West Africa

West Africa, also known asWestern Africa, is the westernmost region ofAfrica. TheUnited Nations definesWestern Africa as the 16 countries ofBenin,Burkina Faso,Cape Verde,The Gambia,Ghana,Guinea,Guinea-Bissau,Ivory Coast,Liberia,Mali,Mauritania,Niger,Nigeria,Senegal,Sierra Leone, andTogo, as well asSaint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha(United Kingdom Overseas Territory).The population of West Africa is estimated at around 419 millionpeople as of 2021, and at 381,981,000 as of 2017, of which 189,672,000 were female and 192,309,000 male.The region is demographicallyand economicallyone of the fastest growing on the African continent.
Early history in West Africa includes a number of prominent regional powers that dominated different parts of both the coastal and internal trade networks, such as theMaliandGao Empires. West Africa sat at the intersection of trade routes betweenArab-dominatedNorth Africaand further south on the continent, the source of specialized goods such asgold, advancediron-working, andivory. After European exploration encountered rich local economies and kingdoms, theAtlantic slave tradebuilt on already existing slave systems to provide labor for colonies in the Americas. After theend of the slave trade in the early 19th century, European nations, especiallyFranceandBritain, continued toexploit the region through colonial relationships. For example, they continued exporting a number ofextractive goods, including labor-intensive agricultural crops likecocoaandcoffee, forestry products liketropical timber, and mineral resources like gold. Since independence, many West African countries, such as theIvory Coast,Ghana,NigeriaandSenegal, have played important roles in the regional and global economies.
West Africa has a richecology, with strongbiodiversityand several distinct regions. The area's climate and ecology are heavily influenced by the drySaharato the north and east, which provides dry winds during theHarmattan, as well as theAtlantic Oceanto the south and west, which provides seasonal monsoons. This mixture of climates gives West Africa a rich and diverse array ofbiomes, from biodiversity-richtropical foreststodrylandssupporting rare and endangered fauna such aspangolins,rhinoceros, andelephants. Because of the pressure for economic development, many of these ecologies are threatened by processes likedeforestation,biodiversity loss,overfishing,pollution from mining,plasticsand other industries, and extreme changes resulting fromclimate change in West Africa.
The history of West Africa can be divided into five major periods: first, its prehistory, in which the firsthumansettlers 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 BritainandFrancecontrolled nearly the entire region; and fifth, the post-independence era, in which the current nations were formed.
West African populations were considerably mobile and interacted with one another throughout thepopulation history of West Africa.Acheulean tool-usingarchaic humansmay have dwelled throughout West Africa since at least between 780,000 BP and 126,000 BP (Middle Pleistocene).During thePleistocene,Middle Stone Agepeoples (e.g.,Iwo Eleru people,possiblyAterians), who dwelled throughout West Africa betweenMIS 4andMIS 2,were gradually replaced by incomingLate Stone Age peoples, who migrated into West Africaas an increase in humid conditions resulted in the subsequent expansion of theWest African forest.West African hunter-gatherersoccupied westernCentral Africa(e.g.,Shum Laka) earlier than 32,000 BP,dwelled throughoutcoastal West Africaby 12,000 BP,and migrated northward between 12,000 BP and 8000 BP as far as Mali, Burkina Faso,and Mauritania.
