The following are short descriptions of the major places which have contributed to the shaping of Global African history. These encyclopedia entries serve as a starting point for much more inclusive descriptions and discussions that appear in other sources. For additional information please consult the print or website sources cited in the entry.
The Olduvai Gorge or Oldupai Gorge is a paleoanthropological site in the eastern Serengeti Plain, near northern Tanzania, in East Africa. The gorge is nicknamed the “Cradle of Mankind” because it is believed to be the site of found remains of the first human beings … Read MoreOlduvai Gorge
The Horn of Africa (HoA) is the African continent’s easternmost peninsula. The English name for the region derives from the horn-shaped land formation of the easternmost point of the African continent. The peninsula stretches hundreds of kilometers into the Gulf of Aden, Somali Sea, and … Read MoreThe Horn of Africa
Kumasi, also spelled as Coomassie, is located in south-central Ghana and is the capital of the Ashanti, also known as Asante, region. The city is best known as the former capital of the Ashanti Empire. Kumasi boasted a population of 2,069,350 people in 2013 making … Read MoreKumasi, Ghana (17th Century- )
Djenné, also known as Jenne or Dienné, is a southern Malian city that was an ancient center for trading and Muslim scholarship during its height. It is nestled on the Bani River and is approximately 220 miles southwest of Timbuktu. The city had a population … Read MoreDjenné, Mali (11th or 13th century- )
Kano, also known as Kano City, is located in the northern region of Nigeria on the Jakara River. It is the capital of Kano state and in 2006 boasted a population of 2,828,861 people making it the second largest city in Nigeria. Many of the … Read MoreKano, Nigeria (7th c.?- )
Port Harcourt is the capital, largest city, and port town of Rivers state. It is located in southern Nigeria and is situated along the Bonny River. In 2006 Port Harcourt boasted a population of 1,005,904 people making it the 5th most populous city in Nigeria. … Read MorePort Harcourt, Nigeria (1912- )
Benin City, which is also known as Edo, is located in the southern region of Nigeria. It is the capital of Edo state and in 2016 boasted a population of 1,500,000 people making it the largest city in the state as well as the fourth-largest … Read MoreBenin City, Nigeria (10th Century- )
George Town, located on the island of Grand Cayman, is the capital city of the Cayman Islands, British West Indies. There has been no archaeological evidence of an indigenous presence in the Cayman Islands before the arrival of the Europeans. The first European sighting of … Read MoreGeorge Town, Cayman Islands (1700- )
Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro Basilica is located in Yamoussoukro, which since March 1983 been the capital of Côte d’Ivoire (the Ivory Coast). It is the largest Christian church in the world, according to Guinness World Records. The basilica is not to be confused … Read MoreOur Lady Of Peace of Yamoussoukro Basilica (1989- )
