PRE-COLONIAL AFRICAN STATES

 THE WESTERN SUDANIC STATES

The early states in western Sudan were established in the region between the Sahara desert and the forest region of the South. The most notable states were Ghana, Mali, Songhai and Karnem Bornu.

GENERAL FACTORS FOR THE RISE OF WESTERN SUDANIC STATES
  • Good geographical location
  • Iron technology
  • The growth of population
  • Development of local industries
  • Taxation
  • Trans - Saharan Trade
  • Availability of valuable goods e.g. Gold
  • Good centralized government
  • Capable leaders
  • Strong Army

GHANA EMPIRE.
 The word Ghana as the King title emerged in 5th AD. During its rise, Ghana had two main towns, one occupied by Muslims and the other by Pagans. The rulers and the people were Soninke speaking group. The ruler of Ghana empire was known as Tunka Manin. The capital center of administration was Kumbisalehe.

FACTORS FOR THE RISE OF THE GHANA EMPIRE
  1. Agricultural activities
  2. Availability of valuable goods e. g gold
  3. Trans  Saharan trade in gold and salt
  4. Good leadership and efficient system of government.
  5. Common language.

FACTORS FOR THE DECLINE OF GHANA EMPIRE
  • Almoravids constant attacks
  • Disunity among people
  • Jihad wars
  • Lack of stable system of royal successions
  • The rise of rural kingdoms e.g. Mali

The decline of Ghana empire gave room to the rise of Mali empire.

MALI EMPIRE.
Early in the 3rd Century, Ghana fell apart as a result of the war between Samangwa the king of Ghana and Prince Sundiata Keita the king of Kangaba. Ghana was defeated and Ghana fell Under Sundiatas rule. Sundiata formed a large kingdom known as Mali the capital was Niami and the title of the rulers was Mansa.

FACTORS FOR THE RISE OF THE MALI EMPIRE
  • The fall of Ghana empire
  • Control of gold fields of Bure
  • Strong army
  • Agricultural activities
  • Trans  Saharan trade
  • Strong leadership of Sundiata Keita and later Mansa Kan Kan Musa
  • Islamic faith which promoted libraries and Islamic universities
  • Political system in Mali

DECLINE OF THE MALI EMPIRE
  1. Weak leadership after the death of Mansa Mahmud IV
  2. Empire became too large to control
  3. Lack of unity and the empire was divided into three spheres of influence and they fought against each other.
  4. Attacks by Tuaregs
Civil wars.The decline of Mali empire gave rise to the rise of Songhai empire.

SONGHAI EMPIRE.
 In the late 15th Century the Songhai Empire originally the Gao, conquered neighboring states under the leadership of Sunni Ali and formed the large empire of Songhai. Gao became its capital earlier on around the 11th C and remained the capital under the empire. Its famous leaders were Sunni Ali, Askia Mohamed and Askia Daud.

FACTORS FOR THE GROWTH OF SONGHAI EMPIRE
  • Agricultural activities
  • Strong army
  • Trans  Sahara trade
  • Good administration
  • Taxation
  • Islamic faith

DECLINE OF SONGHAI EMPIRE
  1. Weak leadership after the death of Askia Daud
  2. The Moroccan invasion
  3. The empire was too large to control
  4. Religious hostility between Islamic and traditional beliefs
  5. The shift in orientation of trade towards the Atlantic following the introduction of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.

FOREST STATES

THE BENIN EMPIRE.
Benin Empire was a very small state with the Edo speaking people. The highest authority at the time where chiefs known as Ogiso which meant the Kings of the Sky and the administrative centre was Ubinu. Between 1388 and 1431, there was a series of civil wars, which badly divided the Edo. After the death of the last Ogiso, his son Prince Ekaladerhan left for exile and established himself in Ile-Ife, so when the Edo people requested his return, he sent his son instead, Prince Oranmiyan who took up the throne.

EXPANSION INTO CITY-STATE EMPIRE
By 15th C, the empire expanded into a city-state under the leadership of Oba Ewuare the Great

REASONS FOR THE RISE OF THE BENIN EMPIRE
  • Some of capable rulers the greatest of those was Aware
  • Good centralized system of government
  • Trade
  • Unity
  • Development of Handicraft Industry

DECLINE OF THE BENIN EMPIRE
  1. Introduction of Slave trade
  2. Trans- Atlantic trade
  3. Firearms that were introduced through the European trade caused tribal wars that led to the final decline of the Benin Empire.

THE EMPIRE OF OYO.
Oyo Empire began in the late 14th Century or early 15th Century likely 1388 and 1431. The people of Oyo were Oranmiyan and their capital was Oyo-Ile and the King of Oyo was called Alafin. The Bashoran was the leader of the army.

