{"id":520,"date":"2020-12-25T01:36:41","date_gmt":"2020-12-25T01:36:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/oweb.babelos.net\/?p=520"},"modified":"2020-12-25T01:36:41","modified_gmt":"2020-12-25T01:36:41","slug":"songhay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oweb.babelos.net\/?p=520","title":{"rendered":"Songhay"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Hey There! Aran Kani baani?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, I just greeted you in the Songhay language, want to learn more about the Songhay language and its people and culture? Then you\u2019re probably reading the right article, because at the end of the article, you will learn some greetings of the Songhay language, so let\u2019s start!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0As an ancient language, the Songhay language can be traced back to the 15th and 16th century. It is predominantly centered on the middle reach of the Niger river, which is in today\u2019s climes is called Mali. It extends its territory through the West African region. It was known to be one of the enormous states in African history.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

WHO ARE THE SONGHAI ?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The name \u201cSonghay\u201d, originated from its leading ethnic group and rulers, \u201cthe Songhai\u201d. It was historically recorded that people had settled in the city of Gao around 800 ce but didn\u2019t regard it as their capital.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Historians have argued\u00a0 that Sonni Ali<\/em> who ruled in 1464 – 1494 was the first emperor ruler of the Songhay empire, although\u00a0 in the 11th century, the people of Songhay were ruled by <\/em><\/strong>dia Kossoi<\/em> – an Islam convert.During Kossi\u2019s reign, Gao was officially made the capital of the Songhay empire and\u00a0 there were series of alterations and changes – favourable or not,\u00a0 that was brought to an end by the famous Sonni \u2018Ali<\/em> also known as \u2018Ali Ber in the year 1464 when he became ruler. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He is remembered for his various victories and is known today as the most famous ruler of the Songhay kingdom , who gave it so much dominance and power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He took over major cities like Timbuktu in 1468 and Djenne in 1475. After 30 years of peaceful and coordinated ruling,\u00a0 Songhai empire was passed on to his successor and son, Sonni Baru who didn\u2019t live up to expectations;\u00a0 This consequently led to the usurping of the empire by one of his father\u2019s then-general; Muhammad Ture<\/em> (1493 -1528), who instituted political and economical reforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SONGHAY LANGUAGE: The Mutual Intelligibility<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Songhay languages are closely related so much so that most of them are said to be mutually intelligible<\/em> between each other( there are no distinct differences in their dialect). These languages are majorly centred around the Niger River in major West African countries such as; Mali, Niger, Benin, Burkina Faso and Nigeria, Precisely spoken in the cities of Gao and Timbuktu, there are several dialects of Songhay language. Researchers and Linguists have classified the Songhay languages as Nilo-Saharan<\/em>. Even in their similarity, researchers have divided the songhay language into Southern and Northern songhay .\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zarma is the most widely spoken language in the Southern songhay language branch with two to three million speakers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is also interesting to note that, due to colonial influences in countries like Mali, Benin, and Niger, the majority of the Songhay indigenes are fluent and familiar with the French language. According to its varieties, the various dialects are placed according to its popularity : <\/p>\n\n\n\n