What kingdom was located in the forest near Niger river?

The Kingdom of Songhai was located in the forest near the Niger River. The Songhai people are believed to have originated in Dendi near Lake Chad, and to have migrated to the area around Gao in the 7th century. The Songhai Empire was founded in the 14th century by Sonni Ali, who conquered Gao and made it the capital of his empire. The Songhai Empire reached its height in the 16th century, when it controlled a vast area of West Africa from the Atlantic Ocean to the Hausa states. The Songhai Empire was eventually conquered by the Moroccan Saadi dynasty in 1591.