| West African Independence | |
[Gazetteer Index page]
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Benin Official name: Republic of Benin Independence from France: 1960 In 1625 indigenous slave traders, known as the Fon, founded the kingdom of Dahomey. They subsequently conquered the neighboring kingdoms of Dan and Allada and extended their kingdom to the coast near Porto Novo. A trading post was set up in 1857 by the French at Grand-Popo. The Dahomey King, Behanzin, was defeated by the French when conflict broke out following dispute by the French against continued Dahomey slavery. In 1892 Dahomey became a French protectorate and was absorbed into French West Africa in 1904. Independence from the French was gained in 1960 and the country was renamed Benin in 1975. |
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Burkina Also known as Burkina Faso Independence from France: 1960 From the 16th to the early 19th century this was the kingdom of Ouagadougo, one of the Mossi empire. In the early 19th century the Mossi empire broke down and was subject to almost uninterrupted war for 50 years prior to the arrival of the French. At the end of the 19th century the great Dyula warlord, Samori Ture, was expelled by the French and it became part of French West Africa. Independence from the French was achieved in 1960 and the country was named Upper Volta. The country was renamed Burkina in 1984. |
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Cape Verde Official name: Republic of Cape Verde Independence from Portugal: 1975 The archipelago of Cape Verde became a Portuguese colony in 1462. A joint struggle for the liberation of Cape Verde and the mainland colony of Portuguese Guinea (now Guinea-Bissau) began. Independence was achieved in 1975 with proposed union to the new state of Guinea-Bissau. In 1981 Cape Verde finally split away to form an independent republic. |
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Gambia Official name: Republic of The Gambia Independence from Britain: 1965 The region came under the influence of Islam in the 13th century. During the 18th and 19th century, the region attracted the attention of both the French and the British. It finally became a British colony in 1888. Independence was achieved in 1965. |
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Ghana Official name: Republic of Ghana Independence from Britain: 1957 The two year war between the British and the Ashanti was brought to an end in 1874 when the defeated King, Asantehene, signed a treaty with the British. The Gold Coast colony was created. Independence was achieved in 1957, and the country named after an Islamic empire that existed a thousand years ago in the Sahel region south-west of the Sahara. |
West Africa: [Benin - Ghana], [Guinea - Mauritania], [Niger - Togo]
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