In the 15th/16th centuries Songhai was one of the largest African empires with its capital at Gao.
(See Map).

Songhai was a successor state to the Mali empire which was in decline in the late 15th century.

Under the ruler Askia Mohammad Songhai surpassed the wealth of Mali. The Empire prospered until in the late 16th century Moroccans invaded to seize the Songhai gold mines. But the Moroccans relinquished control of the region soon, letting it splinter into dozens of tiny kingdoms.