The Empire of Ghana was the first Empire of the 3 Great West African Empires.
The government of the empire of Ghana was simple, the kingdoms were divided into districts, and there was a district leader for every district. The king of that time was head of government and most people obeyed the laws. The army had great military power. “Legend has it the king could order 200,000 warriors and 40,000 more with bows and arrows.” Daily life was basic people were farmers, miners, artists etc, hard workers sang, and laughed. “Had fresh fruit and sweet potatoes,” and the Niger River provided water for farming, bathing, washing, and fish. There were griots who were storytellers; the responsibility of a griot is to pass on stories from tradition to tradition and generation to generation. Kids instead of going to school stayed home and listened to griots.
Ancient Ghana is north and west of present day Ghana. The Soninke between 300 and 500, using their iron weapons, conquered Ghana, Ghana using only their wooden weapons were defeated.
Gold was a meaningful word in Ghana; in mid 1000’s the ruler was called King of Gold. Ghana used to mean “warrior king” now it means “gold.”
Salt was a need to have “They traded the gold from the south for the salt from North Africa.” It was a silent trade because of the lack of language. They would leave their trade then examine what they got “if they believed that it was an even trade the transition was complete if not process was repeated until agreement was reached.” Slaves were also on the market. In the capitol city, Kumbi, and by Ghanaians, slaves were sold and bought by eager North African merchants. Slaves had existed for hundreds of years, they were enslaved when captured during wars. Africans enslaved other Africans but “most were able to earn or buy their freedom at some point.”
North Africans were followers of Muhammad; Islam. “They believed they had a duty to spread Islam; peacefully if possible or by a holy war, called a jihad, if necessary.” In the 1000’s Almoravid’s (The North African Muslims) did a jihad against Ghana. In the year 1062 the leader Abu Bakr led the invasion to Kumbi in the end the Almoravids destroyed the capitol and killed anyone who refused to accept Islam. Abu died and ended the Almoravids control over Ghana. But then in 1235 invaders from Mali came to Ghana.
Mali was the second of the 3 Great West African Empires.
By oral tradition is a how we got our knowledge of Mali; from griots. “Sundiata- a prince- was spared by a cruel conqueror- Sumanguru- when he enslaved Sundiata’s people.” In 1235 he lead a revolt against the cruel conqueror during the final battle between Sundiata and Sumanguru, Sundiata won and was crowned the new ruler. “As the new ruler he included Ghana into his kingdom which he named Mali.” Unlike Ghanaians the people of Mali chose to switch to Islam, but inherited the trading system from Ghana.
The Ruler of West African Empire of Mali, Mansa Musa went on a hajj (journey) to Mecca. Legend has it that he rode a on a caravan consisted of 60,000 people. He took along slaves and his rivals so they couldn’t harm his power at home. They arrived in Egypt and gave the people there gold, in result of the journey Mali appeared on first European map. On Mansa Musa’s visit to Mecca he managed to persuade some architects, scholars, and other professionals to come back to Mali with him. “They helped to enlarge and enrich the city of Timbuktu.” The greatness only lasted till 1500’s “after Mansa Musa’s death the empire began falling apart.” “Sons of kings in the of city Gao led a revolt then set about to build the empire of Songhai.”
Songhai is the last of the 3 Great West African Empires.
Trading goods for Songhai were gold and ivory. The emperor was Sunni Ali. Sunni was one of the fiercest warriors West Africa has ever seen, he ruled from 1464-1492. “Unlike Mali and Ghana- Songhai expanded it’s trading network to Europe and Southwest Asia.” Emperor Sunni Ali came into conflict with some Muslim leaders they did not like his idea of letting people to practice their old religions instead of becoming a Muslim.
When Sunni Ali died who was next for the throne was being fought over eventually a guy named Asika Muhammad came to the throne. When he died of blindness his sons fought over the throne.
“Songhai’s final challenge came from invaders”
In 1591 an army from Morocco came to West Africa in Search of gold the army possessed an early type of gun called the harquebus. Even if the army was out numbered with the gun they were undefeatable. “With the fall of Songhai in 1591 the thousand-year rule of the three great West African empires came to an end.” European Merchants built trading posts along the coast of West Africa they sold ivory, gold, and Africans to Americans.
Food depends on climate and are made with different ingredients.
“In rural areas most families grow their own food.” Food varies according to climate and soil, there’s a lot of rice, but it’s not cheap. Places with enough rain had food like cassava, yams, and vegetables of other kind are main cooking ingredients. In partly desert places couscous is main ingredient. Meat and fish are main parts of meals but most families eat it on special occasions because so expensive. “Mutton and goat are most commonly consumed meat.” Chicken and beef saved for special times because costly. Game used to be a main food source till the overhunting and habitat loss made it limited. They hunted: rodents, antelopes, monkeys, snails, cats, dogs etc.
Common vegetables are cassavas, yams, cocoyams, millet, sorghum, corn, okra, plantains. “Cassavas can be pounded, then mixed into a paste and made into balls. The balls are fried and eaten with stew.” Sauces are usually made from groundnut (peanuts) or palm oil. Food is often eaten with your hands. “In strict Muslim house holds men and woman eat from separate dishes.”
A lot of alcoholic drinks are made in West Africa but mostly not consumed. “Beer is the most popular alcoholic drink.” A traditional drink is palm wine made of alcoholic sap from palm trees. Baskets are usually used to hold food but if tightly woven can hold drinks as well.
Fon, Fulani, Dogon, Bobo, Bambara, Ashanti, and the Anlo-Ewe are a couple of the many tribes in West Africa.
The Bobo tribe is known for their masks which have elaborate outfits to go with. The Bobo are mainly agricultural people, and grow cotton which they use to trade. The main goal of the bobo culture to restore one with nature that man had wrecked.
Their main god is Wuro/creator who must always keep things balanced, and their 2nd god is Dwo.
The Bobo have lived in the western region for long time. Their language is known as the “Bobo” or “Mande” language. “The idea of political power in the hands of an individual is foreign to them.”
The Ashanti live in central Ghana for hardly more than 50 years. They do woodcarving and metal casting. The head of the home is chosen by the elders and often is the eldest son, “he is called either Father or Housefather and is obeyed by everyone.” “A child is said to inherit the fathers soul or spirit” and inherit the mothers flesh and blood. Boys at ages 8 or 9 are taught a skill of their father’s choice by their father, and taught how to use the talking drum by their mother’s brother. “Girls are taught cooking, housekeeping skills and pottery by their mother.” “Bark cloth was used for clothing before weaving was introduced.” Men were the only ones allowed to weave, each different pattern had it’s own significance. “Patterns were not always woven in cloth, they could also be stamped on.”
Marriage is very important, men are allowed to have more than 1 wife. Lots of women don’t meet their groom until the wedding and divorces are really rare.
The Ashanti have a variety of beliefs including, plants animals and trees have souls, there are fairies, witches and monsters, ancestors, and gods in this world. The golden stool is the Ashanti’s symbol since arrived never touched ground or anybody. It “represents the worship of ancestors, well-being, and the nation of Ashanti.”
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