The Historical and Cultural Dynamics of West Africa and East Africa: A Comprehensive Overview

1. Africa (3) Mtra. Marcela Alvarez Pérez

2. West Africa • South of the Savannah, coast of the Guinean region • No large political organizations: affected by the problems of the Sudanese hegemonies • Migration: permanent phenomenon of African societies • Refuge in the jungle Between Niger River and the Coast: Yoruba, Benin and Nupe • Yoruba: only black people that tended to join in large cities • Benín: linked to the Yoruba • Nupe: Conversion to Islam, Kingdom vassal to its neighbors

4. Kanem Bornu: • Lake Chad: encounter of caravans coming from the east and west of the Sudan • Nomads influence black peoples: political organization • Conversion to Islam : prosperity dependant on relationship to Arab world slave market • After two centuries of resistance commerce taken by Hausa States • Decadence accelerated by interruption of slavery: colonization • Hausa Sates • No attempts to unify institutions/domain al Hausa states by a common law • Balance of power: periodic war

5. Peuls & Tekruris • Ancient Peul migrations: Sudanese region • 5 places were they establish important hegemonies: • Futa Toro • FutaDjalon • Masina and Liptako • Hausa Kingdom • Developed fiscal and administrative structure that functioned up to 1888 (colonization) • Autonomous administration under other governments/assimilation • Conversion to Islam defeat of Haussa armies Peul Emirates born • 5th establishment north of Cameroon • Adamaua: disintegrated for a while until 1901 that the British set Adama’s 4th son as Emir of the British Adamaua

7. Important Individuals • Hamadú Sekú • Hadj Omar • Samori • Hadj Omar and Samori: not anti-colonial resistance movements

8. East Africa • Christian kingdoms of the waterfalls • 3 Christian kingdoms of Nubia: Nobatas, Dongola & Aloa • Attempts of invasion for centuries: Christendom survives until 1317 in Dongola and 1504 in Soba • After raids from Egypt in 641 & 652: King of Dongola signs treaty that will last for 6 centuries • 1167 Saladin takes Egypt: opponents y refugees arrive at Nubia • Raids, occupation and islamization of Nubia • Crusades Christians organize their own resistance

10. Contact between western Christendom and cataract kingdoms until 1315 • Aloa: 1500 • Reasons for their long survival: • Strong military position in the Ethiopian Highlands • Distance • Military courage of the nubian and axumite peoples • Christians linked to the Patriarch of Alexandria: compromise between Muslims and the Coptic Church • Muslim kingdoms of the region • End of 15th century : Fung & Kordofan

11. Ethiopia • 10th to 12th centuries: Zaue Dynasty— King Lalibela (b. 13th C.) • 1210 sends embassy to Cairo, donations for convents, conversions to Christianity, moves the capital from Axum to Lalibela • 1270 New Dynasty: Solomonic restoration; new historical period written chronicles by demand • Nomad city and Emperor with a large army and church • King chosen by God, Lion of Judah—sacred • Control over succession • Nomadic to ensure authority

13. Battles against the Muslims 1314-1429 • Religious reforms: delegation to Florence Synod (1439), embassy to Portugal • “Preste Juan”: legend of a Christian King in the East • 1487: Joao II sends emissaries directions to India; embassy established in the court of Ethiopia in 1494 • Empress Helena negotiates and asks for support against Islam • Vasco de Gama opens maritime route: mission sent in 1520-1526 • From 1527 they will fight the Muslims for 15 years • 1541: Stefano de Gama organizes expedition and expell the Muslims Portuguese will stay in the region

14. East Coast • Known to Greek sailors • Commercial cities under the authority of different chiefs • Country of Zendj: Zanzibar (Coast of the Zendj) • Migrations, mixed with local peoples • Extension of the use of iron: • Expansion of techniques linked to population development • Use of metals in East Africa coincides with expansion of Arab population and commerce • Iron, ivory, Damascus swords, slaves

16. Sofala, Manisa (Mombasa), Zeila (Djibuti), Maqdichu (Mogadisho) • Arab merchants settle and found commercial warehouses • Arab, Persian migrations conflicts in their place of origin • Commerce with India, Malaysia and China • 1415: African ambassadors arrive at Beijing • After 1500: Chinese policy changes and turns inwards by 1525 commercial relationships are over

18. South Africa • Portuguese expeditions: Cape of Good Hope towards Indian Ocean • 3 civilizations south of the Equator: • Congo civilizations on the Atlantic coast • Zendj • Failed attempts to destroy/ substitute arab commerce • Monomotapa (Lord of the Mines) • Oral tradition • Between South Atlantic and Indian Ocean • Under populated regions • Prosperous cities: migration—adaptability • Ancient non-black peoples

21. Bantu peoples, Hamites, Ethiopians • Kitwara • Kitwara: most ancient state in the region • Important ruins in the region: group of civilizations • Hegemonies of the lower Congo valley and Angola • Small hegemonies on the coast and interior • “Kingdom” of Congo: bantu people of the Bakongos, founded at the beginning of the 15th century • Manicongo: important position linked to the Portuguese • Small population, slow and pacific evolution: migrations, fusion and division of groups • Great battles and domination: arrival of fire arms and slavery