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Dia Kossoi

Type Figure Region West Africa Time 980–1020 Also known as Dia Kossoi、Za Kusoy、Kusoy、库索伊、Kusoy Muslim Dam

Dia Kossoi (c. 10th century – early 11th century) was the fifteenth ruler (dia) of the Za dynasty of Songhai, converting to Islam around 1010.

Timeline

  1. c. 1000–1010Kukiya · Gao RegionDuring his rule from Kukiya, Gao had become an important trans-Saharan trade center, with growing influence from North African Berber Muslim merchants. Pressed by the merchants, Kossoi formally converted to Islam around 1010, earning the title 'Muslim ruler,' though the court and populace retained many indigenous beliefs and customs.
  2. 1010–1020Gao · GaoKossoi moved the capital to Gao, shifting Songhai's political center northward and closer to Saharan trade routes. According to Abu Ubayd al-Bakri and later chronicles, after his conversion he received from the Caliph of Baghdad a sword, shield, and Qur'an as ceremonial recognition of authority, bringing Songhai into the view of the Islamic world.

Sources