Once located in West Africa, the flourishing Songhai Empire was stretched across the regions of Gao, Senegal, Gambia, NIgeria, Timbuktu and Djenne.[6] Under his father Askia Muhmmad's rule, the Songhai Empire experienced a thriving economy with Askia Muhmmad's idea of developing an Islamized society, through development of trade with neighboring regions and prioritizing education and literacy.[7] By institutionalizing Islamic teachings and practices into the schools and economy, the Songhai Empire's Muslim population sought an exponential increase and prosperity flowed on all members of society.