Mali Empire

Introduction
The Mali Empire was created by Sundiata Keita.  It lasted over 1235-1600 CE.  It had a sweet government and military.  It had a great economy because of trading.  There were various religions practiced in the Mali Empire, but over time it became more Islamic.  Muslims tried to persuade people of other religions to convert.   Timbuktu was the most famous city in the empire. Malian and/or other West African sailors traded with Americans.  The Mali Empire was at least twice the size of the Ghana Empire.

Origin
Sundiata Keita was the son of a King of Manden Kurufa and the buffalo woman.  His mom was called a buffalo woman because she was hunched back and ugly.  It took a long time for him to walk and talk, so his father other wives and children made fun of him and his mom.  It was prophecised that he would be a great leader.

After his father died his mom took him and his sisters in exile.  She was afraid the wives of her deceased husband would kill them.  They traveled throughout the Ghana Empire.  They found a kingdom that allowed them to stay.  This Kingdom was called Mema.  Sundiata was admired by the King of Mema.  The king gave him a position in the government.

The Sosso Kingdom conquered Sundiata's homeland.  People from the Manden Kurufa sought out the child of prophecy.  They found him and told him what happened.  He left Mema with an army.

Sundiata defeated the evil sorcerer king of the Sosso Kingdom.  His magician discovered the weakness of the evil sorcerer king.  Prior to that, the king was invincible.  He had great magic powers! This was because he had a magical musical instrument.  His weakness was a white rooster crest. Sundiata shot an arrow with the crest on it and it hit him.  Then he disappeared.

Parts of the Ghana Empire was conquered after the defeat of Somaoro.  The emperors of the Mali Empire was known as Mansa.  Sundiata Keita is the child of prophecy and the Lion King.

History of Mansas
Manden Kurufa was a 'federation of Mande tribes.'  This kingdom was the heart of the Mali Empire.  It was a part of the Ghana Empire until the Almoravids attack GE.  After that, Manden Kurufa became 12 different kingdoms.

Those kingdoms were conquered by the Sosso Empire; Sundiata Keita destroyed the Sosso Empire

After Sundiata died his son became Mansa.  His name was Ouali Keita I.  He expanded the empire. He made soldiers become farmers.  He went on a hajj to Mecca.

Generals of the Mali army sons were adopted by Ouali.  Their last names became Keita because of this adoption.  2 of the sons fought each other 4 control of the empire.  Ouati became the next Mensa.  He was the Mensa for 4 years.  Khalifa became the Mansa after him.  He was mentally ill. He shot fire-tipped arrows at people from his rooftop.  He was killed in a revolt.

Manding Bory Keita became Mansa after Khalifa was killed.  He was Sundiata youngest son.  He was known as Mansa Abubakari.  He was named after Abu Bakr.  Abu Bakr was Muhammad father in law.

Sakoura became the next Mansa.  He was born a slave and became a general in Sundiata army. He expanded the empire; he conquered a Serer Kingdom.  He made trade deals with Tripoli and Morocco.  He went on a hajj to Mecca, but when was coming back he got killed.  His killers may have been from the Afar tribe.

Ko Mamadi Keita became Mansa after Sakoura.  He was Sundiata nephew.  He was known as Mansa Gao Keita.  He had a good Emperor.

Abunakari II was the next Mansa.  He was the son of Mansa Gao Keita.  He sent out to navies into the Atlantic ocean and they never came back.  He was on the second voyage.  Legend as it, they ended up in the Americas.

Mansa Musa Keita I was the next ruler.  He was a good Muslim and he turned a school into a university.  It is called Sankore.  It had the largest library in the world.  He went on a hajj and gave away so much gold that the Egypt and Arabia had hyperinflation!  He had 12,000 women slaves and 100s of elephants and camels.  The animals were carrying food and weapons.  On his way back home he met a poet that was also an architect.  The poet helped create a mosque in Timbuktu.

Maghan I became the next Mansa.  He was the son of the Mansa Musa.  He ruled for 4 years.  He wasn't fit for the job.  He was as bad a ruler as Khalifa.

Souleyman Keita became the next Mansa.  He was the brother of Mansa Musa.  His senior wife and some generals tried to overthrow him, but they were stopped and his wife was put in jail.  He went on a hajj and had diplomatic relationships with Egypt and Morocco.  The Wolof revolted during his reign and created their own empire.  Ibn Battuta was a Moroccan scholar and traveler.  He came to the Mali Empire during Souleyman reign and was very impressed.

Camba Keita became the next Mansa.  He was the son of Souleyman.  He only ruled for 9 months because he was killed by one of Maghan I sons.

