Latest / The Songhai Empire: Africa's Powerful Forgotten Kingdom — Fexingo History
Ali Fulan: The Slave Who Became Songhai's Greatest General
Askia Muhammad's most trusted commander wasn't a noble-born farari — he was a slave. Ali Fulan rose from bondage to lead the epic campaigns that transformed Songhai into an empire. This episode traces his improbable career: his capture as a child, his military genius on display at the Battle of Anfao, and his controversial governorship of Taghaza. We explore how the Tarikh al-Sudan and Tarikh al-Fattash remember him, the question of his ethnicity (Fulani? Soninke?), and why he was ultimately sidelined by the very dynasty he built. A story of ambition, loyalty, and the thin line…
The skinny
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