Ali (of Songhai)

Ali (of Songhai), called Sunni Ali (died 1492), ruler of Songhai (1464-1492), who transformed his small inherited kingdom, centered at Gao (in modern Mali), into the most powerful empire of West Africa; his entire reign was occupied with conquests and punitive expeditions. A superb strategist who made skillful use of both cavalry and river flotillas, he drove the Tuaregs out of Tombouctou in 1468, crippled the resistance of the powerful Mossi and Dogon tribes, and, after a seven-year siege captured Djenné in 1471. At the time of his death, his realm extended some 3218 km (some 2000 mi) along the Niger River.

Although professing Islam, Sunni Ali ruled essentially as an African magician-king and ruthlessly persecuted Muslim scholars, whom he saw as a threat to the African nature of his empire. Administratively, he divided his territory into provinces under trusted governors and organized the traditional African cults in the service of the state. His fleet patrolled the Niger, keeping trade routes open and securing the peace, and restive tribes were kept in check. He died under mysterious circumstances while returning from a campaign.