How did the kingdoms of Borno and Songhai affect the Hausa states?

The Hausa states occupied a strategic position on the northern plains of present-day Nigeria, serving as a crossroads for trans-Saharan trade and regional commerce. Because these states lacked a central authority and were never unified through conquest, they were frequently subject to external pressure and domination by more powerful neighbors, specifically the kingdoms of Borno and Songhai.123

Historically, Hausaland was periodically conquered by both Borno and Songhai as these empires vied for control over agricultural land and vital trade routes. During the 16th century, the Songhai Empire exerted significant external influence over the Hausa states as they grew in power and importance. These recurring conquests and the rivalry between neighboring powers were defining features of the political landscape in precolonial Nigeria, forcing the individual Hausa city-states to navigate the competing interests of these larger regional empires.1342