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FOUR COMMUNES OF SENEGAL (1887-1960)

The Four Communes of Senegal in French West Africa, Gorée, Dakar, Rufisque, and Saint-Louis, were the only places during the African Colonial period, where African inhabitants were granted the same rights as French Citizens. As early as 1840, the importance of Gorée Island and Saint-Louis (located on an island of the Senegal River) as key French trading post settlements led to the establishment of a General Council in each colony. In 1848, … Continue reading FOUR COMMUNES OF SENEGAL (1887-1960)

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GORÉE ISLAND, SENEGAL (CA. 1000- )

Gorée Island, located two miles from the Senegalese capital, Dakar, was a critical trading port for Europeans and played a major role as an entrepot for slaves taken from West Africa.  Long before being conquered by the Europeans, the island was called Bezeriche Island or Ber and, according to some accounts, was settled by a population of Wolof (West African ethnic group) fishermen. In 1444, Portuguese explorers seeking new trade routes “discovered” and claimed Ber, which they … Continue reading GORÉE ISLAND, SENEGAL (CA. 1000- )

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THE HISTORY OF BELIZE

In comparison to many countries that have ancient histories spanning over thousands of years, Belize (a small country right below Mexico‘s Yucatan Peninsula) is a relatively young nation whose history spans only about 370 years. The indigenous Mayan population, however, has resided in Central America for thousands of years. Similar to the ancient cities found in Mexico, Belize’s indigenous culture had thriving societies that lived in abundance prior … Continue reading THE HISTORY OF BELIZE

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Revisit: KINGDOM OF BENIN

Benin, a pre-colonial kingdom in what is now southwestern Nigeria, is believed to have been established before the eleventh century. It was founded by Edo-speaking peoples, but became more ethnically diverse when invaders from the grasslands of the Sudan settled and intermarried with local women. Based on oral tradition, Benin is said to have begun as family clusters of hunters, gatherers, and agriculturalists who eventually created villages.  By … Continue reading Revisit: KINGDOM OF BENIN

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