The history of West Africa can be divided into five major periods: first, its prehistory, in which the firsthuman settlers arrived, developedagriculture, and made contact with peoples to the north; the second, the Iron Age empires that consolidated both intra-Africa, and extra-Africa trade, and developed centralized states; third, major polities flourished, which would undergo an extensive history of contact with non-Africans; fourth, the colonial period, in whichGreat Britain andFrance controlled nearly the entire region; and fifth, the post-independence era, in which the current nations were formed.
During theHolocene,Niger-Congo speakers independently created pottery inOunjougou, Mali[22][23][24] – the earliestpottery in Africa[25] – by at least 9400 BCE,[22] and along with their pottery,[25] as well as wielding independently inventedbows and arrows,[26][27] migrated into the Central Sahara,[25] which became their primary region of residence by 10,000 BP.[26] The emergence and expansion of ceramics in the Sahara may be linked with the origin of Round Head and Kel Essuf rock art, which occupy rockshelters in the same regions (e.g.,Djado,Acacus,Tadrart).[28] Hunters in the Central Sahara farmed, stored, and cooked undomesticated central Saharanflora,[29] underwent domestication ofantelope,[30] anddomesticated and shepherdedBarbary sheep.[29] After theKel Essuf Period andRound Head Period of the Central Sahara, thePastoral Period followed.[31] Some of the hunter-gatherers who created the Round Head rock art may have adopted pastoral culture, and others may have not.[32] As a result of increasingaridification of theGreen Sahara, Central Saharanhunter-gatherers and cattleherders may have used seasonalwaterways as the migratory route taken to theNiger River andChad Basin of West Africa.[33] In 2000 BCE, "Thiaroye Woman",[34] also known as the "Venus of Thiaroye",[35][34] may have been the earlieststatuette created inSub-Saharan West Africa; it may have particularly been afertility statuette, created in the region ofSenegambia,[35] and may be associated with the emergence ofcomplexly organizedpastoral societies inWest Africa between 4000 BCE and 1000 BCE.[36] Though possibly developed as early as 5000 BCE,[37]Nsibidi may have also developed in 2000 BCE,[38][37] as evidenced by depictions of theWest African script onIkom monoliths atIkom, inNigeria.[37] Migration of Saharan peoples south of the Sahelian region resulted in seasonal interaction with and gradual absorption of West African hunter-gatherers, who primarily dwelt in thesavannas andforests of West Africa.[19] In West Africa, which may have been a major regional cradle in Africa for thedomestication of crops and animals,[39][40] Niger-Congo speakers domesticated thehelmeted guineafowl[41] between 5500 BP and 1300 BP;[39] domestication of field crops occurred throughout various locations in West Africa, such asyams (d. praehensilis) in the Niger River basin between eastern Ghana and western Nigeria (northern Benin),rice (oryza glaberrima) in theInner Niger Delta region of Mali,pearl millet (cenchrus americanus) in northern Mali and Mauritania, andcowpeas in northern Ghana.[40] After having persisted as late as 1000 BP,[19] or some period of time after 1500 CE,[42] remaining West African hunter-gatherers, many of whom dwelt in theforest-savanna region, were ultimately acculturated and admixed into the larger groups of West Africanagriculturalists, akin to the migratoryBantu-speaking agriculturalists and theirencounters withCentral African hunter-gatherers.[19]
West African sites witharchaeobotanical remains from third to first millennium cal bc. The arrows indicate directions ofpearl millet diffusion intosub-Saharan West Africa.
The development of the region's economy allowed more centralized states and civilizations to form, beginning withDhar Tichitt that began in 1600 B.C. followed byDjenné-Djenno beginning in 300 B.C. This was then succeeded by theGhana Empire that first flourished roughly between the 2nd and 12th centuries C.E., which later gave way to theMali Empire. In current-day Mauritania, there exist archaeological sites in the towns ofTichit andOualata that were initially constructed around 2000 B.C., and were found to have originated from theSoninke branch of theMandé peoples. Also, based on the archaeology of the city ofKumbi Saleh in modern-day Mauritania, the Mali empire came to dominate much of the region until its defeat byAlmoravid invaders in 1052.
Three great kingdoms were identified inBilad al-Sudan by the ninth century. They included Ghana,Gao andKanem.[43]
TheSosso Empire sought to fill the void but was defeated (c. 1240) by theMandinka forces ofSundiata Keita, founder of the new Mali Empire. The Mali Empire continued to flourish for several centuries, most particularly under Sundiata's grandnephewMusa I, before a succession of weak rulers led to its collapse underMossi,Tuareg andSonghai invaders. In the 15th century, the Songhai would form a new dominant state based onGao, in theSonghai Empire, under the leadership ofSonni Ali andAskia Mohammed.
