Songhai's Solar Eclipse of 1492: When the Sun Betrayed Sonni Ali

from The Songhai Empire: Africa's Powerful Forgotten Kingdom — Fexingo History · host Fexingo

In 1492, a total solar eclipse plunged the Songhai Empire into darkness at a critical moment. Sonni Ali, the empire's founding emperor, was on campaign against the Fulani when the sun vanished. This episode explores how the eclipse was interpreted as an omen, its political fallout, and how it's recorded in the Tarikh al-Sudan and Tarikh al-Fattash. We discuss medieval West African knowledge of astronomy, the role of celestial events in legitimizing rule, and how Askia Muhammad used the eclipse narrative to justify his coup just months later. A little-known turning point that reveals the intersection of science, power, and belief in the Sahel. #SonghaiEmpire #SonniAli #SolarEclipse #1492 #TarikhAlSudan #TarikhAlFattash #AskiaMuhammad #WestAfrica #Sahel #NigerRiver #MedievalAstronomy #Fulani #Gao #Timbuktu #Omens #History #FexingoHistory #Eclipse Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

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This episode was published on June 14, 2026.

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