"Considerable evidence indicates that about 600,000 years ago, humans inhabited what has since become the desolate Sahara of northern Niger. Long before the arrival of French influence and control in the area, Niger was an important economic crossroads, and the empires of Songhai, Mali, Gao, Kanem, and Bornu, as well as a number of Hausa states, claimed control over portions of the area. 

During recent centuries, the nomadic Tuareg formed large confederations, pushed southward, and, siding with various Hausa states, clashed with the Fulani Empire of Sokoto, which had gained control of much of the Hausa territory in the late 18th century."

From the early Niger and Burkina Faso. Outside of this, the Songhai lands reached far down the Niger river into modern day Nigeria itself, all the way to the Northeast of modern day Mali, and even to a small part of the Atlantic coast in the West. (14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... Africa is the worlds second-largest continent in both area and population, after Asia. ... Gao is a city in Mali on the River Niger with a population of about 38,000 people. ... Map of Niger river. ... The Atlantic Ocean is Earths second-largest ocean, covering approximately one_fifth of its surface. ...

Prior to the Songhai, the region was dominated by the Mali Empire, centered around Timbuktu. Mali grew famous due to their immense riches obtained through trade with the Arabic world, and the legendary pilgrimage of Mansa Musa to Mecca. However by the early 15th century, the Mali Empire was in decline. Disputes over succession weakened the crown and many subject peoples broke away. The Songhai were one of them, and made the prominent city of Gao their new capital. The Mali Empire was an Islamic Empire of the Mandinka people in West Africa from the 14th to 17th centuries. ... See Timbuktu (novel) for the book by Paul Auster. ... The Hajj or Haj is the Pilgrimage to Mecca (or, Makkah) and is the fifth of the Five Pillars of Islam. Every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so is obliged to make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime. ... Mansa Kankan Musa I or Mansa Musa was a 14th century king of the Mali Empire. ... This article is about the holy city in Saudi Arabia. ... (14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ... The Mali Empire was an Islamic Empire of the Mandinka people in West Africa from the 14th to 17th centuries. ...

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The first great king of Songhai was Mali kings before him, but believed in the African animism of his ancestors. He was, however, an efficient warrior who in the 1460s conquered many of the Songhai's neighbouring states, including the Mali Empire itself. With his control of critical trade routes and cities such as Timbuktu, Sonni Ali brought great wealth to the Songhai Empire, which at its height would surpass the wealth of the Mali. Sonni Ali was the first great king (1464-1492) of the Songhai Empire, and the 15th ruler of the Sonni dynasty. ... A Muslim is a believer in or follower of Islam. ... Animism is the belief that personalized supernatural beings (or souls) inhabit all objects and govern their existence. ... Centuries: 14th century - 15th century - 16th century Decades: 1410s 1420s 1430s 1440s 1450s - 1460s - 1470s 1480s 1490s 1500s 1510s Years: 1460 1461 1462 1463 1464 1465 1466 1467 1468 1469 Events and Trends Sonni Ali, first Songhai king, conquers many of his African neighbors. ... The Mali Empire was an Islamic Empire of the Mandinka people in West Africa from the 14th to 17th centuries. ... See Timbuktu (novel) for the book by Paul Auster. ... Sonni Ali was the first great king (1464-1492) of the Songhai Empire, and the 15th ruler of the Sonni dynasty. ...

Sonni Ali was followed by an emperor named Askia Mohammad from the Mandé people, who would preside over Songhai's golden age. Whereas Ali brought conquests, Mohammad brought political reform and revivalization. He set up a complex bureaucracy with separate departments for agriculture, the army, and the treasury, to each of which he appointed supervising officials. A devout Muslim, Mohammad not only completed a pilgrimage to Mecca like Musa before him, but opened religious schools, constructed mosques, and opened up his court to scholars and poets from throughout the Muslim world. Askia Muhammad I (born circa 1442-1538) was a king of the Songhai Empire in the late 15th century. ... Mandé is the name of an ethnic group or nation, as well as a group of languages which are spoken in several countries in West Africa, including Mandinka, Soninke, Bambara, Dioula, Kagoro, Bozo, Mendé, Yacouba, and Vai. ... The Hajj or Haj is the Pilgrimage to Mecca (or, Makkah) and is the fifth of the Five Pillars of Islam. Every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so is obliged to make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime. ... Mansa Kankan Musa I or Mansa Musa was a 14th century king of the Mali Empire. ... A mosque is a place of worship for followers of the Islamic faith. ...

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Maria...After the great Sub and Trans-Saharan empires grew weak, Europeans came in and raped the countries carving them up. The French took Nigeria and built plantations...French, Swiss, and some German Chocolate fortunes were built on Nigerian Cocoa.

It wasn't till the 1960's that they were able to shake off colonial rule and, as with any young nation, there have been growing pains.

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Thanks so much for sharing that with us Rev.!!!

I'm so happy to have logged on & took a look. ''ve recently been looking into volunteer programs there, but I didn't know the history of the region very well, I'm sure I won't remember some of it though, is there a website that you got that info from so I can book mark it?

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