Central Africa

Kingdoms have appeared in different parts of central Africa. Some of these are linked to the continued expansion of the trade routes from the Indian Ocean. Most notably, the inhabitants of Great Zimbabwe have benefited greatly from their control of the gold trade down the Zambezi Valley to the coast. After flourishing for several centuries, however, Great Zimbabwe has been abandoned. New centres of trade and power are coming to the fore, centred on the town of Ingome Ilede and the Mutapa kingdom.

The Luba people of the Congo forest fringes have organized an important kingdom, and other kingdoms have emerged elsewhere – Kongo, the Ngondi states, Kitari and the small Ganda kingdoms.

The pastoral Masai people are beginning to migrate southwards from their homeland on the Atlantic coast, the Herero have adopted the cattle-keeping economy and are moving into the dry grasslands of Namibia.

Areas of interest

• Kingdom of Kongo
• (Wilderness Area) Sudanian Savanna