Sonni Ali, also known as Sonni Ali Ber or Sunni Ali Ber or "Sunni Ali", who reigned from about 1464 to 1492, was the first great king of the Songhai Empire, located on the continent of Africa and the 15th ruler of the Sonni dynasty. Under Sonni Ali's infantry and cavalry, Songhai extended to cover a great portion of the Niger River area and gained control of crucial trading areas such as Timbuktu (conquered in 1468) and Jenne (conquered in 1475). He also made a great Navy to patrol the Niger river. During Sonni Ali's reign, Songhai surpassed the height of the Mali Empire, engulfing areas under the Mali Empire (and the Ghana Empire before it).On November 6, 1492, Sunni Ali's horse slipped and fell into the Koni River, Ali and his horse were swept over the falls and drowned.[1] Sonni conducted a repressive policy against the scholars of Timbuktu, especially those of the Sankore region who were associated with the Tuareg that Ali expelled to gain control of the city.
| Preceded by Silman Dandi |
King of Songhai 1464–1492 |
Succeeded by Sunni Baru |
External links
- Kingdoms of the Medieval Sudan - Xavier University
- [http://www.africanholocaust.net/africanlegends.htm Ancient African Legends