The next Mansa was Mari Djata Keita II.  He was a tyrant and he almost bankrupted the empire.  He sent a giraffe as a gift to a king in North Africa.  He got sick and died.

Mansa Musa Keita II became the new ruler.  He improved the economy.  Kankoro-Sigui Mari Djata ran the empire behind the scenes during Ketia II reign.  He was non-royal.  He squashed a rebellion by the Tuareg. Gao became independent at this time.

Tenin Meghan Keita II only ruled for 2 years.

A non-royal became Mansa for the first time in the history of the Mali Empire.  His name was Sandaki Keita. He only ruled a year.

Meghan Keita III became Mansa.  He may have been of royal blood.  The Mossi emperor Bonga invaded Macina, which was a city in the Mali empire. He was unable to conquer it.

Musa Keita III lost Timbuktu to the Tuareg.

Ouali Keita II was Musa's brother.  The Portuguese were raiding the coast of Gambia.  Malian soldiers killed the raiders.  Diogo Gomes develop a diplomatic relationship with the Mali Empire in response to that. The Songhai Empire conquered Mema (the city Sundiata Keita got his army from) and they took Timbuktu from the Tuareg.  Mossi conquered Macina and Wagadu (This city-state that created the Ghana Empire).

Mansa Muhammad Keita II ruled over a declining empire.  The Fulani invaded provinces in the Mali Empire. Keita II developed closer relationships with Portugal.  Songhai Empire took over the salt mines that were a part of the Mali Empire.  Muhammad asks Portuguese to help Malians fight the Fulani.  The Portuguese refused.

Mansa Muhammad Keita III lost more land to the Songhai Empire(SE).  SE took over Mali's copper mines. Mansa sought military help from the Portuguese to combat SE.  The Portuguese refused again.  Kaabu Empire swallows up Malian provinces in Gambia.  Songhai defeats Mali in battle and takes over the palace. Malian forces regroup and kicked out Songhai forces.  Futa Tooro takes over a providence of the Mali Empire.  The Mali Empire was small at this point.

There were a few more Mansas, but they weren't so influential.  After Mahmud Keita, IV died his sons tore the empire apart.  They fought over who should rule, which destroyed what little was left of the Mali Empire.

Manden Kuruka became 3 kingdoms. These kingdoms fought each; they would only join forces if they were attacked by another kingdom.

In my opinion, if the royals stayed in power the Mali Empire would have lasted longer. It seems like they made better decisions than the non-royal rulers.

Government
Mansa=King

Gbara=Congress.  It was created by the Lion King in 1235 CE.  It had 32 members 29 of which were Mandinka.  There were 4 voting blocks.  The blocks were military, royal, Islamic, and life force manipulators.  They created a constitution called Kouroukan Fouga.

Military
Toni-Tigi: 16 clans that made up the army.  Their symbol was the arrow and quiver.

Mandekalu: They were the cavalry.  They wore chainmail and iron helmets.  They used spears and swords in battle.

Kele-Koun: Generals of Ton-Tigi.

Farima: Commander.  They answered directly to the Mansa.  The Kele-Kouns were subordinate to them.

Slaves were used as soldiers and administors they were called Sofas.

This great military helped create the Mali Empire.

Economy
Mali empire controlled gold and copper mines, salt mines, etc.  There were many skilled workers in the empire.  There were farmers, fishermen, blacksmiths, potters, leatherworkers, weavers, etc.  The Mali Empire traded a lot with Muslims.  Blacksmiths created lodges to teach people their trade. Those lodges were connected to various trading cities.

Religion
People in the Mali Empire practiced traditional religions.  They believed nature was full of spirits. Every natural object had a spirit in it.  They thanked the deities of the earth for their crops.  Over time they became more Islamic.  Some of the Muslims in the Mali Empire tried to impose Islam on others. That's why the Dogon left the Mali Empire. They wanted to continue to practice the religion of their ancestors.  They now live on the border of modern-day Mali.

As the empire became more Islamic, they got more trade from Muslim kingdoms.  The Mali Empire gained a lot from Islam and they made Islam more popular in West Africa.  Islam is a great religion for imperialism. That is because it is monotheistic.

Timbuktu
It was a great city of Islamic learning.  It was created by the Tuareg.  It became a part of the Mali Empire around 1300.  There were 3 great mosques there.  They were great universities. In 1450 there were 100,000 people living there.  Timbuktu was ruled by the Tuareg for a period, but it still was a center of learning.  It became in greater when it became a part of Songhai Empire.  Timbuktu fell off once the SE was destroyed. It got raided a lot by various African tribes.  Then Morocco conquered it and killed some of its scholars.

