West Africa

Sahara

The biggest desert on earth that covers about 3.5 million miles.

Sahel

A zone of semi-desert, south of the Sahara where short grasses and few trees grow.

Rainforest

A place where it rains year round in the southern part of Africa.

savanna

A vegetation zone of tall grasses and scattered trees, with a long rainy season.

Niger River

The longest river in West Africa and a trading highway.

Nok

A group of people living in West Africa who mastered ironworking.

artifact

An item left by an earlier culture.

smelting

The process of melting ore to produce iron or other metals from it.

Jenne-jeno

The first ancient West African walled city built along the Niger River.

Tribute

Payment made by one ruler or country to another for protection or as a sign of submission.

Ghana

The first kingdom of West Africa, referred to as "the land of gold."

Trans-Saharan Trade

Trade route between peoples north and south of the Sahara starting in the Atlas Mountains and ending in West Africa near Ghana.

Mali

The second West African empire that took control of the trade routes in West Africa.

Mansa Musa

Leader of the Mali empire, known as the richest man in the world. He built the Grand Mosque (or Islamic Church) in Timbuktu.

How did Mansa Musa show his devotion to Islam?

By going on a Hajj (journey) to Mecca.

Timbuktu

An ancient West African city that was a main trading center during the Mali and Songhai empires. It was a place of knowledge and a lot of business because of the Niger river. A university and the Grand Mosque was built there.

What were the two main good traded along the Trans-Saharan Trade route?

Salt and Gold.

Caravan

A group of people who travel by camel in order to trade.

Griot

A talented poet- musician who tells stories, sings songs, and educates people about their history.

Folktale

A story that is passed down orally and becomes part of a culture's tradition.

Call and Response

A song style in which a singer or musician leads with a call, and chorus responds.

Kente Cloth

A traditional form of cloth produced in West Africa that is very bright in color, stamped with geometric shapes.

Textile

A woven piece of cloth.

African Masks

Worn during ceremonies, in performances, and in sacred rites. They are used to bring the spirit of the gods and ancestors to the present. They typically represent animals or faces.

Balafon

Like an xylophone

Ngoni

Stringed instrument that is made out of hollowed wood.

Fufu

Bread that is made out of cassava and yams.

How big is Africa?

It is the second largest continent on earth.

Why did West Africans want salt?

It was needed for their survival because they lose so much salt when they sweat. Losing too much salt can cause a stroke.

Why did North Africans want gold?

To make gold coins in order to trade for perfumes, silk, weapons, and other goods.

Mahogany

A reddish type of wood used to make masks. It is also a trade item.

Fantasy coffins

Made by Ghanaian's. These coffins represent the jobs and interests of the deceased. Examples: airplane coffins, banana coffins, etc.

Mancala

A count and capture game with many different versions and names such as Oware and Wouri. Dates back to 500- 700 AD in Ethiopia.

Islam

Traveled to West Africa by traders from the Arabian Peninsula

Nigeria

Mali

Ghana

Egypt

Kenya

Morocco

South Africa

Madagascar

Ethiopia

Atlas Mountains

Africa's longest mountain range

Namib Desert

a desert in southwestern Africa

Nile river

The world's longest river, which flows northward through East Africa into the Mediterranean Sea

Uganda

Democratic Republic of Congo

Algeria