Book Description:
The Epic of Askia Mohammed is a legendary oral narrative that chronicles the rise, reign, and legacy of Askia Mohammed I, one of the most revered rulers of the Songhai Empire in West Africa. Set during the empire’s golden age in the late 15th and early 16th centuries, the epic blends history, myth, and Islamic tradition to tell the story of a warrior-leader who seized power, expanded his realm, and undertook a monumental pilgrimage to Mecca.
Told for centuries by griots—West African oral historians—the epic explores themes of divine destiny, justice, leadership, and spiritual devotion. As Askia Mohammed consolidates power, reforms his kingdom, and fosters Islamic scholarship in the Sahel’s great cities, the narrative unfolds with heroic deeds, vivid characters, and moments of both triumph and reflection.
A cornerstone of Sahelian literature and identity, The Epic of Askia Mohammed offers a powerful glimpse into the values, politics, and spiritual life of precolonial West Africa.
