1. West African Literature Background
Andrew C. Jackson
January 4, 2010

2. Historical Highlights
Rise of Ghana
Founded by Soninke people
“land of gold”
Ironic title
Spread of Islam
Almoravids (Moors) captured Ghana and converted it.
Rise of Mali
1st great Muslim empire in West Africa

3. Historical Highlights
Forest Kingdoms Prosper
Yoruba (deeply religious)
Edo people of Benin
Atlantic slave trade
Atlantic Slave trade
Small scale becomes big scale (West Africa lost million of its people)
Ashanti (one group involved in slave trade)
British colonize (90% would be European by 1890)

4. People and Society Rulers Priests Craftspeople Kings Nobles Chiefs
Also diviners were special religious figures
Craftspeople
Variety of people, including singers, dancers, story-tellers workers, etc.

5. People and Society Freeborn people Slaves Women in West Africa
Relative term
Slaves
Women in West Africa
Relatively high status
Not warriors, but “queen mothers”

6. Arts and Culture Literature Religion Oral tradition
One god withdrew from human affairs
Worship of lesser gods and who spirits more into human affairs
Ancestral spirits, witches, and sorcers
Faith in the diviners

7. Arts and Culture Music and dance Art Improvisation
Expressionistic design

8. This is the end…
Andrew Jackson
MMX