During theHolocene,Niger-Congospeakers independently created pottery inOunjougou, Mali– the earliestpottery in Africa– by at least 9400 BCE,and along with their pottery,as well as wielding independently inventedbows and arrows,migrated into the Central Sahara,which became their primary region of residence by 10,000 BP.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).Hunters in the Central Sahara farmed, stored, and cooked undomesticated central Saharanflora,underwent domestication ofantelope,anddomesticatedand shepherdedBarbary sheep.After theKel Essuf PeriodandRound Head Periodof the Central Sahara, thePastoral Periodfollowed.Some of the hunter-gatherers who created the Round Head rock art may have adopted pastoral culture, and others may have not.As a result of increasingaridificationof theGreen Sahara, Central Saharanhunter-gatherersand cattleherdersmay have used seasonal waterways as the migratory route taken to theNiger RiverandChad Basinof West Africa.In 2000 BCE, "ThiaroyeWoman",also known as the "Venusof Thiaroye",may have been the earlieststatuettecreated inSub-SaharanWest Africa; it may have particularly been afertilitystatuette, created in the region ofSenegambia,and may be associated with the emergence ofcomplexly organizedpastoral societiesinWest Africabetween 4000 BCE and 1000 BCE.Though possibly developed as early as 5000 BCE,Nsibidimay have also developed in 2000 BCE,as evidenced by depictions of theWest African scriptonIkom monolithsatIkom, inNigeria.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 thesavannasandforestsof West Africa.In West Africa, which may have been a major regional cradle in Africa for thedomesticationof crops and animals,Niger-Congo speakers domesticated thehelmeted guineafowlbetween 5500 BP and 1300 BP;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 Deltaregion of Mali,pearl millet(cenchrus americanus) in northern Mali and Mauritania, andcowpeasin northern Ghana.After having persisted as late as 1000 BP,or some period of time after 1500 CE,remaining West African hunter-gatherers, many of whom dwelt in theforest-savannaregion, were ultimately acculturated and admixed into the larger groups of West Africanagriculturalists, akin to the migratoryBantu-speaking agriculturalists and theirencounterswithCentral African hunter-gatherers.
The development of the region's economy allowed more centralized states and civilizations to form, beginning withDhar Tichittthat began in 1600 B.C. followed byDjenné-Djennobeginning in 300 B.C. This was then succeeded by theGhana Empirethat 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 ofTichitandOualatathat were initially constructed around 2000 B.C., and were found to have originated from theSoninkebranch of theMandé peoples. Also, based on the archaeology of the city ofKumbi Salehin modern-day Mauritania, the Mali empire came to dominate much of the region until its defeat byAlmoravidinvaders in 1052.
Three great kingdoms were identified inBilad al-Sudanby the ninth century. They included Ghana,GaoandKanem.
TheSosso Empiresought to fill the void but was defeated (c.1240) by theMandinkaforces 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,TuaregandSonghaiinvaders. In the 15th century, the Songhai would form a new dominant state based onGao, in theSonghai Empire, under the leadership ofSonni AliandAskia Mohammed.
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 Statein the 11th century, which gave birth to the numerousAkanStates, whileIferose to prominence around the 12th century. Further east,Oyoarose as the dominantYorubastate and theAro Confederacyas a dominantIgbostate 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 Empirewas aYorubaempire of what is today Western, North CentralNigeriaand 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 Dahomeyin the modern Republic of Benin to the west.
The Benin Empire was apost-classicalempire 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 Empirein 1897 during the invasion and scramble of Africa.
Portuguese traders began establishing settlements along the coast in 1445, followed by theFrench,English,Spanish,DanishandDutch; theAfrican slave tradebegan not long after, which over the following centuries would debilitate the region's economy and population.The slave trade also encouraged the formation of states such as theBono State,Bambara EmpireandDahomey, whose economic activities include but not limited to exchanging slaves for Europeanfirearms.
In the early 19th century, a series of Fulani reformistjihadsswept across Western Africa. The most notable includeUsman dan Fodio'sFulani Empire, which replaced theHausacity-states,Seku Amadu'sMassina Empire, which defeated the Bambara, and El HadjUmar Tall'sToucouleur Empire, which briefly conquered much of modern-day Mali.
However, theFrenchandBritishcontinued to advance in theScramble for Africa, subjugating kingdom after kingdom. With the fall ofSamory Ture's establishedWassoulou Empirein 1898 and theAshantiqueenYaa Asantewaain 1902, most West African military resistance to colonial rule resulted in failure.
Part of the West African regions underwent an increase in thenumeracylevel throughout the 19th century. The reason for such a growth was predetermined by a number of factors. Namely, thepeanutproduction and trade, which was boosted by thedemandof thecolonial states. Importantly, the rise of numeracy was higher in the regions which were lesshierarchicaland had less dependence on theslaverytrade (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.
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.Portugalfounded the colony ofGuinea-Bissau, whileGermanyclaimedTogoland, but was forced to divide it between France and Britain followingFirst World Wardue to theTreaty of Versailles. OnlyLiberiaretained 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 inGhanaandBurkina Faso.
Since the end of colonialism, the region has been the stage for some brutal conflicts, including:
Geopolitically, theUnited Nations definitionofsubregionWestern Africa includes the preceding states with the addition ofMauritania(which withdrew from ECOWAS in 1999), comprising an area of approximately 6.1 million square km.The UN region also includes theUnited Kingdom Overseas TerritoryofSaint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunhain the southAtlantic Ocean.
In theUnited Nationsscheme of African regions, the region of Western Africa includes 16statesand theUnited Kingdom Overseas TerritoryofSaint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha:Mali,Burkina Faso,Senegaland theNigerare mostly in theSahel, a transition zone between theSahara desertand theSudanian Savanna;Benin,Ivory Coast,The Gambia,Ghana,Guinea,Guinea-Bissau,Liberia,Sierra Leone,TogoandNigeriacompose most ofGuinea, the traditional name for the area near theGulf of Guinea;Mauritanialies in theMaghreb, the northwestern region of Africa that has historically been inhabited by West African groups such as theFulani,Soninke,Wolof,SererandToucouleur people,along withArab-BerberMaghrebi peoplesuch as theTuareg;Cape Verdeis an island country in theAtlantic Ocean; andSaint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunhaconsists of eight main islands located in four different parts of the Atlantic. Due to Mauritania's increasingly close ties to theArab Worldand its 1999 withdrawal from theEconomic Community of West African States(ECOWAS), in modern times it is often considered, especially in Africa, as now part of westernNorth Africa.
Major and principal cities in West Africa include, geographically eastward:
BeforeEuropean colonisation, West African countries such as those from theSenegambia region(Senegal and the Gambia) used to have a diversewildlifeincludinglions,hippopotamus,elephants,antelopes,leopardsetc.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.Poachinghas 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.During the 1930s, the elephant population in theGold Coastwas about 300, and Sierra Leone between 500 and 600. Although a small number of elephants survived in Nigeria, hunting,agricultural expansionandclearing of forest in that countrydrastically affected its wildlife population, particularly elephants.
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:
West Africa is also home to severalbaobabtrees and otherplant life. Some baobab trees are several centuries old and form part of the local folklore, for example, a mythical baobab tree namedNgoye njuliin Senegal which is regarded as a sacred site by theSerer. The tree itself is rather majestic and looks like a hugephallusand 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.
West Africa is greatly affected bydeforestationand has one of the worst deforestation rate.Even "the beloved baobab tree" which is viewed as sacred by some West African cultures are under threat due toclimate change,urbanizationand 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 wispyacaciasare hacked away for use in cooking fires to feed growing families."Nigeria, Liberia, Guinea, Ghana and the Ivory Coast, have lost large areas of theirrainforest.In 2005, theFood and Agriculture Organizationof the United Nations rankedNigeria as the state with the worst deforestation ratein the entire world. Causes include logging,subsistence agriculture, and the collection of fuelwoods.
According to aThoughtCopublication 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."
Overfishingis a major issue in West Africa. Besides reducing fish stocks in the region, it also threatensfood securityand the livelihoods of many coastal communities that largely depend onartisanal fishing. The overfishing generally comes fromforeign trawlersoperating in the region.
To combat the overfishing,Greenpeacehas recommended countries reduce the number of registered trawlers operating in African waters, increase the monitoring and control and set up regional fisheries organizations.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 2010and 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 aconservationarea, including a coastline.
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 km, 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.
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.Forestsform a belt between the savannas and the southern coast, ranging from 160 km to 240 km in width.
The northwest African region ofMauritaniaperiodically suffers country-wide plagues oflocustswhich consume water, salt and crops on which the human population relies.
West Africa is west of an imagined north-south axis lying close to10° east longitude.The AtlanticOceanforms the western as well as the southern borders of the West African region.The northern border is theSahara Desert, with the Ranishanu Bend generally considered the northernmost part of the region.The eastern border is less precise, with some placing it at theBenue Trough, and others on a line running fromMount CameroontoLake 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.
