With the Cradle of Humankind found in modern-day South Africa and some of the oldest learning centers in the world spread across the continent, there can be no argument that Africa is the very root of human civilisation as we know it. From her fertile soils, African kingdoms and societies were formed and Homo Sapiens spread across the globe, leaving empirical legacies in the form of Aztec and Mayan ruins in the Americas to remnants of the Roman Empire which we see dotted across Eurasia.
That said, there were plenty of African kingdoms and empires spread out across the continent, too; regional and political powerhouses much like those that fill our history books today. Ancient Egypt is perhaps the most famous of all, but the hubbub around it sorely overlooks other impressive civilizations and the effects they had on the continent. Let’s take a look at some of Africa’s most notable empires and civilisations.
1. The Aksumite Empire
Where? Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Yemen
When? circa 100 CE – 960 CE
Also known as the Kingdom of Aksum (or Axum), this ancient society is the oldest of the African kingdoms on this list. This kingdom spread across what is today Ethiopia and Eritrea in an area where evidence of farming dates back 10,000 years. The Aksumites were key players in the commercial trading routes which existed between the Romans and Ancient India. They were considered one of the four great powers of their time alongside China, Rome, and Persia. The Aksumites erected several stelae (stone wooden slabs acting as monuments in pre-Christian times) during their reign but one of them is the most famous of all. Standing at 79 feet, the Obelisk of Axum is approximately 1700 years old and is found in present-day Axum, Ethiopia.
Later, when the Aksumites converted to Christianity, they unwittingly created the foundations for Ethiopia’s Orthodox Church. Today, Axum is also the rumoured resting place of the Ark of the Covenant.
2. The Kingdom of Ghana
Where? Spread across parts of what is now Mauritania, Senegal, and Mali
When? circa 700 CE – 1240 CE
More commonly known as Wagadu, this African kingdom was an important stop along the trans-Saharan trade route which connected African societies in the Sahel to the markets found along the coastlines of the Mediterranean Sea and the trans-Saharan gold trade. Although its capital city was said to have changed several times, one of these, Koumbi Saleh, was the biggest city south of the Sahara Desert. At its peak, it was home to between 15,000 and 20,000 people – a phenomenal population for a city which had a limited water supply. They specialized in the trade of gold and kola nuts (the latter of which became the secret ingredient in Coca-Cola centuries later). The Kingdom of Ghana’s decline was cemented when it became part of the kingdom of Mali around the year 1240 CE.
3. The Mali Empire
Where? Spread across parts of what is now The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal
When? circa 1230 CE – 1670 CE
It makes sense that our next entry comes after the Kingdom of Wagadu given that, in its decline, it was eventually annexed by the Kingdom of Mali. While the Ghana Empire traded in gold, the Malian Empire actually mined gold from its mines which, by the end of the 1200s, was the source of approximately 50% of the Old World’s gold supply. Of all the African kingdoms on this list, the Malian Empire’s most famous ruler, Mansa Musa, was the richest – even by today’s standards. Historians still consider him to be one of the richest people in world history, with records suggesting that Mali was the world’s largest gold producer during his reign.
4. The Songhai Empire
Where? Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, The Gambia
When? circa 1000 CE – 1591 CE
Lauded as one of the largest states in history on the continent, you’ll probably know the Songhai Empire at the mention of one of its most prominent cities: Timbuktu, which was one of the most important learning centers in the region. Academics and skilled workers came from all over the continent, the Middle East, and even as far afield as Spain to study and work there. The Songhai Empire rose out of the decline of the Mali Empire and was responsible for expanding and controlling several important trans-Saharan trade routes at the time.
Image Credit: World Atlas
5. The Kingdom of Zimbabwe
Where? Zimbabwe
When? 1220 CE – 1450 CE
The Kingdom of Zimbabwe’s modern-day claim to fame is its capital, Great Zimbabwe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city was home to around 18,000 people at its peak and spanned across an area of 7km2. While the kingdom’s heyday was from around 1220 CE onward, archaeologists estimate that the start of the kingdom was as early as the 11th century. This civilization had a monopoly on the trade of gold and ivory from the southeastern coast of the continent to the interior and were famed miners specializing in minerals such as copper, iron, and gold. While the success of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe led to the decline of Mapungubwe, Great Zimbabwe’s decline saw the rise of the Kingdom of Mutapa, the next entrant on our list.
Image Credit: The African Exponent
6. The African Kingdom of Mutapa
Where? Spread across parts of what is now Lesotho, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe
When? circa 1430 CE – 1760 CE
The Mutapa Empire encompassed a truly staggering portion of Southern Africa, from the Limpopo and Zambezi Rivers to the Indian Ocean coastline. Its territory was so large that if it were around today, it would stretch across parts of six Southern African nations. Legend has it, a warrior prince from the Kingdom of Zimbabwe established the Kingdom of Mutapa. Within a generation, Mutapa eclipsed the glory that was Great Zimbabwe and its surrounds. The Portuguese unwittingly became middlemen between India and the Mutapa’s smaller kingdoms in their bid to control trade in the region. This interest was also fuelled by rumours that King Solomon’s biblical mines were held by the ruler of Mutapa.
The Kingdom of Mutapa wielded such power, they acquired a subsidy from every captain who took office in Portuguese Mozambique and they imposed a 50% tax levy on all trade goods imported. Sadly, the kingdom’s decline began in the early 17th century due to factional in-fighting. This gave the Portuguese an opportunity to make Mutapa a vassal state.
Image Credit: Wikipedia Commons
7. The Ethiopian Empire
Where? Spread across parts of what is now Eritrea and Ethiopia
When? circa 1137 CE – 1975 CE
Stretching from the Middle Ages all the way to the Cold War, the Ethiopian Empire (or Abyssinia, as it was also known) is the longest lasting of the African kingdoms on this list. It survived some of the most tumultuous events in modern-day history. It resisted various enemies attempting to encroach on its territory, from the Ottoman and Italian armies to the Egyptians. Legend tells us that its leaders are descendants of King Solomon.During the Scramble for Africa which saw European powers asserting colonial authority across African territories, Ethiopia successfully fought off and defeated Italy in the First Italo-Ethiopian War. The empire’s decline began when they lost the Second Italo-Ethiopian War in 1935. The monarchy was finally abolished in 1974 by a military junta.
Image Credit: Wikipedia Commons
8. The African Kingdom of Kongo
Where? Spread across parts of what is now Angola, DRC, Republic of the Congo, and Gabon
When? circa 1390 CE – 1914 CE
Before European powers divided the African continent during the Scramble for Africa, the modern-day countries of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo both formed part of the Kingdom of Kongo. Although the kingdom’s precise boundaries are uncertain today, this empire did eventually stretch into both modern-day Congos and Angola. This period of expansion was due to the leadership of a Kikongo warrior, Luken Lua Nimi. Its military and political prowess dominated central Africa for centuries. Kongolese society was a quasi-feudal one and its economy was fueled by trade routes following rivers in the region and dealing in textiles, pottery, copper, and ivory.
Image Credit: Brooklyn Museum
9. The Benin Empire
Where? Nigeria
When? circa 1180 CE – 1897 CE
Found in modern-day Nigeria, the Benin Empire was considered one of the oldest and most developed states in West Africa until its annexation by the British Empire. Famous artisans crafted masterpieces from ivory, bronze and iron. The Benin Empire had a strong trading relationship with the Portuguese. They exchanged palm oil, pepper, and ivory for Manilla (a form of currency used in West Africa) and firearms. The relationship even saw an ambassador visit Lisbon in the 16th century. Britain’s first expedition to Benin occurred in 1553. A mutually beneficial trading relationship existed throughout the 16th and 17th centuries until Benin suspected Britain of making controlling advancements. Dutch, British and Portuguese explorers brought numerous tales back to Europe of the beauty, wealth and sophistication of Benin.
Image Credit: Wikipedia Commons
What other famous African kingdoms and empires do you think we could add to our list? Let us know in the comments section below!
Read more exciting tales about African history here:
This was a fascinating read! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Thanda. It was a huge pleasure to write 🙂
This is absolutely fascinating! Do I have your permission to copy this blog into a file called “Empires and Control” on our website? Full copywrite and acknowledgements will be given if you supply them. PLEASE! Jeff.
Hello Jeff,
Thank you for the kind compliment on our post.
These are the permission perimeters in which we render you to use this blog post. You may link this blog post and additionally mention our copywriter Melanie, where you would like to make reference to it. We decline the request to copy the blog content and paste it on your website, however you may make use of quotes from this post with all due acknowledgements mentioned.
Once again Jeff our thank you goes to you for taking the time to visit us on this page.
Best regards
The Rhino Africa team
Thank you, Unathi, for your consideration and advice. The link will be entered, and the blog will not be pasted in “ta Biblia” website as instructed. Once again, many thanks for your kind co-operation. Jeff Pearce.
Thank you!
Thank-you! You are very welcome.
Oh, was wissen wir Europäer alles noch nicht. Wir waren in Südafrika und man zeigte uns die Denkmäler der Eroberer. Wir fragten, wo sind die Monumente der Einheimischen. Sie waren sprachlos. Vielen Dank für den Artikel!