REASONS FOR THE RISE OF THE OYO EMPIRE
  1. It had organized political system headed by a number of great Alafins
  2. Strong organized army
  3. Agricultural activities
  4. Development of local industries
  5. Slave trade
  6. Dahomey tributary


DECLINE OF THE OYO EMPIRE
  • Conflict between Alafin and Basharon
  • Conquest from the Fulani and Dahomey
  • Civil wars
  • Disunity

DAHOMEY EMPIRE.
 Dahomey rose after the decline of Oyo in the 19thC. It was founded by the Fon people. It had good leaders such as King Agaja and Houegbadja who built the Royal Palaces of Abomey.

REASONS FOR THE RISE OF THE DAHOMEY EMPIRE IN THE 18th C
  • Growth of centralized and powerful monarchy
  • Boyul succession system was effective
  • Strong army
  • Good leadership of King Gezo and later Aguja
  • Control of Slave trade

DECLINE OF DAHOMEY
Dahomey declined after the arrival of the French.

ASANTE EMPIRE.
Asante or Ashanti Empire was founded as a result of the emergence of several cities in the region of Kumasi.
The people of Asante were Akan ruled by the Oyuko clan. The King was Obiri Yeboa who was Osei Tutu. The capital city of Asante or Ashanti was Kumasi. The symbol of Asante union was a Golden stool. The ruler of Asante was known as Asantehene.

FACTORS FOR THE RISE OF ASANTE
  • Agricultural activities
  • Development of local industries
  • Some of its capable rulers e.g. Osei Tutu
  • Well organized political system
  • Trade

The state declined after the arrival of Europeans.

CENTRALIZED STATES OF CENTRAL AFRICA

KONGO EMPIRE
it was founded in the 14th C. The head of the kingdom took the title of Manikongo or Mwekongo which means lord of Kongo. The capital was Mbaza, which the Portuguese later baptized Sutrador.

FACTORS FOR THE RISE OF KONGO EMPIRE
  1. Technological development e.g. Iron technology
  2. Trade
  3. Taxation
  4. Development of local industries
  5. Emergence of traditional leaders with a strong belief in spiritual and magic power

DECLINE OF THE CONGO EMPIRE
  • The arrival of the Portuguese
  • Slave trade
  • Weak leadership after Manikongo Mingo Mkuwa who acquired up an Embassy in Portugal. His son Mzingo Mbemba was baptized as Dan Alfonce. He was a puppet of the Portuguese and caused civil war in Kongo.

MWENEMUTAPA KINGDOM.
This Kingdom was created under the leadership of Mutota. Mutota conquered Tongu and Torura of the Zambezi valley. He acquired the title of Mwenemutapa, which means Master of the conquered lands. He was a political, military and religious leader. Mutota died in 1450 and his son Matope inherited, after Matopes death in 1480 Changamire took over in 1490.

REASONS FOR THE RISE OF MWENEMUTAPA
  • Agricultural activities
  • Good leadership of Mutola
  • Availability of valuable goods e.g. copper, iron and gol.
  • They controlled trade routes and Trading centers
REASONS FOR THE DECLINE OF MWENEMUTAPA
  1. The arrival of Portuguese who monopolized the gold trade
  2. The kingdom became divided into two parts Mutapa and Ruzwi
  3. Rebellion from local people. After the death of Matope, his son Nyahuma took over. He was younger than the other Chief so the Chiefs rebelled and caused civil war.

THE LUBA STATE.
This state is found between the tributaries of river Kongo. The Songiye people migrated from Katanga led by a leader from the Kangolo clan. The united Kaniok and from Luba kingdom, Ilungambila married into the Kangolo clan. This intermarriage gave the rise of Luba lineage of Kalala Ilunga, the founder of Munza as capital of Luba.

REASONS FOR THE RISE OF THE LUBA STATE
  • Centralized system of Administration where the kingdom had final say in wars and external trade
  • The development of trade
  • Agricultural Activities
  • The presence of iron technology

THE LUNDA STATE.
 The centre of the empire lay in the Valley of Nkala River. The Luba kings took the title of Mwanta. It began as a simple village and their first ruler was called Mwantagaand. Ilunga Tshibinda who came from Luba married a princess from the area and their son became the first paramount ruler of the Lunda State.

FACTORS FOR THE RISE OF LUNDA STATE
  1. Iron technology
  2. Development of local industries
  3. Agriculture activities
  4. Good leadership
  5. Trade. 

The empire declined after the arrival of Europeans.

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