West Africa Crossword

2. Payment or gift made by one ruler or nation to another, often to secure peace or protection.
3. West African empire that succeeded Mali, controlling trade along the Niger River and known for its military power.
7. Inheritance system where lineage and succession are traced through the father’s side.
8. Precious metal that was a major trade commodity in West Africa, fueling the growth of empires like Ghana and Mali.
11. Grassland region in Africa with scattered trees and a long rainy season, ideal for agriculture.
12. Major world religion that spread across Africa, influencing trade and culture.
14. Semi-arid region south of the Sahara, marked by limited rainfall and vegetation.
15. Largest desert in the world, covering much of North Africa, known for its harsh, dry conditions.

1. Inheritance system where lineage and succession are traced through the mother’s side.
4. West African poet, historian, and storyteller who preserves oral traditions and genealogies.
5. West African empire known for its wealth from controlling the gold trade in the 8th to 11th centuries.
6. Secretive group in West Africa, known for hiding the locations of their rich gold mines from outsiders.
9. Wealthy emperor of Mali, famous for his pilgrimage to Mecca and spreading Mali’s fame in the 14th century.
10. Powerful West African empire, renowned for its wealth and the reign of Mansa Musa in the 13th and 14th centuries.
13. Valuable commodity traded across the Sahara, essential for food preservation and nutrition in West Africa.