Key Figures and Movements in North and Sub-Saharan African History

King Mohammad V

Ruled Morocco after French colonization and established a constitutional monarchy.

King Hassan II

Ruled during the authoritarian "Years of Lead" and secured control over Western Sahara.

King Mohammed VI

Modernized Morocco's economy and military; promoted non-sectarian Islam and recognized Amazigh as an official language.

Amazigh

Indigenous people of Morocco (also called Berbers), making up a large part of the population.

Thomas Sankara

Pan-Africanist leader who opposed neocolonialism, promoted unity, and advanced women's rights.

Pan-Africanism

Movement focused on unity and solidarity among African nations and people of African descent.

Ibrahim Traore

Current leader of Burkina Faso with anti-French and anti-neocolonial views.

Shona

Bantu-speaking ethnic group making up about 80% of Zimbabwe's population.

Southern Rhodesia

Name of Zimbabwe under British rule from 1923-1980, named after Cecil Rhodes.

Robert Mugabe

Revolutionary leader who ruled Zimbabwe from 1980 to 2017 until removed in a coup.

Kwame Nkrumah

First Prime Minister and later President of Ghana; led authoritarian government until 1966 coup.

Palm Fonds

Palm leaves used by women to weave baskets, trays, and mats.

Omar al-Bashir

Military dictator of Sudan (1989-2019); faced sanctions and accusations of genocide.

Khartoum

Capital and largest city of Sudan.

Ansar

Sudanese Sufi political and religious group meaning "supporters," linked to the Mahdi.

FLN

Nationalist movement that led Algeria's fight for independence and became a political party.

Ahmed Ben Bella

First president of Algeria and a key revolutionary leader.

Berber (Algeria)

Indigenous peoples of North Africa found across several countries including Algeria and Morocco.