Latest / The Songhai Empire: Africa's Powerful Forgotten Kingdom — Fexingo History
Songhai's Slave Soldiers: The Farari Corps of Askia Muhammad
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the elite slave soldier corps of the Songhai Empire, the farari, who served as bodyguards and enforcers for Askia Muhammad Toure. Learn how these warriors, drawn from conquered peoples and trained from childhood, formed a loyal counterweight to traditional clan armies. The discussion covers their recruitment, training, equipment, and role in suppressing rebellions, as well as the moral complexities of a system where enslaved men held immense power. Drawing on accounts from Leo Africanus and the Tarikh al-Sudan, the episode examines how the farari helped…
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