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Songhai became independent of Mali, and rivalled it as the leading power in West Africa. Culture, Religion and Monarchy. The Songhai had settled on both banks of the middle Niger River. They established a state in the 15th century, which unified a large part of the western Sudan and developed into a brilliant civilisation.
By 1494 (T102), Bahir and Hoka II had moved to parcel out what remained of old Songhai. Bahir advanced by land toward the Atlantic and captured Dogamba, Gurma, Jenne, Niani, Ghana, and Segu, while Hoka II's armys, also in the west, captured the gold mines of Boure, and the Atlantic port city in Awlil. With the capture of Axaraean and the Songhai capital in 1498 (T103), Bahir changed the name of his empire to Songhay. Songhay In 1502 (T104), Bahir sent Prince Gath up the western coast to subjugate Idjil.