Editor's Choice
What were the major features of Western African society and culture before European contact?
Quick answer:
Before European contact, Western African societies were organized into kingdoms with both small villages and larger trade-supported cities. Islam, introduced via trans-Saharan trade, became the dominant religion by the 14th century, though traditional practices persisted. Education was emphasized, with centers like Timbuktu becoming renowned for learning. Oral storytelling, music, and dance played crucial roles in cultural expression. Society was organized into clans, with less hierarchical government structures compared to Europe or Asia.
Prior to contact with European traders, most West African societies were a part of one of a number of kingdoms. Within these kingdoms, some people lived in small villages of just a few families. Others lived in larger cities with a few thousand residents. Most of these cities were supported by trade. Cities that controlled certain important trade routes grew wealthy and supported a thriving merchant class. Merchants often had contacts and connections with other parts of the region which led to a certain degree of cultural amalgamation in these trading hubs.
Islam was (and still is) a central part of West African culture. Trans-Saharan trade brought West Africans into contact with Muslim merchants from North Africa and the religion quickly took hold in the region beginning in the early eighth century. By the fourteenth century, Islam had become the predominant religion in the region. West Africans still kept some...
Unlock This Answer Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
of their pre-Islamic practices going, such as honoring their ancestors with sacrifices and wearing protective amulets.
Formal education was very important in West African kingdoms and many schools and places of learning were established. Timbuktu, in modern Mali, for example, became an important place of study. The city was home to several universities in the years before European contact, including the renowned University of Sankore.
Many West African societies placed a large amount of importance on oral storytelling. Skilled musician-storytellers called griots helped maintain the cultural legacy of their people through stylized and creative storytelling. Using a poetic and musical form, griots would recount peoples genealogies, local history, folktales, and parables to their audiences. Griots could tell their stories and sing their songs for hours completely from memory.
Music has always been a major component of West African culture. It has many purposes in West African society. It was (and continues to be) used to tell stories, communicate shared-values, and celebrate important events. Furthermore, music and dance in West Africa go hand in hand. As people sing, chant, and play instruments, others dance in a way that aids in the narrative or story that the music itself is also communicating. These musical traditions still exist today, but their origin and development go back centuries.
References
Of course, there were many West African societies before the Europeans came. They were not all the same. But we can say something about what they had in common.
First, we can say that they were influenced by Islam. Islam had entered North Africa and was brought to West Africa by traders coming across the Sahara. Not all West Africans became Muslim, but the faith had a strong influence on the area by the 1500s.
In general, most West Africans lived in small villages in rural areas. Their society was made up of what we might call clans or "lineage groups." These were groups of extended families who claimed some kinship to one another. They were expected to support and care for their members.
In terms of government, West African kingdoms were generally not as hierarchical as those in Asia or Europe. There were clear distinctions between rulers and the ruled, but the gap was not as wide as it was in other parts of the world.