Askia Muhammad's Reforms: The Empire That Ran on Paper

The Songhai Empire: Africa's Powerful Forgotten Kingdom — Fexingo History · Apr 24, 2026 · 5m

In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into the administrative and religious reforms of Askia Muhammad, who transformed Songhai from a warring kingdom into a bureaucratic empire. We explore his pilgrimage to Mecca, his adoption of the title 'Caliph of the Sudan,' the creation of a standing navy on the Niger River, and the establishment of a standardized tax system. We also look at the role of scholars like Ahmed Baba, the organization of the Sankore Madrasa, and how Songhai became a center of Islamic learning rivaling Cairo. Along the way, we discuss the controversial enslavement of…