West Africa constitutes a region located in the western part of the African continent, bounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south, the Sahara Desert to the north, and Central Africa to the east. Geographically, it includes countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Benin, Togo, and Cape Verde, among others. This region is characterized by a rich diversity of cultures, languages, and histories, with hundreds of ethnic groups and linguistic families coexisting across national borders. West Africa has historically been a center of trade, politics, and cultural exchange, acting as a bridge between the African interior and the wider world, particularly Europe and the Americas. Its social and political history has been shaped by indigenous empires, colonial interventions, transatlantic trade, and modern nation-state formation. The history of West Africa can be traced back to ancient civilizations and powerful empires that emerged along major rivers and trade routes. One of the earliest significant kingdoms was the Ghana Empire (c. 300–1200 CE), located in the Sahel region near modern-day Mauritania and Mali. It thrived on trade in gold, salt, and other commodities, establishing strong political institutions and fostering interactions with North African traders. The Mali Empire (c. 1235–1600 CE) succeeded Ghana and became renowned for its wealth, especially under the rule of Mansa Musa in the 14th century, whose pilgrimage to Mecca demonstrated the empire’s economic and cultural influence. Timbuktu emerged as a center of Islamic learning, scholarship, and manuscript production, reflecting the intellectual vibrancy of the region. Following Mali, the Songhai Empire (c. 1464–1591 CE) rose to prominence, expanding territorial control and trade networks along the Niger River. Its administrative and military sophistication exemplified West Africa’s capacity for state formation and governance. Coastal regions of West