The Takeda Family: Songhai's Royal Dynasty After the Collapse

After the Battle of Tondibi in 1591, the Songhai Empire didn't simply vanish. The Askia dynasty fractured, and a new ruling family emerged in the south: the Takeda. This episode focuses on the post-imperial Songhai state in the Dendi region, centered around the town of Kukiya. Lucas and Luna explore how the Takeda family claimed descent from Sonni Ali, resisted Moroccan occupation, and maintained a rump kingdom for over a century. They discuss the reign of Askia Nuhu, who led the resistance from Dendi, and the later rulers like Askia Dawud II who held on until the early 1700s. The conversation also touches on the changing trade routes, the rise of the Bambara kingdoms, and the role of the Niger River as both a refuge and a highway. Songs and oral traditions, including the epic of Askia Dawud II, provide a window into how the Takeda dynasty was remembered. By the 18th century, the last vestiges of Songhai power faded, but its legacy persisted in the culture and politics of the Niger Bend. #Takeda #Dendi #Kukiya #AskiaNuhu #SonniAli #Songhai #NigerRiver #BattleOfTondibi #MoroccanInvasion #Saadian #RumpKingdom #17thCentury #WestAfrica #OralTradition #Epic #Bambara #History #FexingoHistory #SonghaiEmpire #SunniAli Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo