâkara-Komsoû (on throne in 1321-1322)
- Sunni Boubakar-Katiya
- Sunni Ankada Doukourou
- Sunni Kimi-Yankoï-Moûssa
- Sunni Bâro-Dal-Yomho
- Sunni Mâdao
- Sunni Mohammed Koûkiya
- Sunni Mohammed-Fâri
- Sunni Balam
- Sunni Souleïmân-Dâma
- Sunni AliSonni AliSonni Ali, also known as Sunni Ali Ber or "Sunni Ali", was born Ali Kolon. He reigned from about 1464 to 1492. Sunni Ali was the first king of the Songhai Empire, located in west Africa and the 15th ruler of the Sonni dynasty...
(ruled 1464-1492) - Sunni BâroSonni BaruSonni Bāru, also known as Sonni Abū Bakr Dao was the 16th and last king of the Sonni Dynasty to rule over the Songhai Empire located in west Africa. His rule was very short, from November 1492 to April 1493. The dates of his birth and death are unknown....
(ruled 1492-1493)