Early Kingdoms of Africa

Maki

Mar 30, 700

The Mali empire covered an area that encompasses significant portions of the present-day country of Mali, southern and western Mauritania and Senegal. At its peak, the Mali Empire extended across West Africa to the Atlantic Ocean and incorporated an estimate of 40 to 50 million people. Ended in 1600.

Kilwa

Mar 30, 1000

This kingdom made its home on an island off of the East African coast. Its society was often characterised by inter-marriage and other social abnormalities. The Portugese caused its fall when they began controlling the election of its rulers and controlled the rulers themselves. Ended in

Great Zimbabwe

Apr 3, 1100

Great Zimbabwe is best known for its over 150 granite ruins found in its area. It is located just south of the Zambezi river in present day Mozambique and of course Zimbabwe. This society thrived on trade but environmental degrading led to its downfall in 1400.

Hausa

Mar 30, 1200

Hausa was located in Northern Nigeria, and northwestern Niger. The population was 15 million. There was beautiful indigo dyed cloth which is still produced in the Kano state of northern Nigeria. The Fulani took over political power in the region in the early 1800s. Ended in 1850

Ghana

Mar 30, 1240

Was also known as Wagadugu and was the title of the kings who ruled the kingdom. It was controlled by Sundiata and absorbed into the larger Mali Empire. The old Ghana is 500 miles north of the present Ghana, and occupied the area between Rivers Senegal and Niger. Ghana used to be called the Gold Coast because they had so much gold in the 15th Century between rivers in Ankobra and the Volta. Ended in 1307.

Songhai

Mar 30, 1375

The Songhai Empire was the largest and last of the three major pre-colonial empires to emerge in West Africa. From its capital Gao, it expanded into the Atlantic Ocean and to what is now the Northwest Nigeria and western Nigeria. Ended in 1591.

Benin

Mar 30, 1400

Located in Southwestern Nigeria, this kingdom began its reign when the British began regular trips to Africa. They controlled most of the trade. Until 1897, however, when they began attacking the envoys. Then the British captured its kings and destroyed this kingdom in 1897.

Mutapa

Apr 3, 1430

Around 1425, Mutota king of the Shona, embarked on conquest of the inland plateau, the region located between the Zambezi River and the Limpopo River, to the coast of Mozambique. The empire was the most powerful in political in the region. Ended in 1760.

Yoruba

Mar 30, 1600

The Oyo kingdom was a powerful kingdom located in Western Africa. They now make up almost 21% of Nigerian population. They worshipped numerous gods and were animalistic.

Early Kingdoms of Africa

Period: Mar 30, 2000 to Mar 30, 2000