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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.
Mali's decline happened because of the death of Mansa Musa, Berber nomads attacked the trade routes, and Songhai stopped paying taxes to the government. Songhai Definition: The greatest trade empire of west Africa. Significance to History: The Songhai empire lasted from 1400-1600 ce. Some major cities of Songhai were Gao and Timbuktu. Muslims leaders spread religion and invited scholars to study in the empire. Their primary religion was Islam. They were a really big trading empire.