The Songhai–Portuguese Alliance That Never Was

In the late 15th and early 16th centuries, the Songhai Empire under Askia Muhammad and his successors faced a new threat from the south: the expanding Portuguese Empire along the West African coast. While Portugal had initially focused on the Gold Coast and Benin, their presence disrupted trans-Saharan trade routes that were the lifeblood of Songhai. This episode explores the fascinating 'what if' of diplomacy between Askia Muhammad and King Manuel I of Portugal, including a proposed alliance against the Mossi and the Hausa states. We delve into the letters exchanged, the Portuguese embassy sent to Gao, and why the alliance ultimately failed. Along the way, we touch on Songhai's diplomatic sophistication, the role of the Tuareg in mediating contact, and the early seeds of European imperialism in West Africa. Specific figures include Askia Muhammad, King Manuel I, the Portuguese factor Balthasar de Castro, and the Tuareg leader who facilitated the embassy. This episode sheds light on a lesser-known chapter where Songhai engaged directly with a rising Atlantic power, offering a glimpse of what might have been. #SonghaiEmpire #AskiaMuhammad #Portugal #KingManuelI #Gao #NigerRiver #WestAfrica #TransSaharanTrade #Mossi #HausaStates #Tuareg #BalthasarDeCastro #Diplomacy #16thCentury #EuropeanContact #History #FexingoHistory #WhatIf #SunniAli #SankoreMosque Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo