Which other kingdoms were in West Africa?
| Date founded | Name of kingdom | Achievements |
|---|---|---|
| 500 | Nok | Farmers, potters and metalworkers who settled near the River Niger |
| 600 | Ife | Started in the rainforests |
| 700-1600 | Ancient Ghana, Mali and Songhai | Grew rich by selling gold |
| 900 | Benin | Was most powerful in 1400s and 1600s |
| 1700 | Asante | Famous for gold craft work |
What things did people in the kingdoms make?
Skilled potters and metalworkers worked with brass or gold.
Potters in the kingdom of Nok made sculptures from a type of clay called terracotta.
Brass-workers in the kingdom of Ife made brass figures of gods, humans and animals.
In the Asante kingdom, goldsmiths made ornaments to show their king was rich.
Who was Mansa Musa?
- Mansa Musa was a rich king of Mali.
- He travelled to the holy city of Mecca with thousands of men carrying gold to give to people along the way.
- He brought teachers and architects back to Mali from his travels.
- Mansa Musa also built many mosques and schools in Timbuktu and Gao.
Listen: Ibn Battuta鈥檚 visit to Mali
In 1352, an Arab traveller called Ibn Battuta visited Mali. He arrived at the city of Niani where Mansa Suleyman, grandson of Mansa Musa, had his palace. Suleyman was not a great ruler like Musa, but he lived in style! Find out what Ibn Battuta saw.
I had a wretched journey across the Sahara desert. Only the thought of the famous kingdom of Mali kept me going. I had heard great stories about the land of gold and I knew I had to see it with my own eyes.
Just then as I arrived in the kingdom of Mali, I very nearly died! I ate some rotten yams that made me so sick I had to take to my bed. It was two whole months before I had the strength to visit the royal palace.
As I reached the palace gates I saw around 300 slaves, some armed with bows and some with lances - all of them devoted to the service of their king, Mansa Suleyman. Then I was led to the vast council hall where the king received his visitors.
No one was allowed to approach the king directly. Instead I sat with chiefs and warriors and visitors of all kinds. We waited in a broad avenue lined with trees, for our turn to send a message.
When I finally took my turn, I had to speak through an Interpreter. He was a splendid figure in silken robes wearing a turban with elaborate fringes. Then the Interpreter spoke to a man who stood near the king and that man finally gave my message tothe king.
On another day, I attended a festival in honour of the king. I saw a parade of chiefs all riding on horseback, with their followers carrying weapons and playing drums and bugles. There were other musicians with instruments made from reeds and gourds, which they beat with sticks to make a wonderful sound.
The Interpreter sat on a special chair and sang loudly in praise of his king. He was joined by a choir of women and pages, and then came the acrobats and jugglers with swords.
When I finally got to see Mansa Suleyman, he gave me a strange gift - a small dish of bread, meat and yogurt. Later I complained to him, telling him of all the generous rulers I had met on my travels. After that, he offered me a house where I could stay and when I left his country he gave me gifts of gold.
I shall never forget my visit to Mali however long I live.
What happened to the African kingdoms?
- By the 1890s, many countries in Europe were competing for land in Africa.
- They also wanted goods, like gold, oil and rubber.
- From 1897, Benin and other west African kingdoms were ruled by European countries.
- From the 1950s many African countries won their independence.
- Today, the ancient kingdom of Benin is part of Nigeria and Asante is in Ghana.
Activities
Activity 1: Map of West Africa
Explore the map below to find out more about the kingdoms of West Africa.
Activity 2: Quiz 鈥 Kingdoms of West Africa
Bitesize Primary games. game
Play fun and educational primary games in science, maths, English, history, geography, art, computing and modern languages.
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