XVIᵉ siècle
Songhay, Mali
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
Askia Muhammad Benkan was a deposed Songhay ruler who fled through Timbuktu and Tendirma before leaving Songhay territory for Mali. He settled first under the protection of the Sangara-Zuma', then moved to Sama; another version places his settlement at Ta'ba. His exile illustrates the political involvement of Mali in Songhay’s internal dynastic conflicts.
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Le récit
After his deposition, Askia Muhammad Benkan fled to Timbuktu and then Tendirma, where troops loyal to the new askia pursued him. To escape his cousin’s forces, he left Songhay territory and proceeded to Mali. There he settled under the auspices of the Sangara-Zuma', the military commander of Mali’s southern provinces.
Muhammad Benkan and his brother 'Uthman were humiliated and ridiculed by people in Mali. 'Uthman eventually emigrated to Walata, which was not under the effective rule of the askias, while Muhammad Benkan moved to Sama, described as the remotest town of Mali’s Kala province and located not far from Segu.
A second version places Muhammad Benkan at Ta'ba, described elsewhere as the remotest town in Binduku province, facing Segu across the Bani River. The differing accounts leave his precise place of refuge uncertain, but both associate his exile with Mali’s southern or south-eastern frontier.
XVIᵉ siècle
Songhay, Mali
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
Askia Muhammad Benkan was a deposed Songhay ruler who fled through Timbuktu and Tendirma before leaving Songhay territory for Mali. He settled first under the protection of the Sangara-Zuma', then moved to Sama; another version places his settlement at Ta'ba. His exile illustrates the political involvement of Mali in Songhay’s internal dynastic conflicts.
Poursuivre l’exploration
Le récit
After his deposition, Askia Muhammad Benkan fled to Timbuktu and then Tendirma, where troops loyal to the new askia pursued him. To escape his cousin’s forces, he left Songhay territory and proceeded to Mali. There he settled under the auspices of the Sangara-Zuma', the military commander of Mali’s southern provinces.
Muhammad Benkan and his brother 'Uthman were humiliated and ridiculed by people in Mali. 'Uthman eventually emigrated to Walata, which was not under the effective rule of the askias, while Muhammad Benkan moved to Sama, described as the remotest town of Mali’s Kala province and located not far from Segu.