Askia Muhammad's Pilgrimage: The Hajj That Changed Songhai

In 1496, Askia Muhammad Toure, the great emperor of Songhai, embarked on a pilgrimage to Mecca that would reshape his empire and his faith. This episode follows his journey across the Sahara, through Cairo, and into the holy cities, uncovering how his 300,000 gold dinar entourage, his meetings with scholars like Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti, and his purchase of land for West African pilgrims transformed Songhai's place in the Muslim world. We explore the political calculations behind the hajj, the fatwa that legitimized his coup, and the architectural and administrative reforms he brought back—including the construction of Sankore Madrasa's iconic minaret. Along the way, we touch on the diplomatic gifts, the slave trade, and the legendary story of his encounter with the Sharif of Mecca. This is the pilgrimage that turned a military ruler into a legend and connected West Africa to the broader Islamic world like never before. #AskiaMuhammad #SonghaiEmpire #Hajj #Mecca #WestAfrica #SankoreMadrasa #AlSuyuti #TransSaharanTrade #Gao #Timbuktu #IslamInAfrica #MedievalAfrica #1490s #Pilgrimage #Gold #Scholars #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo