Askia Muhammad

Askia Muhammad, also known as Askia the Great, was a ruler of the Songhai Empire in West Africa during the late 15th and early 16th centuries. He ascended to power after a successful coup and is renowned for expanding the empire, enhancing trade, and adopting a Muslim faith that influenced the region’s culture. Under his leadership, cities like Timbuktu flourished as centers of learning and commerce. Askia Muhammad implemented administrative reforms, improved agricultural productivity, and promoted education. His reign is often marked as a high point in West African history, illustrating the richness and complexity of African empires before European colonization.