13th-century Africa – map of the main trade routes and states, kingdoms and empires
Meanwhile, south of Sudan, strong city-states arose inIgboland, such as the 10th-centuryKingdom of Nri, which helped birth the arts and customs of theIgbo people,Bono State in the 11th century, which gave birth to the numerousAkan States, whileIfe rose to prominence around the 12th century. Further east,Oyo arose as the dominantYoruba state and theAro Confederacy as a dominantIgbo state in modern-day Nigeria.
The Kingdom of Nri was a West African medieval state in present-day southeastern Nigeria and a subgroup of the Igbo people. The Kingdom of Nri was unusual in the history of world government in that its leader exercised no military power over his subjects. The kingdom existed as a sphere of religious and political influence over a third of Igboland and was administered by a priest-king called anEze Nri. The Eze Nri managed trade and diplomacy on behalf of the Nri people and possessed divine authority in religious matters.
TheOyo Empire was aYoruba empire of what is today Western, North CentralNigeria and Southern Republic ofBenin. Established in the 14th century, the Oyo Empire grew to become one of the largest West African states. It rose through the outstanding organizational skills of the Yoruba, wealth gained from trade and its powerfulcavalry. The Oyo Empire was the most politically important state in the region from the mid-17th to the late 18th century, holding sway not only over most of the other kingdoms inYorubaland, but also over nearby African states, notably theFonKingdom of Dahomey in the modern Republic of Benin to the west.
The Benin Empire was apost-classical empire located in what is now southernNigeria. Its capital was Edo, now known asBenin City,Edo. It should not be confused with the modern-day country calledBenin, formerly calledDahomey. The Benin Empire was "one of the oldest and most highly developed states in the coastal hinterland of West Africa, dating perhaps to the eleventh century CE". The Benin Empire was governed by a sovereign Emperor with hundreds of thousands of soldiers and a powerful council rich in resources, wealth, ancient science and technology with cities described as beautiful and large asHaarlem. "Olfert Dapper, a Dutch writer, describing Benin in his bookDescription of Africa (1668) ". Its craft was the most adored and treasured bronze casting in the history of Africa. It was annexed by theBritish Empire in 1897 during the invasion and scramble of Africa.
Portuguese traders began establishing settlements along the coast in 1445, followed by theFrench,English,Spanish,Danish andDutch; theAfrican slave trade began not long after, which over the following centuries would debilitate the region's economy and population.[44] The slave trade also encouraged the formation of states such as theBono State,Bambara Empire andDahomey, whose economic activities include but not limited to exchanging slaves for Europeanfirearms.[45]
Part of the West African regions underwent an increase in thenumeracy level throughout the 19th century. The reason for such a growth was predetermined by a number of factors. Namely, thepeanut production and trade, which was boosted by thedemand of thecolonial states. Importantly, the rise of numeracy was higher in the regions which were lesshierarchical and had less dependence on theslavery trade (e.g. Sine and Salum). Whereas areas with the opposite trends illustrated opposite tendencies (e.g. central and northern Senegal). Those patterns were further even more stimulated by the French colonial campaign.[46]
Britain controlled the Gambia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, and Nigeria throughout the colonial era, while France unified Senegal, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, Benin, Ivory Coast, and Niger intoFrench West Africa.Portugal founded the colony ofGuinea-Bissau, whileGermany claimedTogoland, but was forced to divide it between France and Britain followingFirst World War due to theTreaty of Versailles. OnlyLiberia retained its independence, at the price of major territorial concessions.
FollowingWorld War II, nationalist movements arose across West Africa. In 1957, Ghana, underKwame Nkrumah, became the first West African colony to achieve its independence, followed the next year by France's colonies (Guinea in 1958 under the leadership of President Ahmed Sekou Touré); by 1974, West Africa's nations were entirely autonomous.
Since independence, many West African nations have been submerged under political instability, with notable civil wars in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Ivory Coast, and a succession of military coups inGhana andBurkina Faso.
Since the end of colonialism, the region has been the stage for some brutal conflicts, including:
BeforeEuropean colonisation, West African countries such as those from theSenegambia region (Senegal and the Gambia) used to have a diversewildlife includinglions,hippopotamus,elephants,antelopes,leopards etc.[55] However, during colonization, the European colonizers such as the French and British killed most of the wildlife particularly the lions, using their body parts as trophies. By the turn of the 20th century, the Senegambia region had lost most of its lion population and other exotic animals due topoaching. By the 1930s, the Gambian elephant population became extinct. That phenomenon was not only limited to the Senegambia region but affected much of West Africa as the region lost much of its "natural resources once tied so closely to its cultural identity.Poaching has stolen most of its wildlife." The British issued poaching licenses, and although they would later try to reverse the damage that had been done by attempting to preserve what was left of the local wildlife, but by that time, it was too late.[56][57] During the 1930s, the elephant population in theGold Coast was about 300, and Sierra Leone between 500 and 600. Although a small number of elephants survived in Nigeria, hunting,agricultural expansion andclearing of forest in that country drastically affected its wildlife population, particularly elephants.[57]
Despite the historical damage that has been done to the region's wildlife populations, there are still some protected nature reserves within the region. Some of these include:
TheMole National Park is Ghana's biggest wildlife refuge. It is home to over 83 mammal species including about 800 resident elephants, buffalo, hippos, and warthogs[61][62] as well as various fauna and flora.
West Africa is also home to severalbaobab trees and otherplant life. Some baobab trees are several centuries old and form part of the local folklore, for example, a mythical baobab tree namedNgoye njuli in Senegal which is regarded as a sacred site by theSerer. The tree itself is rather majestic and looks like a hugephallus and a deformed animal or thing is protruding from it. It is said to be the dwelling place of apangool. Ngoye njuli is protected by the Senegalese authorities and attracts visitors. In West Africa, as in other parts of Africa where the baobab tree is found, the leaves are mixed with couscous and eaten, the bark of the tree is used to make ropes, and the fruit and seeds are used for drinks and oils.[56][63][64]
West Africa is greatly affected bydeforestation and has one of the worst deforestation rate.[65] Even "the beloved baobab tree" which is viewed as sacred by some West African cultures are under threat due toclimate change,urbanization and population growth. "Huge swaths of forest are being razed to clear space for palm oil and cocoa plantations. Mangroves are being killed off by pollution. Even wispyacacias are hacked away for use in cooking fires to feed growing families."[56] Nigeria, Liberia, Guinea, Ghana and the Ivory Coast, have lost large areas of theirrainforest.[66][67] In 2005, theFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations rankedNigeria as the state with the worst deforestation rate in the entire world. Causes include logging,subsistence agriculture, and the collection of fuelwoods.[68]
According to aThoughtCo publication authored Steve Nix (2018), almost 90 percent of West Africa's original rainforest has been destroyed, and the rest is "heavily fragmented and in a degraded state, being poorly used."[65]
Overfishing is a major issue in West Africa. Besides reducing fish stocks in the region, it also threatensfood security and the livelihoods of many coastal communities that largely depend onartisanal fishing. The overfishing generally comes fromforeign trawlers operating in the region.[69]
To combat the overfishing,Greenpeace has recommended countries reduce the number of registered trawlers operating in African waters, increase the monitoring and control and set up regional fisheries organizations.[70] Some steps have already been taken in the form ofWARFP (the World Bank's West Africa Regional Fisheries Program which empowers west-African countries (i.e. Liberia, Sierra Leone, Cape Verde, and Senegal) with information, training and monitoring systems. Furthermore, Liberia enacted a fisheries regulations Act in 2010[71] and installed a satellite-based monitoring system and Senegal enacted a fisheries code in 2015. In Cape Verde, the fishermen communities of Palmiera and Santa Maria have organized themselves to protect fishing zones. Mozambique finally created aconservation area, including a coastline.[72][73]
West Africa, broadly defined to include the western portion of theMaghreb (Western Sahara,Morocco,Algeria, andTunisia), occupies an area in excess of 6,140,000 km2, or approximately one-fifth of Africa. The vast majority of this land is plains lying less than 300 meters above sea level, though isolated high points exist in numerous states along the southern shore of West Africa.[74]
The northern section of West Africa (narrowly defined to exclude the western Maghreb) is composed of semi-arid terrain known asSahel, a transitional zone between the Sahara and theWest Sudanian savanna.Forests form a belt between the savannas and the southern coast, ranging from 160 km to 240 km in width.[75]
The northwest African region ofMauritania periodically suffers country-wide plagues oflocusts which consume water, salt and crops on which the human population relies.[76]
West Africa is west of an imagined north–south axis lying close to10° east longitude.[74] The AtlanticOcean forms the western as well as the southern borders of the West African region.[74] The northern border is theSahara Desert, with the Ranishanu Bend generally considered the northernmost part of the region.[77] The eastern border is less precise, with some placing it at theBenue Trough, and others on a line running fromMount Cameroon toLake Chad.
Colonial boundaries are reflected in the modern boundaries between contemporary West African states, cutting across ethnic and cultural lines, often dividing single ethnic groups between two or more states.[78]
In contrast to most of Central, Southern, and Southeast Africa, West Africa is not populated byBantu-speaking peoples.[79]
The West African region can be divided into four climatic sub-regions namely the Guinea Coast, Soudano-Sahel, Sahel (extending eastward to the Ethiopian border) and the Sahara,[80] each with different climatic conditions. The seasonal cycle of rainfall is mainly driven by the south-north movement of theInter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) which is characterised by the confluence between moist southwesterly monsoon winds and the dry northeasterly Harmattan.[81]
Based on the inter-annual rainfall variability, three main climatic periods have been observed over the Sahel: the wet period from 1950 to the early 1960s followed by a dry period from 1972 to 1990 and then the period from 1991 onwards which has seen a partial rainfall recovery.[82][83][84] During the dry period, the Sahel experienced a number of particularly severe drought events, with devastating effects.[85][86] The recent decades, have also witnessed a moderate increment in annual rainfall since the beginning of 1990s. However, total annual rainfall remains significantly below that observed during the 1950s.[87][85]
Some have identified the two recent decades as a recovery period.[88] Others refer to this as a period of "hydrological intensification" with much of the annual rainfall increase coming from more severe rain events and sometimes flooding rather than more frequent rainfall, or similarly other works[89][90] underline the continuity of the drought even though the rainfall has increased. Since 1985, 54 percent of the population has been affected by five or more floods in the 17 Sahel region countries.[91] In 2012, severedrought conditions in the Sahel were reported. Governments in the region responded quickly, launching strategies to address the issue.[92]
The region is projected to experience changes in rainfall regime, with climate models suggesting that decreases in wet season rainfall are more likely in the western Sahel, and increases more likely in the central to east Sahel, although opposite trends cannot yet be ruled out.[93][94][95] These trends will affect the frequency and severity of floods, droughts,desertification, sand and dust storms, desert locust plagues and water shortages.[96][97]
However, irrespective of the changes in seasonal mean rain, the most intense storms are expected to become more intense, amplifying flood frequency.[98][99] Enhanced carbon emissions and global warming may also lead to an increase in dry spells especially across the Guinea Coast associated with a reduction of the wet spells under both 1.5 °C and 2 °C global warming level.[100]
Fifteen percent ofSahel region population has also experienced a temperature increase of more than 1 °C from 1970 to 2010. The Sahel region, in particular, will experience higher average temperatures over the course of the 21st century and changes in rainfall patterns, according to theIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
A Trans-ECOWAS project, established in 2007, plans to upgrade railways in this zone. One of the goals of theEconomic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is the development of an integratedrailroad network.[101] Aims include the extension of railways in member countries, the interconnection of previously isolated railways and the standardization of gauge, brakes, couplings, and other parameters. The first line would connect the cities and ports ofLagos,Cotonou,Lomé andAccra and would allow the largest container ships to focus on a smaller number of large ports, while efficiently serving a largerhinterland. This line connects3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) gauge and1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)metre gauge systems, which would require four raildual gauge, which can also providestandard gauge.[101]
TheTrans–West African Coastal Highway is a transnationalhighway project to link 12 West African coastal states, fromMauritania in the north-west of the region toNigeria[102] in the east, with feeder roads already existing to two landlocked countries,Mali andBurkina Faso.[103]
West Africa has made considerable improvement in the health outcomes of its populations, despite the challenges posed by pervasive poverty, epidemic diseases, and food insecurity. The traditional communicable diseases of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis are still the major reasons for mortality. Primary health care is the best answer to curing diseases, as it provides the basic preventive strategies and it reduce the rate of child and maternal morbidity and mortality—two of the most preventable outcomes that can prolong life expectancy at birth.[104] Recently, mental health problems are on the rise in West Africa, as they are in many other world regions. However, the subject is largely a taboo, and professional treatment is still rare.[105]
Despite the wide variety of cultures in West Africa, fromNigeria through toSenegal, there are general similarities indress,cuisine,music and culture that are not shared extensively with groups outside the geographic region. This long history of cultural exchange predates the colonization era of the region and can be approximately placed at the time of theGhana Empire (proper:Wagadou Empire),Mali Empire or perhaps before these empires. West Africa varies a series of tribes and cultures that have combined a diverse regional subculture.[106]
A street and airport inTimbuktu, Mali, showing the Sudano-Sahelian architectural style of the West African interior
The main traditional styles of building (in conjunction with modern styles) are the distinctSudano-Sahelian style in inland areas, and the coastal forest styles more reminiscent of other sub-Saharan areas. They differ greatly in construction due to the demands made by the variety of climates in the area, from tropical humid forests to arid grasslands and deserts. Despite the architectural differences, buildings perform similar functions, including thecompound structure central to West African family life or the strict distinction between the private and public worlds needed to maintain taboos or social etiquette.[107]
Philip Emeagwali wearing theboubou (oragbada), a traditional robe symbolic of West Africa
In contrast to other parts of the continent south of theSahara Desert, the concepts ofhemming andembroidering clothing have been traditionally common to West Africa for centuries, demonstrated by the production of variousbreeches,shirts,tunics andjackets. As a result, the people of the region's diverse nations wear a wide variety of clothing with underlying similarities. Typical pieces of West African formal attire include the knee-to-ankle-length, flowingboubou robe,dashiki, andSenegalesekaftan (also known asagbada andbabariga), which has its origins in the clothing of nobility of various West African empires in the 12th century. Traditional half-sleeved, hip-long, woven smocks or tunics (known asfugu in Gurunsi,riga in Hausa) – worn over a pair of baggy trousers—are another popular garment.[108] In the coastal regions stretching from southern Ivory Coast to Benin, a huge rectangular cloth is wrapped under one arm, draped over a shoulder, and held in one of the wearer's hands—coincidentally, reminiscent ofRomans'togas. The best-known of these toga-like garments is theKente (made by theAkan people ofGhana andIvory Coast), who wear them as a gesture of national pride.