In contrast to most of Central, Southern, and Southeast Africa, West Africa is not populated byBantu-speaking peoples.
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 integratedrailroadnetwork.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,LoméandAccraand 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 ft3+3⁄8in)metre gaugesystems, which would require four raildual gauge, which can also providestandard gauge.
TheTrans–West African Coastal Highwayis a transnationalhighwayproject to link 12 West African coastal states, fromMauritaniain the north-west of the region toNigeriain the east, with feeder roads already existing to two landlocked countries,MaliandBurkina Faso.
The eastern end of the highway terminates atLagos,Nigeria.Economic Community of West African States(ECOWAS) consider its western end to beNouakchott,Mauritania, or to beDakar,Senegal, giving rise to these alternative names for the road:
The capitals' airports include:
Of the sixteen, the most important hub and entry point to West Africa areKotoka International Airport, andMurtala Muhammed International Airport, offering many international connections.
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.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.
Despite the wide variety of cultures in West Africa, fromNigeriathrough toSenegal, there are general similarities indress,cuisine,musicand 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:WagadouEmpire),Mali Empireor perhaps before these empires. West Africa varies a series of tribes and cultures that have combined a diverse regional subculture.
The main traditional styles of building (in conjunction with modern styles) are the distinctSudano-Sahelianstyle 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 thecompoundstructure central to West African family life or the strict distinction between the private and public worlds needed to maintain taboos or social etiquette.
In contrast to other parts of the continent south of theSahara Desert, the concepts ofhemmingandembroideringclothing have been traditionally common to West Africa for centuries, demonstrated by the production of variousbreeches,shirts,tunicsandjackets. 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, flowingBoubourobe,Dashiki, andSenegaleseKaftan(also known asAgbadaandBabariga), 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 asfuguin Gurunsi,rigain Hausa) – worn over a pair of baggy trousers—are another popular garment.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 peopleofGhanaandIvory Coast), who wear them as a gesture of national pride.
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 civilizationfor centuries; several dishes of West African origin are currently enjoyed in theCaribbean(e.g., theWest IndiesandHaiti); Australia; the USA (particularlyLouisiana,Virginia,NorthandSouth 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.
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.Rice is also a staple food, as is theSerer people'ssorghumcouscous(called"Chereh"inSerer) particularly in Senegal andthe Gambia.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;Mafé(proper:"Tigh-dege-na"orDomodah) fromMali(via theBambaraandMandinka)—a peanut-butter stew served with rice;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 inBraziland theCaribbeanjust as it is in West Africa. It is said that its exact origin may be fromYorubalandin Nigeria.Fufu(from theTwi language, a dough served with a spicy stew or sauce for exampleokrastew etc.) fromGhanais enjoyed throughout the region and beyond even inCentral Africawith their own versions of it.Dishes such astaguella,eghajira, etc. are popular among theTuareg people.
The board gameowareis quite popular in many parts of Southern Africa. The word"Oware"originates from theAkan peopleof Ghana. However, virtually all African peoples have a version of this board game.The majormulti-sport eventof West Africa is the ECOWAS Games which commenced at the2012 ECOWAS Games.
Footballis also a pastime enjoyed by many, either spectating or playing. The major national teams of West Africa, theGhana national football team, theIvory Coast national football team, and theNigeria national football teamregularly win theAfrica Cup of Nations.Majorfootball teamsof West Africa areAsante Kotoko SCandAccra Hearts of Oak SCof theGhana Premier League,Enyimba Internationalof theNigerian Premier LeagueandASEC Mimosasof theLigue 1 (Ivory Coast). Thefootballgoverning body of West Africa is theWest African Football Union(WAFU) and the major tournament is theWest African Club ChampionshipandWAFU Nations Cup, along with the annual individual award ofWest African Footballer of the Year.
Mbalax,Highlife,Fuji,Afrobeat, andAfrobeatsare modern musical genres of West Africa and its diaspora.
Traditionalfolk musicis also well-preserved. Some types of folk music are religious in nature such as the "Tassou" tradition used inSerer religion.
