western Africa

Table of Contents

Introduction
Muslims in western Africa
The states of the Sudan
- The early kingdoms and empires of the western Sudan
- The wider influence of the Sudanic kingdoms
The beginnings of European activity
- The rise of the Atlantic slave trade
- Anglo-French competition
- The slave-trade era
- Pre-European slave trading
- The southward expansion of Oyo
The Islamic revolution in the western Sudan
- Dominance of Tuareg and Amazigh tribes
- The first Fulani jihad
- The jihad of Usman dan Fodio
- The jihad of ʾUmar Tal
The Guinea coastlands and the Europeans (1807–79)
- The abolition of slavery
- The British presence in Sierra Leone
- The British in the Niger delta
- The fall of the African kingdoms
Colonization
- Effect of local conditions
- French areas of interest
- British areas of interest
- Claims of territorial boundaries
- Problems of military control
- Initial difficulty of European administration
- Colonial rule
- French territories
- British territories
Decolonization and the regaining of independence
- The emergence of African leaders
- The formation of African independence movements

References & Edit History Related Topics

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western Africa, elevation

distribution of the peoples of the western Sudan

Principal kingdoms and peoples of western Africa, 11th–16th century

slavery: attempting to escape

transatlantic slave trade

Principal kingdoms and peoples of western Africa, 17th–19th century

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western Africa: Related Content

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Last Updated: Jun 06, 2025

News •

Red Cross closes Niger offices and foreign staff leave after junta's expulsion order • June 6, 2025, 7:42 AM ET (AP)

US military shifts messaging in Africa, telling allies to prepare to stand more on their own • May 25, 2025, 5:12 PM ET (AP)

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western Africa, elevation

distribution of the peoples of the western Sudan

Principal kingdoms and peoples of western Africa, 11th–16th century

slavery: attempting to escape

transatlantic slave trade

Principal kingdoms and peoples of western Africa, 17th–19th century

A collage featuring four colonial-era European figures in military and formal attire, a yellow map of Africa, and a vintage cartoon of imperialism in the background.

Observe ancient techniques still employed by metalworkers in western Africa

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