Jollof rice orbenachin, one of many Pan–West African dishes found only in West Africa
Scores of foreign visitors to West African nations (e.g.,traders,historians,emigrants, colonists, missionaries) have benefited from its citizens' generosity, and even left with a piece of its cultural heritage, via its foods. West African cuisines have had a significant influence on those ofWestern civilization for centuries; several dishes of West African origin are currently enjoyed in theCaribbean (such as theWest Indies andHaiti); Australia; the US (particularlyLouisiana,Virginia,North andSouth Carolina); Italy; and other countries. Although some of these recipes have been altered to suit the sensibilities of their adopters, they retain a distinct West African essence.[109]
West African cuisines include fish (especially among the coastal areas), meat, vegetables, and fruits—most of which are grown by the nation's local farmers. In spite of the obvious differences among the various local cuisines in this multinational region, the foods display more similarities than differences. The small difference may be in the ingredients used. Most foods are cooked via boiling or frying. Commonly featured, starchy vegetables includeyams,plantains,cassava, and sweet potatoes.[110] Rice is also a staple food, as is theSerer people'ssorghumcouscous (called"chereh" inSerer) particularly in Senegal andthe Gambia.[111]Jollof rice—originally from theKingdom of Jolof (now part of modern-day Senegal) but has spread to the Wolofs of Gambia—is also enjoyed in many Western nations, as well;[112]Mafé (proper:"tigh-dege-na" ordomodah) fromMali (via theBambara andMandinka)[113]—a peanut-butter stew served with rice;[114][115]Akara (fried bean balls seasoned with spices served with sauce and bread) from Nigeria is a favorite breakfast for Gambians and Senegalese, as well as a favorite side snack or side dish inBrazil and theCaribbean just as it is in West Africa. It is said that its exact origin may be fromYorubaland in Nigeria.[116][117]Fufu (from theTwi language, a dough served with a spicy stew or sauce—for example,okra stew) fromGhana is enjoyed throughout the region and beyond even inCentral Africa with their own versions of it.[118] Dishes such astaguella andeghajira. are popular among theTuareg people.[119]
The board gameoware is quite popular in many parts of Southern Africa. The word"Oware" originates from theAkan people of Ghana. However, virtually all African peoples have a version of this board game.[120] The majormulti-sport event of West Africa is the ECOWAS Games which commenced at the2012 ECOWAS Games.
Kora-playinggriots inSenegal, 1900. Both theKora, a 21-stringed harp-lute, and the griot musical caste are unique to West Africa.
Griot artists and praise-singing is an important musical tradition related to the oral history of West African culture. Traditionally, musical and oral history as conveyed over generations by griots are typical of West African culture inMande,Wolof,Songhay,Serer and, to some extent,Fula areas in the far west. A hereditary caste occupying the fringes of society, the griots were charged with memorizing the histories of local rulers and personages and the caste was further broken down into music-playing griots (similar tobards) and non-music-playing griots. Like Praise-singers, the griot's main profession was musical acquisition and prowess, and patrons were the sole means of financial support. Modern griots enjoy higher status in the patronage of rich individuals in places such asMali,Senegal,Gambia,Mauritania andGuinea, and to some extent make up the vast majority of musicians in these countries. Examples of modern popular griot artists includeYoussou N'Dour,Mamadou Diabate,Sona Jobareteh, andToumani Diabate.
In other areas of West Africa, primarily among theHausa,Mossi,Dagomba andYoruba in the area encompassingBurkina Faso, northernGhana,Nigeria andNiger, the traditional profession of non-hereditary praise-singers,minstrels, bards and poets play a vital role in extending the public show of power, lineage and prestige of traditional rulers through their exclusive patronage. Like the griot tradition, praise singers are charged with knowing the details of specific historical events and royal lineages, but more importantly need to be capable of poetic improvisation and creativity, with knowledge of traditional songs directed towards showing a patron's financial and political or religious power. Competition between Praise-singing ensembles and artists is high, and artists responsible for any extraordinarily skilled prose, musical compositions, and panegyric songs are lavishly rewarded with money, clothing, provisions and other luxuries by patrons who are usually politicians, rulers, Islamic clerics and merchants; these successful praise-singers rise to national stardom. Examples includeMamman Shata,Souley Konko,Fati Niger,Saadou Bori andDan Maraya. In the case of Niger, numerous praise songs are composed and shown on television in praise of local rulers, Islamic clerics, and politicians.