Griotartists 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,Sererand, to some extent,Fulaareas 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,MauritaniaandGuinea, 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,DagombaandYorubain the area encompassingBurkina Faso, northernGhana,NigeriaandNiger, 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 BoriandDan Maraya. In the case of Niger, numerous praise songs are composed and shown on television in praise of local rulers, Islamic clerics, and politicians.
Nollywoodof 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 industryinHollywood.SenegalandGhanaalso 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.
Islamis the predominantreligionof the West African interior and the far west coast of the continent (71% of West Africans); and was introduced to the region by traders in the 9th century. Islam is the religion of the region's biggest ethnic groups by population. 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 tribalismis less observed by Islamized groups like theWolof,Hausa,Fula,Songhai,ZarmaorSoninke, than they are by non-Islamized groups.Ethnic intermarriage and shared cultural icons are established through a superseded commonality of belief or community, known asummah.Traditional Muslim areas includeSenegal,Gambia,Mali,Mauritania,Guinea,Niger; the upper coast ofSierra Leoneand inlandLiberia; the western, northern and far-eastern regions ofBurkina Faso; and the northern halves of the coastal nations ofNigeria,Benin,Togo,GhanaandIvory Coast.
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 arespiritualcreedsthat also perform other functions such as preserving the historical and cultural heritage of the people,and "West African tribal groups" blend social andreligious ritualstogether to the point where there is usually not "much distinction" between them.Although traditional beliefs vary from one place to the next, there are more similarities than differences.
Most traditional religious organizations "do not have a formal hierarchy ofpriests."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", orshamanpriests who can use magic to heal, control fate, and connect to the spirit world.
In 2010, around 20% of West Africans identified asChristians.Christianitywas largely introduced from the late 19th century onward, when missionaries from European countries brought the religion to the region.West African Christians are predominantlyRoman CatholicorAnglican; someEvangelicalchurches have also been established. Christianity has become the predominant religion in thecentraland southern part ofNigeria, southernIvory Coast, and the coastal regions stretching from southernGhanato coastal parts ofSierra Leone. Like Islam, elements of traditional African religion are mixed with Christianity.
Native West Africans primarily speakNiger–Congo languages, belonging mostly, though not exclusively, to its non-Bantu branches, though someNilo-SaharanandAfro-Asiaticspeaking groups are also found in West Africa. The Niger–Congo-speakingYoruba,Igbo,Fulani,AkanandWolofethnic groups are the largest and most influential. In the central Sudan/Sahel,MandinkaorMandegroups are most significant. Chadic-speaking groups, most prominently including theHausa, and Nilo-Saharan-speaking communities, such as theSonghai,KanuriandZarma, are found in the eastern parts of the Sahel borderingCentral Africa. InMali,Niger, andBurkina Faso, the nomadicTuaregspeak theTuareg language, a Berber language. The population of West Africa is estimated at 419 millionpeople 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 francain communication between the region's various ethnic groups. For historical reasons, Western European languages such asFrench,EnglishandPortuguesepredominate in Southern and Coastal subregions, whilstArabic(in itsMaghrebivarieties) spreads inland northwards.
Further information in the sections ofArchitecture of Africa:
Further information in the sections ofHistory of science and technology in Africa:
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 francas their common currency. TheLiptako–Gourma Authorityof Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso seeks to jointly develop the contiguous areas of the three countries.
Since the adoption of theUnited Nations Security Council Resolution 1325in 2000, women have been engaged in rebuilding war-torn Africa. Starting with theWomen of Liberia Mass Action for Peaceand Women in Peacebuilding Network (WIPNET), thepeace movementhas grown to include women across West Africa.
Established on 8 May 2006,Women Peace and Security Network – Africa(WIPSEN-Africa), is a women-focused, women-ledPan-Africannon-governmental organization based inGhana.The organization focuses on empowering women to have a role in political and peace governance in Africa.It has a presence inGhana,Nigeria,Ivory Coast,LiberiaandSierra Leone. Regional leaders ofnonviolent resistanceincludeLeymah Gbowee,Comfort Freeman, andAya Virginie Toure.
Pray the Devil Back to Hellis a documentary film about the origin of this peace movement. The film has been used as an advocacy tool in post-conflict zones likeSudanandZimbabwe, mobilizing African women to petition for peace and security.
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