Women of Songhai: Power, Trade, and Scholarship Beyond the Throne

Beyond the kings and generals, Songhai's history was shaped by women who wielded influence in surprising ways. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the roles of women in the Songhai Empire—from the queen mothers who advised rulers, to the female merchants who dominated the salt and gold trades, to the women of Timbuktu who funded mosques and collected libraries. We discuss the legal rights women held under Songhai's interpretation of Islamic law, the female scholars who studied at Sankore, and the European traveler accounts that noted their public authority. We also touch on the powerful women of the Mossi states, Songhai's perennial rivals, where queen mothers sometimes served as regents. This episode offers a fresh perspective on gender and power in medieval West Africa. #SonghaiEmpire #WestAfricanHistory #WomenInHistory #QueenMothers #FemaleMerchants #SankoreMadrasa #Timbuktu #GenderAndPower #AskiaMuhammad #Mossi #MedievalAfrica #TransSaharanTrade #IslamicLaw #FemaleScholars #History #FexingoHistory #Podcast #AfricanEmpires #WestAfrica #SunniAli Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo