Western Africa

The next list set we have is for the North America

Warfare in West Africa was shaped by powerful Indigenous states and the growing presence of European coastal enclaves. Long-established polities such as Songhai, Mali’s successor states, Benin, and Oyo maintained professional armies based on infantry, cavalry, and complex command structures. The Songhai Empire reached its military height under Askia Muhammad but collapsed after the Moroccan invasion of 1591, when firearms and disciplined formations defeated traditional forces at Tondibi. In the forest zones, states like Benin and Asante relied on dense infantry formations, ritual authority, and fortified towns.

European powers—Portuguese, Dutch, English, and French—rarely penetrated far inland before the 18th century, instead influencing warfare indirectly through firearms, trade goods, and diplomacy. Muskets reshaped regional conflicts, empowering some states while destabilising others. Colonial land warfare was largely limited to defending forts, coercive expeditions against resistant communities, and participation in local wars as allies.

By 1721, West African warfare reflected a dynamic synthesis of Indigenous military traditions and selectively adopted European technologies, with African states retaining decisive control over inland battlefields.

Lists Include –

• Mane
• Songhai Empire (Askia dynasty)
• Kingdom of Benin
• Bornu Empire (Sayfawa dynasty)
• Hausa Kingdoms
• Tuareg
• Mali Empire
• Sierra Leone
• Western Forest Empires and States
• Oyo Empire
• Kingdom of Dahomey

The lists set can be found here