This story starts in the year 1884
when the leaders of Europe decided
to maximize their efforts
to conquer an entire continent
split the map into spheres of influence
drew new borders with rulers
start the ”scramble” for Africa
So, who inhabited this vast continent in the year of 1884?
Which kingdoms, tribes, sultanates, vassal-states or peoples?
What territory did they inhabit?
Where shall I start?
Perhaps with the kingdom of Morocco?
the Tuaregs of the desert?
the peoples of today's Mauritania?
With the unstable Tukuloor empire at the Niger
and the emerging empire of warlord Samori Turé
the Wolof empire and the Fouta Jallon
the many kingdoms and peoples in the Liberian hinterland
the Kong in the middle of today’s Ivory coast
the Ashanti – cut out from the sea north of the river Pra, after several wars with the British
To the north, the Gonya and the Missarassa
and the Mossi kingdoms Yatenga, Wugadugou, Gurma and Tekondougou
the Sikasso city-state
and certainly Dahomey – the powerful state at the slave coast