The Songhai are known by various names. The Sorko are fishermen in hamlets along the rivers. The Fono live in the upper lake area, and the Gow are hunters in the high grass stretches of the savanna. A caste of magicians goes proudly by the name of Sohanti.

The Songhai trace their origins to the eighth century kingdom of Za. Islam was embraced as early as 1010, but it was mixed with their original beliefs in spirits of the river, soil, and wild game. The Za dynasty endured to the end of the sixteenth century, when it was conquered by the Sultan of Morocco.

What are their lives like?
Songhai settlements usually consist of round, mud or thatched dwellings with straw roofs. An increasing number of rectangular mud-brick houses with corrugated-tin roofs can be seen. Villages along the Niger River contain many rice fields and garden plots. Villages farther from the river are surrounded by bush areas and cultivated fields. Cowpeas, groundnuts, and manioc are the usual crops, but millet is grown from June to September during the brief rainy season. Farming the fields is considered noble labor and is for men only. The women have gardens in which they grow mangoes, guavas, citrus fruits, papayas, dates, and bananas during the hot, dry season. They also cultivate carrots, tomatoes, peppers, cabbages, and various types of squash. Most of the garden work is done by family members. In addition to farming, the Songhai also raise some livestock.

The village community is patrilineal; that is, all the men have a common male ancestor. Among Songhai nobles, firstborn sons are pressured to marry their paternal uncle's daughter, in order to maintain the purity of the lineage. Men marry in their late twenties; whereas, girls marry in their early teens. Whether the marriage bond lasts or not, children belong to the husband's lineage group. Although the Songhai value the Islamic right to have up to four wives, the majority of men have only one, primarily for economic reasons. When there is more than one wife, each lives in her own separate dwelling within the household's compound.

What are their beliefs?
The Songhai are almost 100% Sunni Muslim. Even though Islam introduced new elements to the Songhai culture, it left the underlying framework of custom and tradition virtually untouched. Islam is superficially important, as evidenced in the fact that every town has a mosque, or at least a Friday mosque. Some communities have imams, who teach Islamic philosophy, and Muslim ceremonial activities are frequently practiced. Spirit possession, magic, sorcery, ancestor worship, and witchcraft, however, remain the vital components of Songhai belief. Most of the villages have possession troops, magician-healers, and witches. Ceremonies of spirit possession occur at least once a week in some places. The most important of these are the genji bi hori (a festival in which the Songhai make offerings to the "black spirits" believed to control pestilence) and the yenaandi (rain dance). Both of these ceremonies are held in the dry season. Marabouts (Islamic clerics) lead community prayers but are also used in healing the sick.

What are their needs?
Generally, the Songhai live simple but adequate lives, except in times of drought. Unfortunately, these occur regularly and have left many children as orphans in refugee camps along the Niger. Malnutrition is a problem for many of them.

A majority of the Songhai have never heard a clear presentation of the Gospel. Neither the Jesus film nor Christian broadcasts are available in their language. Christian workers who can share the love of Jesus in practical ways are urgently needed to reach the Songhai.

Prayer Points

• Ask the Lord to send Christian agricultural workers, educators, and doctors to minister to the Songhai of Mali.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to grant wisdom to the two missions agencies that are targeting the Songhai.
• Pray that Christian radio broadcasts, evangelical literature, and the Jesus film will be made available to the Songhai.
• Ask the Lord to save key leaders among the Songhai who will boldly proclaim the Gospel.
• Pray that God will strengthen, embolden, and protect the Songhai believers.
• Take authority over the spiritual principalities and powers that are keeping the Songhai bound.
• Ask God to raise up intercessors who will stand in the gap for the Songhai.
• Ask the Lord to bring forth a triumphant Songhai church for the glory of His name!

See also the following related groups: the Songhai of Burkina Faso, Niger, and Nigeria; the Zerma of Niger and Nigeria.

THE PEOPLE

• People name: Songhai
• Country: Mali
• Their language: Songhai
• Population: (1990) 581,400
  (1995) 681,300
  (2000) 792,600
• Largest religion: Muslim (Malakite) 99.8%
• Christians: <1%
• Church members: 1,363
• Scriptures in their own language: New Testament
• Jesus Film in their own language: None
• Christian broadcasts in their own language: None
• Mission agencies working among this people: 2
• Persons who have heard the Gospel: 151,300 (23%) Those evangelized by local Christians: 35,400 (6%)
  Those evangelized from the outside: 115,900 (17%)
• Persons who have never heard the Gospel: 530,000 (77%)

• Country: Mali
• Population: (1990) 9,211,700
  (1995) 10,795,300
  (2000) 12,599,300
• Major peoples in size order: Bambara 31.4%
  Fula Macina 9.6%
  Soninke 7.4%
  Sanghai 6.3%
• Major religions: Muslim 85.3%
  Ethnic religionist 12%
  Christian 2.7%
• Number of denominations: 18