Songhai's Copper Currency: The Salifou Dana Trade

In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore the Songhai Empire's sophisticated copper currency system known as salifou dana. They discuss how copper rods and manillas served as a standardized medium of exchange alongside gold and cowrie shells, facilitating trade across the Sahel. The episode covers the origins of copper from the Takedda mines, the role of the Wangara merchants in distributing it, and the empire's currency reforms under Askia Muhammad Toure. It also touches on the Kanta rebellion's impact on trade routes and the eventual decline of the copper standard after the Saadian invasion. Specific mentions include the Tarikh al-Sudan, the city of Takedda, and the archaeological evidence from sites like Gao-Saney. #SonghaiEmpire #SalifouDana #CopperCurrency #WestAfricanTrade #Takedda #Wangara #AskiaMuhammad #Sahel #TarikhAlSudan #Manilla #Gao #GaoSaney #NigerRiver #Kanta #Kebbi #History #FexingoHistory #AfricanHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo