The Dendi Kingdom (1591–1901) was a pre-colonial West African state in modern-day Niger founded by the Songhai people after the collapse of their empire Songhai.

Since the middle of the 8th century AD, the Songhai people had dwelled in eastern Mali at the trading city of Gao. The region surrounding the kingdom came under the influence of Sundiata's Mali Empire after 1275. However, it was not completely brought under the empire's control until its 1324 conquest by General Sagha Mandjan.

In 1464, Gao regained its independence thanks to the bumbling of the Mali Empire and began seizing lands for itself. The new Songhai Empire began a campaign of conquest and eventual conversion under the Askiya dynasty. They finally vanquished their old overlords in 1546 capturing and destroying the Mali capital of Niani. But the Songhai's quick emergence in West Africa would be followed by a quick decline. A disastrous defeat at the Battle of Tondibi against invading Saadi forces armed with guns resulted in the end of the empire. The Askiya dynasty fled the city of Gao as the Saadi approached and resettled in their native Dendi region of Niger.