spelled the title Sukyā or Sikyā, Leo Africanus spelled it Ischia, and a contemporary Portuguese source spelled it Azquya. The Tarikh al-Sudan provides a folk etymology for the title, claiming that Askia Muhammad invented the title based on the lament of Sonni Ali's daughters when they had learned he had seized power: "a si Kiya", meaning "it is not his" or "he shall not be it". After going on the hajj in 1497–1498, he also became known as Askia al-Hajj Muhammad. In modern Songhai, he is known as Mamar Kassey. Mamar is a form of the name Muhammad, and Kassey is a matronymic. Early life Askia Muhammad was born in Gao. His father, Baru Lum, was of Toucouleur or Soninke ancestry, with ancestors hailing from the Senegal River valley. His mother was named Kassey and is said in oral tradition to have been the sister of Sonni Ali. Origins controversy The theory shared on his origins nevertheless remains very controversial and has been rejected by the Songhai and especially by the modern descendants of Askia Muhammad I, who see in it a challenge to their ethnicity and also by several researchers despite a silla Toucouleur origin where Touré Soninke of Askia, his exact surname is still not determined and no oral source of the toucouleur and soninké mention any affiliation of Askia with them. One of the leaves of the tarikh evokes the title maiga of the emperor which is only used for the patrilineal kinship of the Sunni dynasty fuse you it of a non-ruling branch. The term sonhinkey which suggests a soninke ethnic origin from askia, is also the name of the clan of songhai magicians responsible for the pre-Islamic cult and forming a younger branch of the royal clan of the sunni not having the right to the throne, the oral traditions of the songhai bring the father of askia Mohammed from this clan. Omar komajago who is the brother of the askia is in no way mentioned as a Touré or a sylla. the Askia Mohammed himself during his reign led a fierce war against the Fouta Toro, especially against the leaders of the Toucouleur koli tenguela and the region was devastated by the songhai troops led by his brother Omar. The term at-turi which is in Arabic designates more the Geographical origin of a person than his clan name and turi could be the name