West Africa

“Griots and Storytellers” (Duckers). The singers of the Mali empire were known as Griots, and they functioned in West African societies as: storyteller’s, musicians, and historians. Griots would usually work for the richer class members and they work at any moment they are called upon. The Griots and Griottes (girl Griots) had to have some of the best memories in all of West Africa. Typically the role of a Griot is passed down from generation to generation, that is a ton of pressure to know…

Nigeria is in West Africa, along the eastern coast of the Gulf of Guinea and just north of the equator. On the west of Nigeria is Benin, on the north is Niger and Chad, and on the east is Cameroon. Nigeria covers an area of 356,669 square miles (923,768 square kilometers), or about twice the size of California. There are more than 250 ethnic tribes in Nigeria. The three most largest ethnic groups are Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo (pronounced ee-bo). Some other smaller groups include Fulani, Ijaw,…

Askia the Great – Prosperity of the Songhai Empire Songhai Empire, located in West Africa, reached its peak under the leadership of Askia the Great, an authoritative military leader. He not only expanded the border of the empire but also encouraged education for its citizens. In addition, Askia augmented trade with foreign countries and set up regulations on measurements and customs. He also unified and controlled the nation efficiently by centralizing the government. Under his reign, Songhai…

From the previous week reading we discovered the Sahel. The Sahel is an area of West Africa which is home to a very unique environment. Within the passage, we learn about the after affects of the drought that has ravage the Sahel. As such, many different parts of the world try to come together and help this important area of Africa. As a result, many western influences were brought in to help reenergize the agriculture of the Sahel. But with their minimal knowledge of the Sahel their ideas soon…

a country in Africa that has a variety of landscapes. It has resources that are valuable to other countries. Cameroon consist of national parks, cities, beaches, a reserve, and a river. There is over 250 racial groups in Cameroon. This means that there is many different religions practiced. Many of the religions practiced are Christianity, Muslim, Catholics, Protestants, and some worship their ancestors. The diversity of this country can be broken up into three groups the south,west,and north.…

The Gullahs, also referred to as the Geechee in some parts of the south, are West African slaves that were brought to the New World to work on the plantations in the lowcountry along the southeastern coast of the United States, from the Cape Fear River in North Carolina to the St. John 's River in Florida. This coastal region with its many barrier islands is separated from the mainland by creeks, rivers, and marshes. The islands were accessible only by boat until the first bridges were built…

Over the past year, Ebola has been making headlines due to the toll it has taken over the West African population and over those that have come in close contact with Ebola victims.Over nine thousand people have died out of the 23,000 infected. As a responsible world citizen, the US has helped Africa by sending hundreds of troops to Africa. They were sent to build dozens of hospitals and train people to take care of the patients and contain the deadly virus. "Today…

influential prince who founded the Mali Empire. In The Epic of Sundiata, we learn the historical context of Sundiata, the importance of Sogolon Kokalon and Balla Fasseke, the details that explain the long distance trade, the universal religion, and West African history. The story of Sundiata is known today because of griots, which are oral storytellers who kept the tradition alive from generation to generation. The historical context within The Epic…

Poisonous Electronics in Ghana When I first think of Africa the word desert comes to mind. After reading books and learning about Africa in core discussions I have gained so much more insight as to what Africa is all about. Africa is a very diverse continent with many cultures and a very large population. Although there are many countries in Africa, I will be focusing on a country in Western Africa, Ghana. Many are unaware of the electronic wastelands in Ghana, tons of used appliances are being…

The kola nut is not eaten for nutritional value, instead it is considered a culturally significant food. The people of West Africa developed traditions that established unity with the kola nut as the central element. It was used in most commonly in ceremonies but also as a healing herb. The increasing necessity for kola nuts expanded the trade in West Africa to keep up a steady supply. In the 1500’s, the Portuguese were the first begin developing trading relationships with Africans. The…