Askia Musa or Askiya Musa (ruled 1529–1531) was the second Askia ruler of the

Songhai Empire The Songhai Empire was a state located in the western part of the Sahel during the 15th and 16th centuries. At its peak, it was one of the largest African empires in history. The state is known by its historiographical name, derived from its lar ...

Early life

Musa was the son of

Askia Mohammad I Askia Muhammad Ture I (1443–1538), born Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr al-Turi or Muhammad Ture, was the first ruler of the Askia dynasty of the Songhai Empire, reigning from 1493 to 1528. He is also known as Askia the Great, and his name in modern So ...

and Zāra Kabirun-koi, a princess from Gobir who had been captured in a campaign against

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in 1505. Regarded as the firstborn son, Musa was given the prominent post of ''fari-mondio'' (in charge of imperial revenue).

Rise to Power

Towards the end of his reign, Askia Mohammad had become blind, and thereby increasingly dependent on Ali Fulan, the Hugu-koray-koi (Master of the Palace interior). None of the Askia's sons were aware of this because Ali Fulan stuck so close to his side as aid (at this time blindness would have disqualified a ruler as he would have been expected to lead his army into battle, as well as being a bad omen). On one occasion, Ali advised that Mohammed's younger son Balla be appointed to the vacant position of Benga-farma (governor of Benga). When the older sons heard about this, they were angered at being passed over. Musa in particular was angry at his father and with Ali Fulan; he accused him of turning the Askia into a puppet and forced him to flee to exile in Tindirma in 1528. The next year, Musa met with some of his brothers in

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, seemingly preparing to launch a rebellion against their father. The '' kanfari'' Yahya, the Askia's brother, was sent to negotiate with them, but they insulted and killed him. On 15 Aug 1529, at the

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prayer in

Gao Gao (or Gawgaw/Kawkaw) is a city in Mali and the capital of the Gao Region. The city is located on the River Niger, east-southeast of Timbuktu on the left bank at the junction with the Tilemsi valley. For much of its history Gao was an imp ...

, Musa proclaimed his ascension to the Askiyate, and his father acquiesced.

Reign

Musa was an arrogant and violent ruler, and quickly alienated the brothers and cousins who had supported his coup. Ismail, Benga-farma Balla, the new kanfari Uthman Yawbobo and others assembled in Tindirma to plot a rebellion. Musa marched west and managed to sway some of the conspirators to re-join him, then defeated the rest at the battle of Akagan east of Timbuktu. He appointed Mohammed Bonkana Kirya to replace Yawbobo. Ismail fled to the Tuareg. Balla was captured in Timbuktu and buried alive. Still insecure, Musa continued exiling and killing a number of his brothers and between 25 and 35 of his cousins. In 1531 a group of his brothers led by Mohammed Bonkana Kirya, ‘Ali Wāy, and Ishaq plotted against him and killed him.

Notes

References

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but requires subscription. {{DEFAULTSORT:Musa, Askia Songhai emperors 1531 deaths 16th-century monarchs in Africa Year of birth unknown Zarma-Songhai people