Latest / The Songhai Empire: Africa's Powerful Forgotten Kingdom — Fexingo History
Songhai's Iron Revolution: The Master Blacksmiths of the Sahel
In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore the vital role of blacksmiths in the Songhai Empire, focusing on the ironworking traditions of the Mande and other Sahelian peoples. They discuss how master smiths, known as numu or garas among the Songhai, forged not only tools and weapons but also social and spiritual power. Learn about the iron-smelting techniques that produced high-quality steel in furnaces up to 2 meters tall, using locally mined iron ore from regions like the Djenne and the Tondibi escarpment. Discover how the Askia dynasty controlled iron production, taxed…
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