Week 7 Western Africa

Musa I of Mali

(c. 1280—c. 1337)- 10th mansa (sultan or king) of the Mali Empire. His powerful empire was involved in the trade of gold, salt, and slaves. He is widely recognized as the richest person in world history.

cocoa beans

the seed of a tropical tree (called the cacao) that is used in making cocoa, chocolate, and cocoa butter

slavery

the state of being owned by another person: bondage; once used as a type of currency

Kofi Annan

A Ghana-born economist, he was the 7th Secretary-General of the United Nations (1997-2006) and first black man to have the position. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001 for his work in bringing peace and freedom to the people of Africa.

Tsetse fly

A large, blood-sucking fly in Africa that can infect people with African sleeping sickness, which can lead to death.

Oware

A popular board game in Africa involving a board and seeds, dried beans, or pebbles.

salt

a colorless or white substance that consists of sodium and chlorine and is used in seasoning and preserving food and in industry; was once used as a currency in the ancient world.

cash crop

a crop (such as tobacco or cotton) that is grown to be sold rather than for use by the farmer

chocolate

a food prepared from ground roasted cacao beans

currency

the money that a country uses: a specific kind of money; something that is used as money

jealous

feeling a mean anger toward someone because he or she is more successful

greed

selfish desire for more than is needed

folklore

traditional customs, stories, or sayings preserved among a people; ideas or stories that are not true but that many people have heard or read