The Soninke people are widely dispersed across West Africa and are often associated today with long-standing patterns of labor migration, particularly to France. However, beyond their contemporary migratory profile, the Soninke occupy a central position in West African historiography as the founders and rulers of the ancient Ghana Empire. The objective of this article is to highlight the major historical contribution of the descendants of Di？a to the political, economic, and cultural development of the sub-Saharan region. This study adopts a qualitative research approach based on documentary analysis and unstructured interviews, drawing on oral traditions and historical narratives. The findings demonstrate that the Soninke possess a rich and complex historical heritage and were responsible for establishing the first large-scale and centralized political entity in West Africa. As the founders and rulers of the Ghana Empire, known in Soninke oral tradition as Wagadu, the Soninke people played a decisive role in shaping early West African state formation and trans-Saharan exchanges. Their contribution, therefore, constitutes a foundational element of West African historical consciousness and regional historiography.
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