Nollywood of Nigeria, is the main film industry of West Africa. The Nigerian cinema industry is the second largest film industry in terms of number of annual film productions, ahead of theAmerican film industry inHollywood.[125]Senegal andGhana also have long traditions of producing films. The lateOusmane Sembène, the Senegalese film director, producer and writer is from the region, as is theGhanaianShirley Frimpong-Manso.
Islam is largely practiced in the West African interior and the far west coast of the continent and was introduced to the region by traders in the 8th century. Islamic rules on livelihood, values, dress and practices had a profound effect on the populations and cultures in their predominant areas, so much so that the concept of tribalism[vague] is less observed by Islamized groups like theWolof,Hausa,Fula,Songhai,Zarma orSoninke, than they are by non-Islamized groups.[129] Ethnic intermarriage and shared cultural icons are established through a superseded commonality of belief or community, known asummah.[130] Traditional Muslim areas includeSenegal,Gambia,Mali,Mauritania,Guinea,Niger; the upper coast ofSierra Leone the western, northern and far-eastern regions ofBurkina Faso; and the northern half ofNigeria.[131]
Voodoo altar with several fetishes inAbomey, Benin
Traditional African religions (noting the many different belief systems) are the oldest belief systems among the populations of this region, and includeAkan religion,Yoruba religion,Odinani-Igbo, andSerer religion. They arespiritualcreeds that also perform other functions such as preserving the historical and cultural heritage of the people,[132] and "West African tribal groups" blend social andreligious rituals together to the point where there is usually not "much distinction" between them.[133] Although traditional beliefs vary from one place to the next, there are more similarities than differences.[134]
Most traditional religious organizations "do not have a formal hierarchy ofpriests."[133] Group rituals are usually overseen by tribal elders who, "within many cultures", "serve as the main religious figures and determine the time, nature, and intricacies of rituals", orshaman priests who can use magic to heal, control fate, and connect to the spirit world.[133]
Native West Africans primarily speakNiger–Congo languages, belonging mostly, though not exclusively, to its non-Bantu branches, though someNilo-Saharan andAfro-Asiatic speaking groups are also found in West Africa. The Niger–Congo-speakingYoruba,Igbo,Fulani,Akan andWolof ethnic groups are the largest and most influential. In the central Sudan/Sahel,Mandinka orMande groups are most significant. Chadic-speaking groups, most prominently including theHausa, and Nilo-Saharan-speaking communities, such as theSonghai,Kanuri andZarma, are found in the eastern parts of the Sahel borderingCentral Africa. InMali,Niger, andBurkina Faso, the nomadicTuareg speak theTuareg language, a Berber language. The population of West Africa is estimated at 419 million[1][2] people as of 2021.
Colonial languages also play a pivotal cultural and political role, being adopted as the official languages of most countries in the region, as well aslinguae franca in communication between the region's various ethnic groups. For historical reasons, Western European languages such asFrench,English andPortuguese predominate in Southern and Coastal subregions, whilstArabic (in itsMaghrebi varieties) spreads inland northwards.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS; also known as CEDEAO in French and Portuguese) is a regionalpolitical andeconomic union of twelve countries of West Africa. Collectively, the present and former members comprise an area of 5,114,162 km2 (1,974,589 sq mi) and have an estimated population of over 424.34 million.[135]
Considered one of the pillarregional blocs of the continent-wideAfrican Economic Community (AEC), the stated goal of ECOWAS is to achieve "collectiveself-sufficiency" for its member states by creating a single large trade bloc by building a full economic and trading union. Additionally, ECOWAS aims to raiseliving standards and promoteeconomic development.[136] The union was established on 28 May 1975, with the signing of theTreaty of Lagos,[137] with its stated mission to promote economic integration across the region. A revised version of thetreaty was agreed and signed on 24 July 1993 inCotonou, the largest city in Benin.[138]
ECOWAS's published principles include equality and inter-dependence of member states, solidarity, self-reliance, cooperation and harmonization of policies, nonaggression, promotion ofhuman rights, economic andsocial justice, and democratic governance.[139]
Notably among ECOWAS's protocols and plans are the ECOWAS Free Movement of Persons, Residences and Establishment Protocol and the Ecotour Action Plan 2019–2029. TheFree Movement of Persons Protocol permits citizens the right to enter and reside in any member state's territory,[140] and theEcotour Action Plan aims to develop and integrate the tourist industry of each member state.[141]
ECOWAS also serves as apeacekeeping force in the region, with member states occasionally sending jointmilitary forces to intervene in the bloc's member countries at times of political instability and unrest.[142][143]
In 2024, themilitary governments ofNiger,Burkina Faso, andMali jointly announced their withdrawal from the bloc, after having been suspended following respective military takeovers in these countries.[144][145] The withdrawal took effect on 29 January 2025.[146] The three later went on to form theAlliance of Sahel States, with the end goal of establishing a federation.[147][148]
TheWest African Monetary Union (or UEMOA from its name in French,Union économique et monétaire ouest-africaine) is limited to the eight, mostly Francophone countries that employ theCFA franc as their common currency. TheLiptako–Gourma Authority of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso seeks to jointly develop the contiguous areas of the three countries.
Pray the Devil Back to Hell is a documentary film about the origin of this peace movement. The film has been used as an advocacy tool in post-conflict zones likeSudan andZimbabwe, mobilizing African women to petition for peace and security.[151]
^Paul R. Masson, Catherine Anne Pattillo, "Monetary union in West Africa (ECOWAS): is it desirable and how could it be achieved?" (Introduction). International Monetary Fund, 2001.ISBN1-58906-014-8
^abMacDonald, Kevin C. (1997). "Korounkorokalé Revisited: The Pays Mande and the West African Microlithic Technocomplex".The African Archaeological Review.14 (3):161–200.doi:10.1007/BF02968406.JSTOR25130625.S2CID161691927.
^Niang, Khady; Blinkhorn, James; Ndiaye, Matar; Bateman, Mark; Seck, Birame; Sawaré, Gora (December 2020). "The Middle Stone Age occupations of Tiémassas, coastal West Africa, between 62 and 25 thousand years ago".Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.34 102658.Bibcode:2020JArSR..34j2658N.doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2020.102658.S2CID228826414.
^Schlebusch, Carina M.; Jakobsson, Mattias (31 August 2018). "Tales of Human Migration, Admixture, and Selection in Africa".Annual Review of Genomics and Human Genetics.19 (1):405–428.doi:10.1146/annurev-genom-083117-021759.PMID29727585.
^Jesse, Friederike (December 2010). "Early Pottery in Northern Africa – An Overview".Journal of African Archaeology.8 (2):219–238.doi:10.3213/1612-1651-10171.JSTOR43135518.
^Achrati, Ahmed (May 2020). "What ever Happened to the People? Humans and Anthropomorphs in the Rock Art of Northern Africa: International Conference (Brussels, 17, 18 & 19 September 2015)".Rock Art Research.37 (1):109–112.GaleA623569190ProQuest2403309251.
^Baten, Jörg (May 2017). "European Trade, Colonialism and Human Capital Accumulation in Senegal, Gambia and Western Mali, 1770 – 1900".CESifo Working Papers.
^Facts on File, Incorporated,Encyclopedia of the Peoples of Africa and the Middle East (2009), p. 448,ISBN143812676X: "The Islamic Republic of Mauritania, situated in western North Africa..."
^David Seddon,A Political and Economic Dictionary of the Middle East (2004),ISBN020340291X: "We have, by contrast, chosen to include the predominantly Arabic-speaking countries of western North Africa (the Maghreb), including Mauritania (which is a member of the Arab Maghreb Union)..."
^Mohamed Branine, Managing Across Cultures: Concepts, Policies and Practices (2011), p. 437,ISBN1849207291: "The Magrebian countries or the Arab countries of western North Africa (Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia)..."
^Koslow, Philip,Senegambia: Land of the Lion, Chelsea House Publishers (1997), pp. 11, 35–47,ISBN9780791031353.
^Bandia Nature Reserve is sometimes calledBandia park reserve,Lonely Planet,Half-Day Somone Lagoon and Bandia Park Safari from Dakar,[3] (Retrieved 1 April 2019)
^Lonely Plane,Yankari National Park[4] (Retrieved 1 April 2019)
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^Riley, Laura (2005).Nature's strongholds: the world's great wildlife reserves. William Riley. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press.ISBN0-691-12219-9.OCLC59347952.
^Brodowsky, Pamela K. (2009).Destination wildlife: an international site-by-site guide to the best places to experience endangered, rare, and fascinating animals and their habitats. National Wildlife Federation. New York: Penguin.ISBN978-0-399-53486-7.OCLC233549707.
^Martin, V.; Becker, C. (1979). "Lieux de culte et emplacements celebres dans les pays Sereer (Sénégal)" [Places of worship and famous locations in the Sereer countries (Senegal)].Bulletin de l'Institut Fondamental d'Afrique Noire, Série B: Sciences humaines (in French).41:133–189.
