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Sonni Ali, also known as Sunni Ali Ber or "Sunni Ali", was born Ali Kolon. He reign
Reign

A reign is the term used to describe the length of a monarch is the supreme leader over a kingdom. No time limit exists on reigns, nor is there a term of office....
ed from about 1464 to 1492. Sunni Ali was the first great king of the Songhai Empire
Songhai Empire

The Songhai Empire, also known as the Songhay Empire, was a pre-colonial African state of west Africa. From the early 15th to the late 16th century, Songhai was one of the largest African empires in history....
, located in west Africa
Africa

Africa is the world's second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km? including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area....
 and the 15th ruler of the Sonni dynasty. Under Sonni Ali's infantry and cavalry, Songhai extended to cover a great portion of the Niger River
Niger River

The Niger River is the principal river of western Africa, extending about 4180 km . Its drainage basin is in area. Its source is in the Guinea Highlands in southeastern Guinea....
 area and gained control of crucial trading cities such as Timbuktu
Timbuktu

Timbuktu is a city in Tombouctou Region, in the West African nation of Mali. It was made prosperous by Mansa Musa, tenth mansa of the Mali Empire....
 (captured in 1468) and Jenne
Djenné

Djenn? is a historically and commercially important small city in the Niger Inland Delta of central Mali. It lies 5 km north-west of the Bani River ....
 (captured in 1475).






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Songhai Empire Map
Sonni Ali, also known as Sunni Ali Ber or "Sunni Ali", was born Ali Kolon. He reign
Reign

A reign is the term used to describe the length of a monarch is the supreme leader over a kingdom. No time limit exists on reigns, nor is there a term of office....
ed from about 1464 to 1492. Sunni Ali was the first great king of the Songhai Empire
Songhai Empire

The Songhai Empire, also known as the Songhay Empire, was a pre-colonial African state of west Africa. From the early 15th to the late 16th century, Songhai was one of the largest African empires in history....
, located in west Africa
Africa

Africa is the world's second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km? including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area....
 and the 15th ruler of the Sonni dynasty. Under Sonni Ali's infantry and cavalry, Songhai extended to cover a great portion of the Niger River
Niger River

The Niger River is the principal river of western Africa, extending about 4180 km . Its drainage basin is in area. Its source is in the Guinea Highlands in southeastern Guinea....
 area and gained control of crucial trading cities such as Timbuktu
Timbuktu

Timbuktu is a city in Tombouctou Region, in the West African nation of Mali. It was made prosperous by Mansa Musa, tenth mansa of the Mali Empire....
 (captured in 1468) and Jenne
Djenné

Djenn? is a historically and commercially important small city in the Niger Inland Delta of central Mali. It lies 5 km north-west of the Bani River ....
 (captured in 1475). Sonni conducted a repressive policy against the scholars of Timbuktu
Timbuktu

Timbuktu is a city in Tombouctou Region, in the West African nation of Mali. It was made prosperous by Mansa Musa, tenth mansa of the Mali Empire....
, especially those of the Sankore region who were associated with the Tuareg
Tuareg

The Tuareg are a nomadic pastoralist people. They are the principal inhabitants of the Saharan interior of North Africa. They call themselves variously Kel Tamasheq or Kel Tamajaq , Imuhagh, Imazaghan or Imashaghen , or Kel Tagelmust, i.e., "People of the Veil"....
 whom Ali expelled to gain control of the town.

He built a fleet to patrol the Niger river
Niger River

The Niger River is the principal river of western Africa, extending about 4180 km . Its drainage basin is in area. Its source is in the Guinea Highlands in southeastern Guinea....
. During Sonni Ali's reign, Songhai surpassed the height of the Mali Empire
Mali Empire

The Mali Empire or Manding Empire or Manden Kurufa was a West African civilization of the Mandinka people from c. 1230 to c. 1600. The empire was founded by Sundiata Keita and became renowned for the wealth of its rulers, especially Mansa Mansa Musa....
, engulfing areas under the Mali Empire (and the Ghana Empire
Ghana Empire

The Ghana Empire or Wagadou Empire was located in what is now southeastern Mauritania, and Western Mali.This is believed to be first of many empires that would rise in that part of Africa....
 before it). On November 6, 1492, Sunni Ali's horse slipped and fell into the Koni River, Ali and his horse were swept over the falls and drowned.. He was succeeded by his son, Sonni Baru.

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