Ahmad al-Ghazi's army defeated a Portuguese naval fleet in 1541 — the first African force to repel a European naval invasion on African soil.
The Story of Ahmad al-Ghazi
Born around 1506, Ahmad al-Ghazi rose to become the Imam and military commander of the Adal Sultanate in what is now Somalia and eastern Ethiopia. Using guerrilla tactics, swift cavalry movements, and firearms acquired through Ottoman trade networks, he launched a conquest of the Ethiopian highland empire that shook the entire region.
At the Battle of Shimbra Kure in 1529, his forces crushed the Ethiopian imperial army, killing thousands and sending Emperor Lebna Dengel fleeing into hiding. Over the next decade, Ahmad al-Ghazi controlled three-quarters of Ethiopian territory — a feat no invader had achieved before or since.
When Portugal sent a naval expedition to support Ethiopia in 1541, Ahmad al-Ghazi did what no African leader had done: he defeated them at sea. His forces repelled the Portuguese fleet — the first African military victory against European naval power on African soil.
Though he was killed in battle in 1543, his campaigns demonstrated that African armies could resist European military technology and match European firepower when properly equipped and led by visionary commanders.
Color Ahmad's Portrait
The Alphabet Book of Generals — Who Resisted White Supremacy and Won features a full-page coloring portrait of Ahmad with a color guide and fun fact. Perfect for children ages 4–12 and Black history education.
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