The greatest scholar in Timbuktu was Ahmed Baba.  He wrote 50 books and he was a professor at Sankore. One of his books was about grammar.   He had a library of over 1,000 books!  He had a lot of books translated into Arabic.    

African Sailors in the Americas
West African sailors that may have been Malian traded gold for corn with the Mayans.  Africans also exported gold tipped spears to Americans.  Americans told Columbus about Africans coming to the America.  Columbus wrote about in his diary.

Conclusion
This empire seems better than the Benin Empire!  The Mali Empire was founded by the Lion King.  It lasted for over 300 years.  It had a sweet government and military.  It became Islamic, which helped in trading and technology.  The Republic of Mali is named after this Empire.  I give it an A+.


References
http://www.bu.edu/africa/files/pdf/SUNDIATA1.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sundiata_Keita
http://www.ancient-origins.net/history-famous-people/sundiata-keita-lion-king-mali-005733
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soumaoro_Kant%C3%A9
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mali_Empire
http://www.blackpast.org/gah/mali-empire-ca-1200
http://www.ducksters.com/history/africa/empire_of_ancient_mali.php
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Mali_Empire
http://histclo.com/country/afr/mali/act/ma-rel.html
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/12/5/925755/-
http://www.islamandafrica.com/
http://www.africanholocaust.net//news_ah/africa_contribution_islam.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sankore_Madrasah
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gbara
https://www.learner.org/courses/worldhistory/support/reading_11_1.pdf
http://www.globalresearch.ca/before-columbus-how-africans-brought-civilization-to-america/5407584
http://atlantablackstar.com/2015/01/23/10-pieces-of-evidence-that-prove-black-people-sailed-to-the-americas-long-before-columbus/
https://www.britannica.com/place/Timbuktu-Mali
http://www.muslimheritage.com/article/ode-ahmad-baba-al-massufi
http://kentakepage.com/ahmed-baba/
Mali Empire
Oral History of Mali
Timbuktu
Ahmad Baba
Africans in early America
Islam in Africa

Ghana Empire

Introduction
The Ghana Empire as a very long history.  It was created by the Soninke.  It had a great government, military, and economy.  There was a Muslim city in the Ghana empire.  The Ghana Empire fell about a millennium ago.

Synopsis
There was a kingdom called Wagadu.  It became the Ghana Empire.  The word Ghana means warrior. The kings/emperors were called Ghana.  Most people in this empire spoke Soninke and other Mande languages.

Soninke was the tribe that founded Wagadu.  They had a civilization in ancient times.  They tend to be Muslim.  They have a caste system in their society.   There are castes for free people, nobility, workers, and slaves.  One of their marriage customs is: the future husband has to pay the wife family for a month after the engagement.  Women are forced to eat because fat women are seen as beautiful.  Soninke does a lot of trading and farming.

The Emperor of Ghana Empire was just.  That is one of the reasons it was so prosperous.  The states that made up the Ghana Empire were ruled by their own kings.  Those kings were subordinate to the emperor.   The emperor had advisors from the other states.  He also had Muslim advisors.

The Emperor was the commander-and-chief.  The military followed his orders.  There were elite troops, normal troops, and reserve troops.  Normal troops were border patrol; they put down any revolts and kept the empire safe.  Every man had to go through military training.

The Ghana Empire did a lot of trading.  They exported 'kola nuts, hides, slaves, ivory, and gold'.  They imported 'salt, copper, and cowrie shells'.  Traders had to pay a tax if they wanted to trade with nations beyond the Ghana Empire.  Northern and southern traders were taxed by the Ghana Empire.  All of this trading and taxation caused the Ghana empire to become rich.  If anyone found gold in the empire they would bring it to the emperor.  The Amazigh called the Ghana Empire the Land of Gold.

The Muslim city had 12 mosques and it was inhabited by Berber and Arab Muslims.  One of the Mosques was used for prayer on Friday.  There were many Muslim scholars in this city.  Most of the Muslims in the city were merchants.

The Almoavids took over the Ghana Empire in 1076.  They ruled it for a decade.  Then the Susu Kingdom tookover and ruled for a century.  Then it became part of the Mali Empire.

The Republic of Ghana is named after this empire.

Conclusion
The Ghana Empire was amazing!!!!  It has ancient roots and a long history.  It was created and maintained by the Soninke.  It had a great government and military.  It got rich from trading and taxes. I give this empire an A.            

References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghana_Empire
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soninke_people
https://www.britannica.com/place/Ghana-historical-West-African-empire
http://www.ushistory.org/civ/7a.asp
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/ghan/hd_ghan.htm
http://themedievalages.weebly.com/africa-ancient-ghana.html
https://sites.google.com/site/ancientkingdomofghana/
Ghana Empire
More GE
Ghana Empire Geography

Kanem-Bornu Empire

Introduction
Kanem-Bornu Empire has a millennia-long history!  It had 2 phases and it had diplomatic relationships with other nations.  This empire was influenced by various people.  It became Islamic about centuries after its creation.

Synopsis
Members of Zaghawa founded the kingdom that would become an empire.  They started out nomadic, then they became sedentary.  They lived in Sudan, then some of them moved to Chad.  They are Nilo -Saharan people.  President Obama dad was part Nilo-Saharan.

Phase I: Kanem started around 300 BCE.  The kings were called Mai.  There was another civilization in Chad called Sao.  They fought citizens of the Kanem-Bornu.

The Duguwa dynasty came into being in 700 BCE.  They may have been from Assyria.  Humai Ibn Salamna founded the Sef dynasty.  It lasted for 771 years!   He may have come from Yemen.  Once the Humai tookover, Islam became the state religion.  Even though this happened there may have been some Amen worshippers in the empire.  Most people at this point followed traditional religions.

Mai Dunama Dabbalemi developed diplomatic relationships with the sultans in North Africa.  He jihad the non-Muslim tribes and expanded the empire.  He captured Africans and sold them to Muslims in North Africa.  There was a religious statue called mune.  Mune may have been Amen.  Dunama destroyed it, so there was a civil war in the empire.      

Kanem fell into disarray in 1300's.  There were political issues and attacks from outside forces.  The Sao ruled Kanem for 1342-52.  A lot of people wanted to be Mai, so they killed each other.  Bulala tribe took over Kanem in 1388.

Phase II:  Some people left Kanem and founded Bornu.  They were related to the Sef dynasty. In Bornu, there was still problems with who should be Mai.  In the 1400's a Mai defeated the Bulala and reconquered Kanem.  

There was a great Mai named Idris Alooma.  He created a very strong military.  Many mosques were built during his reign.  He listened to advice from a council of elders.

They didn't have any gold to trade like the West African Empires.  Instead, they traded 'cotton, kola nuts, ivory, ostrich feathers, perfume, wax, hides, and slaves.'   'They imported salt, horses, silks, glass, silk, muskets, and copper.'

The empire fell off again in the 1800's.  It was attacked by the Fulanis in 1808.  Then it was attacked by another empire later on.  There were governmental problems as well.

Today it is known as Borno Emirate.  It is in Nigeria.  How far have the mighty fallen!  In its hey-day, the Kanem-Bornu Empire was in parts of Chad, Libya, Niger, and Nigeria.

Conclusion
The Kanem-Bornu Empire is amazing!  It lasted for over a millennia!  I like the fact there was a council of elders.  The military was tough and women were safe enough to walk around without being hassled.   I give this empire an A.              

References
http://www.dierklange.com/pdf/fulltexts/kanem/003_Kanem-Bornu-Neu-Ethogenesis_Chadic_state_0106.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanem%E2%80%93Bornu_Empire
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanem_Empire
https://www.britannica.com/place/Kanem-Bornu
http://www.blackpast.org/gah/empire-kanem-bornu-c-9th-century-1900
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaghawa_people
http://blackhistoryeveryday.tumblr.com/post/53240738106/kanem-bornu-empire
Kanem-Bornu History

Benin Empire

Introduction
The Benin Empire started in 1180.  It lasted 4 over 700 years!  It was involved in the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.  It was ruled by a monarchy and had a very strong military.  There were many tribes in the Benin Empire.  They had their own traditional religion.  The artwork of the Benin Empire was magnificent!  There is a Yoruba connection.

History
The Benin Empire started out as a kingdom.  It became an empire in 1440.  It had a capital city called Benin. Oba Ewuare created the empire of Benin.  He was a 'great magician and warrior.'  Walls were created around the Benin Kingdom and they were over 4000 feet long!  Benin had over 30 kings and it's still around. It is located in modern-day Central Nigeria.

Benin was first ruled by kings known as osigos.  The people didn't like them, so they asked Oranmiyan to rule over them.  He came to Benin and put his son in charge.  He rode a horse to Benin.  This was the first time people in that kingdom seen a horse.

The Benin Empire traded palm wine, pepper, and ivory with the Portuguese.  The Portuguese traded hemp and guns.  The King of Benin sent ambassadors to the King of Portugal.  The King of Portugal sent Christian missionaries to Benin.

Slaves were traded to the Portuguese and Dutch.  They traded only or mostly males.

The British destroyed the capital of Benin in 1897.  The empire fell after that.  The Brits stole most of the artwork in the capital of Benin.   A lot of buildings were burnt down.  The king was forced into exile.

Government
Oba: King of the Benin Empire.

Iyoba: Queen Mother.  Protector of the Oba.

Uzama: Council of the highest ranking Chiefs.

Eghaevbo n' Ore: They was a congress and advisors to the Oba.

Eghaevbo n' Ogbe: They were palace officials and advisors to the Oba.

Military
The first military in Benin was created by elephant hunters and security guards.  The Oba became the commander and chief.    

Ekaiwe: Royal Troops

Isienmwenro: Royal Guards

Iyase: General Commander

Ezomo: Senior War Commander

Edogun: War Chief

Ivbiyokuo Oredo: Metropolitan Army

Ivbiyokuo Ikinkin Agbon-Edo: Village Army

Tribes in Benin Empire
Edo: Tribe that founded the Benin Empire.

Esan: The kingdoms of this tribe were part of the Benin Empire.  They didn't have a military.

Afemai: They lived in Benin, but they left because of a tyrannical Oba.

There were many other tribes.

Traditional Religion
The religion of Benin Empire was like Ifa.

Art
There were great sculptors in the Benin Empire.  They were made out of coral, ivory, and brass.  There is an ivory mask of a great Iyoba.  She is the first Iyoba and their bronze head of her.  Leopards were frequent in royal art.  Pet leopards were kept in the palace.  Oba created ancestral altars dedicated to their parents. There were guilds of different types of artists.

Igun Eronmwon: Brass cast sculptors.

Igun Ematon: Blacksmiths

Igbesanwan: 'Wood and ivory carvers.'

Yoruba Connection
Oranmiyan the first Oba was the youngest son of Oduduwa.  Oduduwa was the first king of Yoruba. Orishas are worshiped by the Edo.  They may have common ancestors millennia ago.

Conclusion
The Benin Empire was amazing!!!!!!!!!  They have a rich history and culture.  Their religion is sweet.  They had a neat government and military.  They are related to other West Africans.  This is one of my favorite African empires.

References
http://www.edoworld.net/The_history_of_Benin.html
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/10/benin-city-of-tradition-and-culture/
http://africa.mrdonn.org/benin.html
http://www.everyculture.com/Africa-Middle-East/Edo.html
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Benin_Empire
http://www.fascinatingnigeriamagazine.com/2014/04/the-nine-ancient-gates-of-benin-culture/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benin_art
http://www.nairaland.com/582176/benin-art-architecture
http://exceptionngr.blogspot.com/2008/08/historical-analogy-of-binis.html
http://ihuanedo.ning.com/group/healtheducation/forum/topics/edo-people-history-culture-and-civilization-images
http://www.edoworld.net/Edotourismwhattoeat.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/z3n7mp3
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/02/the-place-of-oranmiyan-in-the-history-of-ile-ife/
https://www.britishmuseum.org/PDF/british_museum_benin_art.pdf
https://www.thenigerianvoice.com/news/30084/1/the-benin-empire-the-past-the-present-and-the-futu.html
http://ediss.sub.uni-hamburg.de/volltexte/2001/544/pdf/Disse.pdf
http://www.edo-nation.net/toc.htm
http://iosrjournals.org/iosr-jhss/papers/Vol20-issue8/Version-2/B020820412.pdf
Benin Empire
Benin Culture
Queen Idia
Last Free Oba
Edo Outfits

Dahomey

Introduction
Dahomey started in 1600.  It was created by the Fon.  The economy of Dahomey was very domestic. There were great pieces of art in Dahomey.  They followed the religion Vodun.  The kingdom was ruled by a monarchy.  They had a strong military.

History
Dahomey lasted for 300 years.  Legend as it a Fon prince founded Dahomey.  The king palace was created at Abomey.  Dahomey conquered Allada and it became the capital.  Dahomey also conquered Whydah.  In 1730 Dahomey had to pay tribute to the Oyo Empire.

Dahomenians captured people for their Annual Customs holiday.  The people they captured were sacrificed. The ones who weren't sacrificed was bartered with Europeans.  Dahomey went to war with the Oyo Empire in 1823.  They defeated them so they no longer had to pay tribute.

The British wanted Dahomey to get out of the slave trade, but the king didn't want too.  Dahomey was making a lot of $ from palm oil.  There were 2 political parties in Dahomey in the 1800's.  The Elephants were politicians allied to the king.  They wanted to keep trading slaves.  The Fly were chiefs and palm oil sellers.

The French tookover some cities near Dahomey in the mid-1800's.  Dahomicans raided French territory for slaves, so the French conquered Dahomey.  They changed the government of Dahomey. They ruled it for 60 years.  After that, Dahomey became independent and renamed itself Benin.

 
Tribes of Dahomey     
Fon: Founding tribe.   Members of the Fon tribe were taken Haiti during the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. Their traditional religion is Vodun.  

Ewe:  They are the most magical tribe in Ghana.  Their traditional religion is also Vodun.  They are great drummers and have their own dances.

Aja: Ancestors of the Fon.  There are about half a million of them.  They may have created Vodun.

Yoruba: I assume some of them lived in Dahomey because there were Yoruba kingdoms nearby.  The Yoruba have a great culture and their traditional religion is Ifa.  Members of the Yoruba tribe were taken to Haiti, Cuba, and Puerto Rico during the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.  

Other tribes lived there as well.

Art of Dahomey
Artists made 'carvings out of wood and ivory'.  They worked with different metals.  Their art wasn't so religious.  Artist made statues of kings that looked somewhat like animals.  The king supported art, so a lot of art had to do with royalty.

Artistic ideas were borrowed from other cultures around them.  Artists would depict foes of Dahomey in a demeaning way.  The king of Oyo was depicted as a 'baboon eating corn on the cob.' Sometimes feathers and bones were used in artwork.  "Small brass figures of animals or people" were made for rich to wear.    

Religion
Nana Buluku: Supreme being.
Mawu: Moon goddess.  Lisa twin sister.  She created the earth.  Lisa may have helped her.
Lisa: Sun god. Mawu twin brother.  Lisa and Mawu joined bodies.          
Da Zodji: First born son of Mawu-Lisa.  King of the earth pantheon.  He has a twin sister.  She is his wife.

There are many other children of Maw-Lisa.  There are 4 pantheons in Vodun.  Ancestral spirits are paramount in this religion.

The first daughter in a family leads certain religious ceremonies.  She is known as Queen Mother.  To be a high priest or priestess a person must be chosen by the oracle.

Vodun is somewhat the mother of Haitian Vodou and New Orleans Voodoo.  It is a great religion!  The Rada Nation comes from Vodun.

Political Structure
Houegbadja: King of Dahomey.  He was the leader major religious ceremonies.

Royal Court: An advisor, judge, and administrative officer.

Military
Soldiers received bonus pay for every enemy they killed in battle. They were well trained and disciplined. They used firearms and "steel swords."  They preferred it to traditional weapons. Dahomey lacked a navy and cavalry.

Mino Warriors: Women soldiers in the army of Dahomey.  They trained harder than the men, so they were better warriors.

Conclusion
Dahomey had great culture and religion.  It had sweet art and a tough military.  It was around for 300 years. I give it an A.          

References
http://www.persee.fr/doc/cea_0008-0055_1971_num_11_41_2810
https://www.britannica.com/place/Dahomey-historical-kingdom-Africa
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dahomey   
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fon_people
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ewe_people
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aja_people
http://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=2922
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Kingdom_of_Dahomey
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_African_Vodun
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nana_Buluku
http://www.afropedea.org/fon-pantheon-gods-vodun
African Mythology
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dahomey_Amazons
Mino Warriors
Dahomey Role in the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade
Dahomey Doc
Vodun

Ashanti Imperial Kingdom

Introduction
The Ashanti Kingdom (AK) came from a collaboration of various Akan states.  They got rich from trade. The government was a democracy that had checks and balances.  People were appointed to the bureaucracy based on merit.  There was a sophisticated legal system.  There was a unique way of communicating over long distances.  They created their own clothes and had their own healthcare system. There were menstruation celebrations and taboos.  They had various ceremonies.  The Asantehene had his own 'special police force'.  The AK became imperial under Osei Tutu.  There were slaves in the Ashanti Empire. The military was powerful and fought several wars.  

History
The AK started in the late 1600's.  Several Akan states were paying tribute to Denkyira.  They got tired of that so came together to put an end to it.  They had to figure out who would be the Asantehene.   Legend has it a magician told them that whoever had the golden stool is the Asantenhene. The golden stool came out the sky and landed it in front of one of the chief.  He became the Asantenhene. The Ashanti defeated Denyria in a war.  Denyria became a part of the Ashanti empire after that.  Ashanti means warriors.  The AK got rich from trading gold and farm goods.  AK traded with Songhai, Hausaland, Portugal, etc. There were roads that linked AK to trade cities. 

Government
Asantehene: King of the AK.  A descendant of Osei Tutu.  He has his own palace.  He was the only one that could give a person the death penalty.  The king represents the people of the AK.  He 'swears an oath to Mother Earth and his ancestors to perform his obligations.'  He will lay down his life for AK if need be.  The king can be de-stooled if the elders and the commoners disapprove of him.      

Obirempon: Governors of different regions of the Ashanti Empire.  They were selected by the Asantehene and they were judges 4 court cases.   

Elections: The oldest women related to the royal family pick nominees.  Then she asks the elders to pick a nominee.  Then the elders present the nominee to the general public.  If they approve that man becomes the Asantehene, if not the process starts over again. 

Council of Elders: They are the legislative branch.

Nmerante: Council of young people.  The elders must consult with them b4 making decisions.  

Bureaucracy: There were different departments to handle different situations.  There were departments for dealing with different governments.  People in the bureaucracy was determined by merit by the late 1700's.  

Legal System
Laws were based on religion.  "Capital crimes include murder, incest within the female or male line, and intercourse with a menstruating woman, and adultery with any of the wives of a chief or the King.  Assaults or insults of a chief or the court or the King also carried capital punishment." Doing magic for evil intent was against the law.  Laws were believed to come from Nyame and the ancestors.

Long Distance Communication
The talking drum was used for long distance communication.  The talking drum made sounds in like their language, so it was used to give people messages.  The messages may have been your wife have given birth, wise phrases, rituals, etc.  Talking drums are amazing!

Culture
The Ashanti wear kente cloth.  Different colors have different meanings.  When a girl becomes a woman, the mother tells the village with great glee.  Then women sing songs about menstruation.  Menstruating women couldn't cook 4 men nor enter the ancestor's shrine.  Women had to live in a sperate house when on their period.  [I heard woman are their most powerful when they menstruate.  Maybe men are afraid of the power, so they try to stay away from them.]   When someone was sick a doctor would figure out the spiritual cause of their disorder and prescribe herbs.  When someone dies there was a big celebration!  The belief was when someone dies they go to live with their ancestors.  Funerals are a big social gathering. Business deals are created there and people sometimes find their future spouse there too.  The Ashanti have a festival where they celebrate royal ancestors.  They have a war dance and they tell poems with drums. 

Religion
Odomankoma: Creator
Nyame: Sky father
Asase Yaa: Earth Mother
Anansi: Spider that is very wise.  He is a trickster.
Abosom: Deities
Nsamanfo: Ancestors

Sometimes Abosoms are prayed too.  Some Ashanti people are mediums and the Abosoms speak through them.  Ashanti people sometimes pour libation for Abosom and Nsamanfo.  During some rituals, people get possessed by abosom.  Sometimes they speak in tongues.

Special Police
The Asantehene employed Africans, Arabs, and Europeans in his special police force.  They were called ankobia.  They were used in different parts of Ashanti Empire.  Sometimes they would gather intelligence about groups that opposed the Asantehene.  Other times they were bodyguards for prominent figures.

Military
The size of the military was about 100,000 men, maybe more.  They had firearms.  There were platoons that took care of the army's medical needs.  The military helped create the Ashanti Empire.

Wars
AK first war was with the Denyria.  They defeated them and incorporated them into the empire.  The Asante Empire went to war with the Fante Empire.  This was because the Fante harbored fugitives.  The Asante Empire was victorious.  The Asante Empire teamed up with the Ga State and together they fought the Fante, Akwapim, and Akim.  The Asante Empire lost this war.  There were several wars with the British. The Asante Empire fought valiantly, but they lost in the end.

Imperialism
Osei Tutu made the AK imperial.  Denkyria was defeated when he was Asantehene.  AK also defeated Dagbon.   Dagbon paid tribute after its defeat.  Various Akan states were defeated and incorporated into the empire.  AK even conquered Bonoman.  Bonoman is the country Akan people lived in b4 they moved to the forest.

Slavery
Slaves were treated well in the Ashanti Empire.  Slaves were usually prisoners of war.  Sometimes slaves could become wealthy and get married.  Children of a marriage between a free person and a slave were born free. Other times they were sacrificed so they could serve their master in the afterlife.  They could pick a new master if they were being mistreated.  The Ewe were slaves of the Ashanti.  They learned the kente cloth from them.

