The Sonni Dynasty or Sunni Dynasty was a dynasty of rulers of the Songhai Empire of medieval West Africa. The first ruler of the dynasty, Sunni Ali Kulun probably reigned at the end of the fourteenth century. The last ruler, Sonni Baru, ruled until 1493 when the throne was usurped by the Askiya Muhammad I, the founder of the Askiya Dynasty.
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Rulers according to the Tarikh al-Sudan
The names with their diacritics listed below are those given in the translation of the Tarikh al-Sudan from Arabic into English by John Hunwick. The surviving Arabic manuscripts differ both in the spelling and the vocalization of the names. This may be partly due to the difficulty of representing Songhay (or proto-Songhay) sounds in Arabic and perhaps also due to different Songhay dialects. Not all the names are listed in all the surviving manuscripts.
- Sunni ʿAlī Kulun (probably ruled early in the 14th century)
- Sunni Silman Nāri (brother of ʿAlī Kulun)
- Sunni Ibrāhīm Kabay
- Sunni ʿUthmān Kanafa
- Sunni Bār Kayna Ankabī
- Sunni Mūsā
- Sunni Bukar Zunku
- Sunni Bukar Dala Buyunbu
- Sunni Mār Kiray
- Sunni Muḥammad Dao
- Sunni Muḥammad Kūkiyā
- Sunni Muḥammad Fār
- Sunni K.r.bīf
- Sunni Mār Fī Kuli Jim
- Sunni Mār Ar Kayna
- Sunni Mār Aranda
- Sunni Sulaymān
- Sunni ʿAlī (ruled 1464-1492)
- Sunni Bāru or Bukar Dāo (ruled 1492-1493)
Rulers according to the Tarikh al-fattash
The names with their diacritics listed below are those given in the translation of Tarikh al-fattash from the Arabic into French by Octave Houdas.
- Sunni Ali-Golom (revolted from Mali c. 1275 during the reign of Mansa Khalifa)
- Sunni Silman-Nâri
- Sunni Ibrâhîm-Kabayao
- Sunni Ousmân-Guifo
- Sunni Mâkara-Komsoû (on throne in 1321-1322)
- Sunni Boubakar-Katiya
- Sunni Ankada Doukourou
- Sunni Kimi-Yankoï-Moûssa
- Sunni Bâro-Dal-Yomho
- Sunni Mâdao
- Sunni Mohammed Koûkiya
- Sunni Mohammed-Fâri
- Sunni Balam
- Sunni Souleïmân-Dâma
- Sunni Ali (ruled 1464-1492)
- Sunni Bâro (ruled 1492-1493)