Africa Selected Readings By Fred Burke

The rulers of Ghana controlled the trade of their kingdom and collected taxes on salt from the north. From the south of the kingdom came gold that fed the king's wealth. This gold came from the Senegal and Niger rivers and was in great demand across the Sahara. Ghana was a sort of meeting place in which the north and the south traded. From the north came ceramics, glass, oil lamps, and salt, from the south came kola nuts,palm oil, copper, and gold. Ghana became a wealthy trading empire. Mali and Songhai were also affected because they neighbored Ghana so they were in similar circumstances. When they were at war and Mali took over the Ghana gold mines, they tried to establish salt trades. Several kings later the Songhai took over the gold mines

In the late fifteenth century the Portuguese were expanding its kingdom in Africa where it tapped into the existing gold and slave trades of the western Sudan and West Central Africa (Ehret 339). By the early sixteenth century, the Americas became a major player in the global commerce system as the Spanish and Portuguese began to carve at the land and importing and exporting sugar, tobacco, and slaves. Slaves in this moment were the chief commodity that the Portuguese sought from West Central Africa as they provided the free labor that was needed to cultivate and maintain sugar plantations in the Americas. However, the slave trade was not a one-sided system, in fact many African elites, like King Afonso a Nzinga of the Kongo allowed for the buying and selling of African people to Europeans. In other words, Europeans traded with Africa because Africa allowed it to happen, however, there are moment when the demand overshadowed the supply. The slave trade and its many complications is one way in understanding the expanding commercial exchanges between Europeans and West Central Africans during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. This essay will analyze the letters King Afonso Nzinga wrote to the King of Portugal, Joao

People of the early African kingdoms were able to create successful trade routes with Europe and Asia, become very wealthy from conquering and gaining land, and were able to have a strong central government. All of this was done before the Europeans had reached Africa. Trade flourished on the East African coast, especially when trading was established with India and Arabia. African kingdoms were prosperous, because of their success with not only trading but also with their ability to conquer land. A governmental structure is key to allowing any kingdom to thrive, and the African people were able to achieve this.

In Africa there were three great empires, first the Ghana Empire who domesticated camels and carved trade routes all across the Sahara then

“The strained relationship resulted in an invasion in the mid-11th century, by a Muslim group known as the Almoravids. The Almoravids launched an invasion on the capital city of Koumbi Saleh. Ghana was able to recover and forced the invaders to withdraw”. (Ancient Civilizations, para 16) However, less than 200 years later, Ghana was invaded again and its defenses were weakened by subsequent attacks. In addition, Ghana was cut-off from international trade and the kingdom became vulnerable and was unable to prevent defeat. In 1240 C.E., Ghana was absorbed into the growing nation of Mali, which soon became the next great empire. (Ancient Civilizations, para 17)

It would seem like Europe has been a much more developed and unified country than Africa over the years, but really in the past they were forced into communism and into a command economy. Almost twenty years after the fall of communism, the governments of Eastern Europe are all trying to transition away from a command economy and move toward capitalism. Many of these countries are trying hard to establish stable democracies while also building a market system. To the people of Africa, the traditions of their ancestors are still a very important part of daily life. Ghana was one of the most powerful empires in Africa for hundreds of years. The kingdom used metals and had laws and an economic system and, in fact, was more developed than other European countries at the time. Modern Mali is a unique nation due to the blending of Islam and Black African traditions from the Middle Ages. After years of domination by the French, Mali has also been influenced by those European traditions as well. The Songhai is an ancient empire of western Africa found in present-day Mali. Songhai society was traditionally highly structured.

From this study, we realize that Ghana has had a long standing history of gold production, dating back to the colonial era: The economy continues to be a dominant gold producer in Africa and the world. Further, gold production has contributed significantly towards the development of the economy of Ghana; providing the much needed foreign exchange earnings; as well as jobs and incomes for the citizenry. The librazilization of gold production in 1989 following the Economic Recovery Program (ERP) in 1983 allowed the operation of small scale gold mining. Small scale gold production has led to increase in gold production and export, however, liberalization, gold export and the existence of small scale gold

Known as the “golden age” of West African history, ancient Ghana can absolutely be classified as great. The word great implies power. Ghana amassed this power, and therefore greatness through many ways. One thing this greatness can be attributed to is wealth amassed from its valuable location. Another explanation is the complex organizational skills that contained law and leadership to control citizens, and a tax system that played into the class system. Lastly, elaborate relations with other peoples, that used foreign policies and advanced weaponry to promote peace made Ghana great. These three things; wealth due to their location, complex organization skills, and diplomatic international relations contributed to the greatness of Ghana and its exceptional power.

“Ghana: The Autobiography of Kwame Nkrumah” is a book based on the life, struggles and achievements of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. In the book the author who in this case is the main person the book is about gives an indebt revelation of his childhood throughout his primary education, life overseas, challenges faced as an educated African man and shifted to his political journey. Although “Ghana: The Autobiography of Kwame Nkrumah” was his major book because it ties in his whole life experience, he wrote various books such as Africa Must Unite, Class Struggle in Africa, Selected Speeches, and The Struggle Continues. According to Henry Kam Kah Nkrumah stated, “We must unite for economic viability, first of all, and then to recover our mineral wealth in Southern Africa, so that our vast resources and capacity for development will bring prosperity for us and additional benefits for the rest of the world. That is why I have written elsewhere that the emancipation of Africa could be the emancipation of Man.” In this statement, one realizes that Nkrumah knew that the benefits of unity were many and included the recovery of the massive mineral wealth of the continent to benefit Africa and not those who wanted to exploit them. The book entitled Ghana: The Autobiography of Kwame Nkrumah was first written in Ghana on 6th of March 1957. Since this book was written and published on Independence Day of Ghana, its analysis fulfils the ultimate aspirations of African people. Upon writing the

The first chapter in Boahen’s book is titled “Eve of Colonial Conquest” and this section gives the readers a background of the colonialism in Africa through a look at the fundamental economic, political, and social changes that occurred just a few decades before colonialism took root. Boahen states that the trade of “natural products” is the most significant economic change in Africa by 1880. Just before the trading of “natural products” slave trades were abolished.

The importance of Elmina formally referred to as the Gold Coast of West Africa is that of a stepping stone for European interaction and colonization of Africa. To understand how Elmina led the way for European colonization and interaction, there must be an understanding of the history of Elmina, African and European relations and the importance of trade goods flowing out of Africa. Elmina, a port on the coastal modern day Ghana near the capital Accra in Africa, was one of the first settlements in West Africa being a city of great importance that “encapsulates the years of European contact, trade, and colonization better than any other site in Africa.” The city was built around the fort Sao Jorge Da Mina or Elmina castle and would later be

Thousand of years ago, between the 9th and 11th centuries, Ghana took pride on being one of the richest areas in Africa. Geographically, they were literally sitting on a gold mine. The dogs wore gold collars, horses had silk bridles, and Ghana’s kings were easily some of the richest in the world. This medieval Ghana was located about 500 miles north of present day Ghana, and was referred to as the Gold Coast for obvious reasons. Far more advanced than any country in its time, Ghana was a trading hotspot with a powerful king and economy.

Ghana is a nation in the developing world. Ghana is continuously ranking among the top three in Africa for “freedom of speech”. Ghana was the first place in sub-Saharan Africa where Europeans arrived to trade. They traded first in gold, next in slaves. According to BBC, Ghana likewise was the first black African nation to achieve independence from the British colonial power. Despite being rich in mineral resources, and endowed with effective civil service. Ghana fell victim to corruption soon after their independence in 1957. Ghana’s globalization include their culture, economy, and Lifestyle.

Ghana is a nation in the developing world. It is continuously ranking among the top three countries in Africa for “freedom of speech”. Ghana was the first nation in the south of the Saharan Dessert where Europeans came to trade in. They traded slaves after the gold trade. Regardless of being rich in raw materials, and endowed with an effective civil service. Ghana suffered from corruption soon after their independence in 1957. A few of Ghana’s globalization includes their culture, economy, and Lifestyle.

This book is about several major themes, but one in particular stands out to me: colonization versus traditional living among the Nigerians. The English come and colonize Africa with a goal of making them better people and to educate them. They pay for the education of the smartest Africans and send them to England to learn. The Africans that have the experience with the teachings of the English begin to become naturally greedy. They have lived their whole lives as just having enough but when they are educated and get a good paying job, they start to want more. Obi was a prime example of a ‘colonized African’. Obi bought a really luxurious car,