Ghana
Morden day Ghana is a mixture of AK, Dagbon, and Eweland.  Eweland was where members of the Ewe tribe lived it was called British Togoland.  Ghana may come from other kingdoms as well.  AK is the richest region in Ghana.  AK still exists today!

Conclusion
The AK is amazing!!!!!!!!!  It has rich history and culture.  It has great government and religion.  The Kente cloth is sweet and AK has many great accomplishments.  AK has sweet arts and crafts.  They had a great military and legal system.  I give AK an A+.     

References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashanti_Empire         
http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/history/ashanti.php   
http://www.nathanielturner.com/ashantiempire.htm
http://asantekingdom.org/history/the-historic-and-present-importance-of-asante-its-culture-and-economy/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashanti%E2%80%93Fante_War
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonoman
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Ashanti_wars
http://howafrica.com/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-ashanti-kingdom/
https://sites.google.com/site/afropublic/asante-empire
https://www.saylor.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Ashanti-Empire.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akan_religion
http://www.odwirafo.com/
http://www.everyculture.com/Africa-Middle-East/Akan-Religion.html
http://cec.vcn.bc.ca/rdi/kw-rel.htm
https://www.modernghana.com/news/653455/ashanti-a-rich-kingdom.html
http://www.museumofafricanart.org/en/past-exhibitions/ashanti-art,-culture,-heritage.html
Ashanti Empire
Ashanti Kingdom Doc
Fight of the Golden Stool
Asante Museum
Stool Story 

Dagbon

Introduction
Dagbon was founded in 1409.  This kingdom had a long line of rulers.  Several tribes lived in Dagbon. Music and dance are popular; and there are festivals in Dagbon.  

History
Dagbon was created by the Dagomba.  The government was an absolute monarchy.  They were culturally similar to kingdoms in the Sahel.  It is a Islamic kingdom.  Dagbon made a lot of $ from trading.  

Dagbon had to pay tribute to the Ashanti Kingdom and then it became a part of the British Empire. Now it is a part of Ghana.

List of Rulers of Dagbon
Naa Sitobu: Founder of Dagbon.  Title for king is Ya Naa.

Naa Nyagse: He defeated different villages and made the kingdom bigger.  His sons became the chiefs of those villages.  He had a strong military with a powerful cavalry.

Naa Zangina: There were several men that could have became Ya Naa.  To become Ya Naa they had to choose the correct proverb.  Naa Zangina chose the right one.  B4 he became Ya Naa he made a lot of $ from trading.  He amended the constitution, so there would be be an easier select the next Ya Naa.

Naa Gariba: He was captured by the Ashanti.  They gave him back in exchange for tribute.  Dagbon gave the Ashanti 'sheep, clothes, cattle, and slaves' until 1874.  An representative of the Ashanti lived in Dagbon after that.  The Dagbon military got a upgrade.  They got a platoon of musketeers.

There were many other Ya Naa as well.

Tribes in Dagbon
There were at least 2 other tribes in Dagbon besides the Dagomba.  There was probably more.

Mamprusi: They speak Mamprusi.  They have there own kingdom called Mamprugu.

Nanumba: They have a paramount chief and the practice Islam.

Culture of Dagbon
Stories are told by dancing in Dagbon.  People dance to express their emotions and interact socially. They love the drums, so do I.  Most music in Dagbon is made for dancing.  Contemporary music is also popular in Dagbon.  Sometimes musicians mix traditional and contemporary music together. Bugum Chugu is the fire festival which is the first of the year.  People do a dance called ziem during this festival.  It is the oldest dance in Dagbon.  The Damba festival celebrates the chieftaincy and the birth of Muhammad.

Conclusion
This kingdom is over 600 years old!  It had a lot of rulers and several tribes.  I like its culture.  I give it a B+.

References
http://www.raceandhistory.com/cgi-bin/forum/webbbs_config.pl?md=read;id=527
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dagomba_people#Kingdom_of_Dagbon
http://www.dagbon.net/history.php
http://moledagbon.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-mole-dagombas-mole-dagbani.html
https://www.modernghana.com/news/116403/1/dagbon-recalling-history-the-battle-of-adibo.html
http://www.ama.africatoday.com/dagomba.htm
https://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2015/01/11/dagbon-tradition-is-citadel-of-culture-mahama/
http://ethnomusicologyreview.ucla.edu/journal/volume/13/piece/496
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanumba_people
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dagbon_music_and_dance
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bugum_Chugu
Sweet Dance
Damba
Drums of Dagbon
Dagbani Movie