RISE OF THE SONGHAY EMPIRE 173 Yet through all the conflict it reflects also the natural affection of man to the race from which he springs, to the customs amongst which he was born, to the aims and aspirations which are the aims and aspirations of his blood. Standing as they do side by side on the field of history, Sonni Ali and his great minister must be taken as representing in the Soudan the genius of paganism and the genius of Islam clasping hands in a last salute before their respective roads cross and part.