Religion
Sowei Mask - worn on the head of the
female elder who dances for the
woman's society
The religion of the Songhai empire was Islam. Only in Allah and Muhammad is the final prophet, so show their love and respect they must pray at least five times a day facing the mecca. To keep humble they must show some kind of aid to the poor, and fast from dusk to dawn during Ramadan. At least once in their life times they should take the pilgrimage to Mecca. Art was and still is, a big part of the religious aspect of their life. The people of the Songhai empire made masks, sculptures, stools, ceremonial axes, neck-rests, bracelets and decorated heddle pulleys. The Songhai empire made very large mosques made of specials prepared mixtures or art to accommodate a larger muslim population and define the importance of muslim.
Politics
Yes, agriculture was important to their economy because the main job of peasants was to collect food and that was used to keep people fed. Gold was also big, it was mined and that is what brought a lot of money to the empire. They didn't have any form of a money system so they bartered. Trade was very important to the people of Songhai. They imported salt which kept all the food fresh, and helped bring wealth tot he empire. Songhai had a wide variety of trading partners; North Africa, Europe and the Arabian Peninsula. Their main exports were gold, kola nuts and slaves, and their main imports were textiles, horses and luxury goods. The Songhai Empire did in fact have a system of government, they had an import trade centre and claimed to have a king with magical powers.
The Social Aspect
Songhai was a highly advanced, sophisticated society accustomed to making and administering government rules and regulations, collecting taxes and maintaining justice and operating courts. They had active business and carried out extensive trade with cities and cultural centres that were home the the educated and upper class. Songhai was very well established with a large standing army, well established and important universities and religious institutions. Kim Askia Mohammad took power in 1493, and was probably the best known ruler, he was a brilliant aministrator. Askia controlled most of western africa, ruling a region that was bigger than all of europe. But before all that he was general and later prime minister. Askia was a skilled ruler and administrator who was open to new ideas, respected learning and brought peace to this large area. It was an important city and social centre during Askia's rein, filled with all kinds of business people, intellectuals, merchandise, music, fun and parties.