Overview

West Africa includes the southern half of the bulge of the African continent that extends west into the Atlantic Ocean. West African countries include Benin, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.

Subject | Subject

Background knowledge

​Open the History of the Akosombo Dam on Youtube

​Over 17% of electricity is generated by hydroelectric power

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The importance of water

Both an inland delta in Mali and a delta that flows into the Atlantic

Third longest river in Africa​. Important for commercial shipping

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Niger River

Blood Diamonds

Conflict diamonds are diamonds that are mined in a war zone. Often the money from the sale of diamonds in these areas is used to finance war. For example, during the conflict in Sierra Leone in the 1990s, rebels used forced labor to mine diamonds. These diamonds were then sold in neighboring countries and then in European markets. The money earned from these sales was used to finance the civil war in Sierra Leone. As people around the world became aware of conflict diamonds, often referred to as blood diamonds, efforts were made to prevent their purchase.

History

​Lagos: Vibrant City in Nigeria Video

​The Griot tradition of West Africa | TEDxSydney Video