Western Africa

A satellite picture of Africa at night. . . What does the light, or lack thereof, tell

you about Africa?

Landforms and Climate

The Sahara DesertPhysical Geography

The Sahel Region

The Savanna

Coastline and Forest

The Life Water of West Africa

Resources Include: diamonds, gold, iron

ore, manganese, bauxite, and oil

Staple Crops: millet and sorghum

Other Sources of Income: fishing,

cotton

Top Right: sorghumAbove: Niger River

Right: millet

Th

e N

iger R

iver a

nd

West A

frica’s

R

esou

rces

West Africa’s History

Archeology and Oral History

The Slave Trade

Colonial Era and Independence

Late 1800s – Many European countries compete for colonies

1820s – Liberia remained free as the Americans set it up as a home for freed slaves

1950’s and 1960’s – Many colonies gain independence in western Africa

1974 – Portugal finally gives up its western Africa colonies

Challenges

Ethnic RivalriesHealth Conditions

CultureTraditional Clothing/Robes

Rural home in West Africa Animism Worship

Picture Citations• Slide 1

▫ bcnn5.com• Slide 2

▫ worldwidehomestay.com▫ psdblog.worldbank.org▫ savannaenvironment.wor

dpress.com▫ sierraexpressmedia.com

• Slide 3▫ web.worldbank.org▫ ancientfoods.wordpress.c

om• Slide 4

▫ cirad.fr

• Slide 5▫ edit.emich.edu▫ histclo.com▫ pbs.org▫ historyonthenet.com

• Slide 6▫ en.wikipedia.org

• Slide 7▫ preview.samemission.com

• Slide 8▫ timo-aim.com▫ messengerandadvocate.w

ordpress.com▫ truthforsaints.com