Songhai's Slave Soldiers: The Farari Corps of Askia Muhammad

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the elite slave soldier corps of the Songhai Empire, the farari, who served as bodyguards and enforcers for Askia Muhammad Toure. Learn how these warriors, drawn from conquered peoples and trained from childhood, formed a loyal counterweight to traditional clan armies. The discussion covers their recruitment, training, equipment, and role in suppressing rebellions, as well as the moral complexities of a system where enslaved men held immense power. Drawing on accounts from Leo Africanus and the Tarikh al-Sudan, the episode examines how the farari helped centralize Songhai's authority—and ultimately contributed to its fragility. A must-listen for anyone curious about military history, state formation, and the paradoxes of power in precolonial Africa. #SonghaiEmpire #AskiaMuhammad #Farari #SlaveSoldiers #MilitaryHistory #WestAfrica #TarikhAlSudan #LeoAfricanus #Gao #Timbuktu #Sahel #NigerRiver #Koyam #StateFormation #PrecolonialAfrica #Power #EliteGuard #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo