History of West Africa

Toyin Falola, Ph.D. is the Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities and University Distinguished Teaching Professor, Department of History, The University of Texas at Austin. He is the recipient of many distinguished awards, including sixteen honorary titles.

• PART I: INTRODUCTION 1. Introduction 2. Writing West African History 3. Geography, Landscape, and Composition PART II: EARLY HISTORY, STATE FORMATION, AND SOCIETIES 4. Evolutions and Revolutions 5. Societies and Cultures in the Iron Age 6. The Trans-Saharan Trade in West Africa 7. States and Empires 8. Domestic Economies 9. Traditional Religions PART III: WEST AFRICA IN THE ERA OF ATLANTIC ECONOMIES AND GLOBALIZATION UP TILL THE NINETEENTH CENTURY 10. Islam in West Africa 11. Christianity in West Africa 12. The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade 13. Economy and Society: External Commerce 14. Transformations and Revolutions in the Nineteenth Century 15.The Nineteenth Century Jihads in West Africa PART IV: THE COLONIAL ERA 16. Colonial Rule and Its Impact 17. West Africa and the World Wars (1914-1919) and (1940-1945) 18. Nationalism and Independence 19. The Road to Independence in West Africa PART V: THE POSTCOLONIAL ERA 20. Postcolonial Politics 21. Economies and Development 22. Postcolonial Cultures 23. Cultural Changes and Popular Cultures 24. Religions and Religious Changes 25. Contemporary West African Identities 26. West Africa and the Wider World 27. Trajectories and Projections on the Future of West Africa 28. Timeline

At a first glance, it will appear as if Falola’s new fascinating book simply illustrates the popular saying by George Orwell that “The best books… are those that tell you what you know already.” However, and most significantly, what makes this particular work so insightful and unique is that one is able to learn about the history of West Africa through the prisms of Falola’s multiple visits, interactions and researches conducted for several decades across the sub-region coupled with his long years of teaching, examining and writing about West Africa. This book is a quintessential primer for bringing the knowledge of West Africa to mature students and the general readers.Koya Ogen, Professor of History, Osun State University and former Provost, College of Education, OndoThis comprehensive textbook on West Africa offers a deep exploration of the region's history. With its engaging writing style, extensive research, and insightful analysis, it is an invaluable resource for students and educators alike, providing a window into the historical forces that have shaped the region and beyond. This teaching resource is a must-read for teachers interested in helping students obtain a deeper understanding of the region's cultures, economies, politics, and identities.Henry Lovejoy, Director of the Digital Slavery Research Lab, University of Colorado BoulderScholars and students alike will actually enjoy reading this invaluable book and will keep returning to it as a deep well. Falola covers major ecological, economic, and political transformations over the longue durée in West Africa while also enlivening history with attention to people’s daily lives, pastimes, and priorities—food, art, aging, schooling, and other topics. With a detailed timeline, a thoughtful structure, and spotlights on important West African thinkers, this book is an engaging and usable text that will serve generations to come. Shobana Shankar, Professor of History, Stony Brook UniversityProfessor Toyin Falola, the most prolific historian of our time, has brought a sublime finality to West African history text. Scholars in various fields of studying, teaching, and writing West Africa will find this a most useful book to adopt.Kwabena Akurang-Parry, PhD (Visiting Scholar) Professor of African History, Heritage Studies & World History, University of Ghana, Legon, GhanaThe book illuminates the changes and continuities in the economic, socio-political and cultural matrix of West Africa since precolonial times. [...] Written in a clear and simple language, this book is an indispensable resource for understanding West African history. The inclusion of an “assessment section” further enhances its value for teachers and students of West African history. Above all, this book is meticulously researched and thorough in its coverage.Danladi Abah, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana, writing in African Studies Review, 2024