^abcPeter Speth.Impacts of Global Change on the Hydrological Cycle in West and Northwest Africa, p. 33. Springer, 2010.ISBN3-642-12956-0
^Peter Speth.Impacts of Global Change on the Hydrological Cycle in West and Northwest Africa, p. 33. Springer, 2010. Prof. Kayode Omitoogun 2011,ISBN3-642-12956-0
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^Azevedo, Mario J. (February 2017). "The State of Health System(s) in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities".Historical Perspectives on the State of Health and Health Systems in Africa, Volume II. African Histories and Modernities. pp. 1–73.doi:10.1007/978-3-319-32564-4_1.ISBN978-3-319-32563-7.PMC7123888.
^Barbara K. Nordquist, Susan B. Aradeon, Howard University. School of Human Ecology, Museum of African Art (U.S.).Traditional African dress and textiles: an exhibition of the Susan B. Aradeon collection of West African dress at the Museum of African Art (1975), pp. 9–15.
^Chidi Asika-Enahoro.A Slice of Africa: Exotic West African Cuisines, Introduction. iUniverse, 2004.ISBN0-595-30528-8.[page needed]
^Pamela Goyan Kittler, Kathryn Sucher.Food and Culture, p. 212. Cengage Learning, 2007.ISBN0-495-11541-X.
^UNESCO. The Case for indigenous West African food culture, p. 4. BREDA series, Vol. 9 (1995),(UNESCO).
^Alan Davidson, Tom Jaine.The Oxford Companion to Food, p. 423. Oxford University Press, 2006.ISBN0-19-280681-5.
^Johnson, Todd M.; Zurlo, Gina A.; Hickman, Albert W.; Crossing, Peter F. (November 2017). "Christianity 2018: More African Christians and Counting Martyrs".International Bulletin of Mission Research.42 (1):20–28.doi:10.1177/2396939317739833.S2CID165905763.
^Robert O. Collins.African History: Western African History, p. 153. Markus Wiener Publishers, 1990.ISBN1-55876-015-6
^Emmanuel Kwaku Akyeampong.Themes in West Africa's History, p. 152. James Currey Publishers, 2006.ISBN0-85255-995-X
^John S. Mbiti.Introduction to African Religion, p. 19. East African Publishers, 1992.ISBN9966-46-928-1
^abcSalamone, Frank A. (2004). Levinson, David (ed.).Encyclopedia of Religious Rites, Rituals, and Festivals. New York:Routledge. p. 9.ISBN0-415-94180-6.
^William J. Duiker, Jackson J. Spielvogel.World History: To 1800, p. 224. Cengage Learning, 2006.ISBN0-495-05053-9
^Adepoju, A.; Boulton, A.; Levin, M. (September 2010). "Promoting Integration Through Mobility: Free Movement Under Ecowas".Refugee Survey Quarterly.29 (3):120–144.doi:10.1093/rsq/hdq032.
^"ECOWAS to promote regional development through tourism". Agence de Presse Africaine. 31 May 2019.ProQuest2232643790.
^Adeyemi, Segun (6 August 2003). "West African Leaders Agree on Deployment to Liberia".Jane's Defence Weekly.
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Brydon, Lynne. "Constructing Avatime: questions of history and identity in a West African polity, c. 1690s to the twentieth century."Journal of African History 49.1 (2008): 23–42.online
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Davidson, Basil.A History of West Africa, 1000–1800 (1978), numerous editions
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Dueppen, Stephen A. "The archaeology of West Africa, ca. 800 BCE to 1500 CE."History Compass 14.6 (2016): 247–263.
Edgerton, Robert B.The Fall of the Asante Empire: The Hundred-Year War For Africa'S Gold Coast (2002).
Fage, J. D.A Guide to Original Sources for Precolonial Western Africa Published in European Languages (2nd ed. 1994); updated in Stanley B. Alpern, ed.Guide to Original Sources for Precolonial Western Africa (2006).
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Greene, S. E.Sacred Sites and the Colonial Encounter: A History of Meaning and Memory in Ghana (2002).
Griswold, Wendy.Writing African women: Gender, popular culture and literature in West Africa (Zed Books Ltd., 2017).
Hayward, Derek F., and Julius Oguntoyinbo.Climatology of West Africa (Routledge, 2019).
Hopkins, Antony Gerald.An economic history of West Africa (2014)online.
Huber, Caroline, Lyn Finelli, and Warren Stevens. "The economic and social burden of the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa."Journal of infectious diseases 218.Supplement_5 (2018): S698–S704.
Kane, Ousmane Oumar,Beyond Timbuktu: An Intellectual History of Muslim West Africa (2016).
Mann, Gregory (2005). "Locating Colonial Histories: Between France and West Africa".The American Historical Review.110 (2):409–434.doi:10.1086/ahr/110.2.409.JSTOR10.1086/531320.
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Mendonsa, Eugene L.West Africa: An Introduction to Its History (2002)
O'Brien, Donal Cruise, Richard Rathbone, John Dunn, eds.Contemporary West African States (2002)online free to borrow
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