People of Western Africa

Regions of Africa

Trade Routes Since there were trade routes in Western Africa, Africans moved around a lot. They moved to use their skills based on climate. The climate in North and South Africa was most like Europe which made It desirable for European trade and colonization.

South Africa The Dutch settled South Africa.

West Africa West Africa had gold which attracted European explorers.

Regional Groups in Western Africa Igbo (Farmers) Baga (Rice Growers) Do and Kru (Fishermen) Malinke (Farmers, Traders, Ironworkers, Politicians, and Military) Fulani (Cowboys)

African Life During the 16th Century Economy: Africans made a living by herding, fishing, farming, and trading. Extended families lived together in one household (grandparents, parents, children, aunts, uncles, cousins). Kinship or sharing a common ancestor linked families. People honored the spirits of their ancestors and the forces of nature.

African Kingdoms Ghana Natural resource: Niger River Industries: farming, trading salt and gold, defense (army) Agricultural crops and livestock: yams (sweet potatoes), beans, rice, onions, sorghum, millet, papaya, gourds, cotton, peanuts, cattle, sheep, goats, and poultry. Economic specialization: traders, farmers, blacksmiths, soldiers, griots - the storytellers Family structure

Mali Time Period: The empire of Mali had its heyday from 1200 CE through the late 1400's. Major Export: gold and salt Natural resources: Niger River, gold mines, salt mines Industries: farming, mining, trading, defense (army) Agricultural crops and livestock: beans, rice, onions, sorghum, millet, papaya, gourds, cotton, peanuts, cattle, sheep, goats, and poultry. Economic specialization: traders, miners, farmers, blacksmiths, and soldiers Famous People: Sundiata, Mansa Musa (introduced Islam to Western Africa)

Songhai Time Period: The Empire of Songhai had its heyday from the 1400's through the late 1500's. At its height, the Empire of Songhai was 2,000 miles long! Major Export: gold, salt, slaves Most Sought After Import: books Natural resource: fish, Niger River, Gold Mines, Salt Mines Industries: farming, mining, trading, defense (army) Agricultural crops and livestock: beans, rice, onions, sorghum, millet, papaya, gourds, cotton, peanuts, cattle, sheep, goats, and poultry . Economic specialization: fishermen, traders, miners, farmers, blacksmiths, soldiers, witchdoctors

Slavery Most slaves that came to North America were taken from Western Africa. Slaves taken from Central and Eastern Africa went to the Caribbean and South America. White slaves that were captured on trading vessels sailing through the Mediterranean were taken to Northern Africa.

Skills Slaves Brought to America The slaves from West and Central Africa imported the knowledge of growing rice, which grew well in their land, to South Carolina and Georgia. Other foods that came from Africa were watermelon, black-eyed peas, sorghum, okra, and millet. The Africans prepared these foods along with various gumbo and rice dishes. Many Africans prepared single pot meals such as gumbo. They taught these cooking methods to other Americans. The African influence is found in music, in many of the Old Negro Spirituals. Jazz, blues, and rock-and-roll are stamped with African influences as is bluegrass music with its signature instrument the banjo, being of African origin. Some common words from Africa include okra, gumbo, and jazz. Africans also brought skills of textile production, weaving and dying, metallurgy and metalwork, carving, basket making, and potting skills to America.