Das freut uns sehr, herzlichen Dank!
What a interesting history lesson, There is so much we dont know about Africia.
Thank-you so much for your comment, Brad! I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
so true .I really don’t know much about Africa.
Fascinating and beautifully written, Melanie! Thank you for this 🙂
Thanks for your kind words and for reading, Sam! Much appreciated 🙂
So much is not known of this big continent and its human heritage.
Thank you for this wonderful introduction to african history and the possible beginning to understanding the interaction between tribes and countries.
The past is garant for actual being of humans; we know so few about it..
Hi Alain. We could not agree with you more. Thank-you so much for the kind words. I’m so glad you enjoyed reading it!
Fascinating to read!!!!!
CHECK OUT THIS!!! can be number 10 on your list
THE MALAVI EMPIRE
Maravi was a kingdom which straddled the current borders of Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia, in the 16th century. … Maravi’s rulers belonged to the Mwale matriclan and held the title Kalonga. They ruled from Manthimba, the secular/administrative capital, and were the driving force behind the state’s establishment.
Very interesting and I learned a lot about Ancient African civilization.. trying to select a good word to name my new business company.. thanks for your research
Hi Banu. We’re so glad you found the blog useful and interesting 🙂
In some ancient African maps I saw a kingdom called Yudah in West Africa but there is little research done on it. Maybe with your little help some light can be shade on this kingdom
Great and informative,really the world has been orbiting.I bet the is more than more to explore and tell.
Thank you. We’re so glad you enjoyed it.
Research about Buganda kingdom in East Africa which is still existing with now the 36th King Ronald Muwenda Mutebi ll, it’s first King was Kintu. It is well known of the Ganda people, Kasubi Tombs, it’s position in Uganda and East Africa’s history, it’s decentralisation in pre-colonial period, luganda language, among others. It’s old boundaries were tracing in west Kenya, Northern Tanzania, and biggest part in Uganda, as currently is found in Uganda only due to the effects of scramble and partition for Africa under IBEACO and GEACO.
Thanks a lot how can you list African kingdoms and you forget to mention the most organized kingdom in Africa which is Buganda kingdom
Dear Kimuli,
I wanted to take a moment to thank you for reading our blog post and for bringing the Buganda Kingdom to our attention. It means a lot to us when our readers share their knowledge with us. There is always something extraordinary to learn about our continent, and we appreciate you adding this nugget of information to our knowledge library.
Once again, thank you for your contribution, Kimuli. Your input is highly valued.
Best regards,
Unathi.
this is awesome
thank you
I am from the ancient kingdom of BENIN and i say thank you for work
Impressive article, I especially like the Ivory mask of Queen Idia. Just look at the craftsmanship.
Seriously, what a stunning work of art!
great rich history about our Continent..instead of being told day in day out ..that Africa is a dark continent
I really look forward to adding this for my students to research. Thank you!
Thanks for the great history to share.
The Africa had more and it is back in action with new evolving skilled personel to rebuild the lost dignity by the so called colonial masters. Though we need more strength to rebuild ourselves referring to our past.
Thanks for the blog
Realiy amazing place in all over Word wher respect the animales in civilizaciones
Such a rich history, we need more of this in our history books and in our school curriculum.
Yes, we do need more of this in our schools and history books.
Agreed, but first more research needs to be done. The sad truth is that we simply know far less about the history of sub-saharan Africa than we do about any other part of the world since most of their history was related orally and not written down. What we do know comes from outsider accounts from peoples such as the Egyptians, Romans, Arabs, Portuguese, and British.
Thankfully though there’s more of a push now than ever before to piece together what few sources we have (and search for new artifacts, ruins, and outsider references) to better understand African history. Thanks to this we’ll be able to teach more and more African history moving forward!
Melanie,
Thank you for your insight into the ancient kingdoms of Africa. It truly was a pleasure to read and very informative. Enjoy your stay in Cape Town. Please write more about Africa if you have the time and resources. You are gifted.
Great information here, am ever thinking of how we can push Africa`s past glory into todays youths conciousness, it will realy help us have a postive world view and foster self belief.
I suggest turning this heritage into cartoons films movies, music and other artistic exhibitions that can be widely showcased
Someone needs to share this list with Hollywood so they can tell THESE stories instead of just making up fictitious African kingdoms
I had my 11 year old grandson study each kingdom as a prerequisite before starting African American history in the United States .
Not useless information, very informative keep it up
Thank you for this. Your article is very informative. It’s a shame they never taught us about any African civilizations like this in school (other than Egypt of course).
