West Africa
The diversity of West Africa: languages, oral traditions through griots, traditional masks, dances, and historical empires such as Mali and Songhai.
Before the 15th century, there were significant empires in West Africa such as Ghana, Mali, and Songhai.
Culture of West Africa
In West Africa, more than half of the languages spoken in Africa are used. Important for the traditional culture of the savanna and rainforest peoples are the oral transmission of knowledge by so-called Griots and the use of masks and dances for ceremonial occasions.
In the southern part of Sudan, for example, the Soninke and Kotoko live. The Hausa are the largest people in Sudan. The Hausa also live in the north of Nigeria and southern Niger.
Traditions of the Tribes and Peoples
Some West African inhabitants have special traditional customs. For example, lip plates are worn. In order for these to be fitted, their lips are pierced. This allows them to be enlarged with larger discs over time. If a woman wore such a lip plate, she was spared from slavery. This tradition is only practiced by the Sara tribe. The cultural and linguistic communities in Sudan and Upper Guinea, a small region in West Africa, are very diverse. The best-known peoples living in West Africa are the Mande or Gur peoples. In the eastern part of West Africa, you can find inhabitants such as the Hausa and Yoruba.
