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The Sorko River Fleet: Songhai's Naval Power
While Timbuktu is known for its scholars, the true engine of the Songhai Empire was the Niger River itself. This episode explores the Sorko people, a distinct ethnic group who served as Songhai’s elite naval warriors and fishermen. Under Sonni Ali Ber, the Sorko developed the hiyo, a massive war canoe capable of carrying hundreds of soldiers, allowing the empire to conquer key cities like Timbuktu and Djenné through rapid riverine assaults. We examine how their mastery of water law, river navigation, and guerrilla tactics on the water made them indispensable to Askia Muhammad’s military…
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