The issue is that very few African civilizations developed writing systems (as writing ALWAYS develops as a means to facilitate trade and Africa’s ecology made trade nearly impossible) and artifacts/ruins tend not to survive in wet, forested environments. As a result we simply know far less about the thousands of civilizations that have formed in Africa over the millennia than we do about any other part of the world, save perhaps South America. It’s not that there’s an agenda, it’s literally just that we know far less about African civilizations. What we know tends to come from written accounts from the Ancient Egyptians, Romans, Arabs, Portuguese, and British who traded with various portions of Africa over the last 4,000 years.
Fun fact: Roman merchants actually traded as far south as southern Tanzania in a city they called That’s as far back as 100 CE
The issue is that very few African civilizations developed writing systems (as writing ALWAYS develops as a means to facilitate trade and Africa’s ecology made trade nearly impossible) and artifacts/ruins tend not to survive in wet, forested environments. As a result we simply know far less about the thousands of civilizations that have formed in Africa over the millennia than we do about any other part of the world, save perhaps South America. It’s not that there’s an agenda, it’s literally just that we know far less about African civilizations. What we know tends to come from written accounts from the Ancient Egyptians, Romans, Arabs, Portuguese, and British who traded with various portions of Africa over the last 4,000 years.
Fun fact: Roman merchants actually traded as far south as southern Tanzania in a city they called Rhapta (edit) as far back as 100 CE
I enjoyed all your research and all the information. You have done an amazing job. You gave so much information. I never knew Africa was so beautiful. I enjoyed reading it and the pictures were really great. I meet a doctor here on the Eastern Shore that was from Ghana they are very nice.
Melanie did an excellent job highlighting these much celebrated empires which are integral to the rich and diverse history. This is but an appetizer. There are some areas of Africa where chiefdoms were never conquered and/or consolidated into kingdoms and empires, but existed as mostly clan based tight knit communities. I’d love to hear more about such lesser known chiefdom enclaves.
Hello Mrero,
Thank you so much for visiting and reading our page. That would indeed make for a fascinating read.
Thank you again for reading Mrero.
Best regards
Unathi
This is very fantastic Melanie. I have used this article at the University of South Africa where I am a Professor and it is always very resoundingly welcomed by all who see the work you have done.
The Oyo Empire: reigned between 1400-1897, still exist but reduced power in Nigeria. One of the very important empire in west Africa, the home of the Yorubas, the second largest ethnic group in Africa. It’s an extension of Ile-Ifè Kingdom, still exists in modern day Nigeria, it fathers many Kingdoms and Empires, that includes the Gaa of Ghana, Oyo Empire and Benin Empire and many others that traced their route to this kingdom.
Hello Raphael,
Thank you for that addition and for taking the time to read our post.
Best regards
Unathi
You should know your history and know peace,…. Oyo was not empire, she was given the statue of empire because of numerous villages around. besides the oyo empire was not known because nothing significant happened there… Ga of Ghana has nothing to do with oyo empire, Benin Empire historical greatness in Africa reman ubiquitous to the world. Benin Kingdom and ife history is via Oduduwa a exiled Benin prince, who sent his son oronmiyan to go take over his throne upon request. This is Benin history. Yoruba said oduduwa came from sky, other version said from mecah etc, The Ife has several versions of oduduwa which is quite concerning.
Hello Maverick,
Thank you for contributing to this conversation. We appreciate robust discussions where we can all respectfully learn from each other. Your perspective sheds light on this topic and encourages further research and exploration for everyone interested to dive deeper into it.
Thank you again Maverick
Best regards
Unathi
Oyo empire was between 1200s
The Zulu kingdom
I have been so enlightened with this research. It goes to the roots of who we are as Africans and it is a proof that western education came to take from us and not to give us because those who could give us the riches of our peculiar knowledge were decimated and they could not pass down their civilization to us.
Thank you for engaging and commenting on our blog, Lebo. Mutual learning, cultural appreciation, and diversity are key factors that can bring us closer to each other and ensure our unity despite our differences. In our lifetime, we have numerous opportunities to access information and education. It is our hope that we take full advantage of these opportunities to learn, grow, appreciate, and pass on the baton of each other’s uniqueness to future generations.
Best regards
Unathi
The Azande kingdom with its king Gbudue, that kingdom was exist before the colonial era . The azande people was divided into three countries of present South Sudan, DRC and Central Africa Republic . The azande kingdom play a great role in exploring new products, and initiating some governance systems that is copied into the modern political and governments system and structures
Prince Tadeo Sasa is the prime minister in the Azande Kingdom,South Sudan
Hi Prince,
How amazing, thank you for joining the conversation and adding your knowledge.
Kind regards
Unathi
Thanks for helping me get a good grade in social studies!