The Songhai Imperial Navy: River Warriors of the Niger

This episode dives deep into the Songhai Empire's naval power, focusing on the Sorko river warriors who manned the fleets on the Niger River. Discover how these skilled boatmen, using dugout canoes called kanta, dominated the river from Gao to Timbuktu, enforcing trade, transporting armies, and launching amphibious assaults against the Mossi and other rivals. Learn about the specialized tactics, the construction of war canoes carrying up to 80 soldiers, and the strategic importance of the Niger in holding the empire together. We also explore how the riverine defenses crumbled against the Saadian invasion, as the Moroccan arquebusiers and cavalry outmatched the Sorko in open battle. The episode touches on the legacy of the Sorko as a distinct caste and their role in Songhai's economy and military might. #SonghaiEmpire #Sorko #NigerRiver #AfricanHistory #NavalHistory #RiverWarriors #AskiaMuhammad #Gao #Timbuktu #Mossi #SaadianInvasion #Kanta #WestAfrica #MedievalAfrica #MilitaryHistory #EmpireBuilding #History #FexingoHistory #SunniAli #SankoreMosque Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo