name the river on which the songhai empire was located
\\n \\n. The Songhai Empire, also known as the Songhay Empire, was a state located in western Africa. From the early 15th to the late 16th century, Songhai was one of the largest African empires in history.This empire bore the same name as its leading ethnic group, the Songhai.Its capital was the city of Gao, where a small Songhai state had existed since the 11th century.Its base of power was on the bend of the Niger River in present day Niger and Burkina Faso.his empire bore the same name as its leading ethnic group, the Songhai. Its capital was the city of Gao, where a small Songhai state had existed since the 11th century. Its base of power was on the bend of the Niger River in present day Niger and Burkina Faso.