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There are numerous theories to where exactly the Bantu originated but one is the Niger-Congo Hypothesis which claims that the Bantu originated in Western Africa, the Cameroon area, and migrated to Southern and Eastern Africa through the Congo Basin. This however does not align with the knowledge of the Bantu leaders that are in Kenya. Most of the Bantu people in Kenya speak of the migration they had from the North. There were many supposed theories of why the Bantu's migrated through Africa, but the most practical were famine and drought of the area that led to the migration of the peoples, and the expansion for new land of the tribes. This new land also included iron which had been a new discovery of the Bantu peoples that helped to facilitate farming. The Bantu left behind a huge legacy to African life, especially in creating a lingau franca for the areas they migrated through, such as Swahili. The Bantu also left a legacy of hierarchal structure which can be seen in Zimbabwe.

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This is the migration of the Bantu peoples

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Animism was one of the first features of African culture that was basically saying that everything on earth had a soul, and is believed to be one of the leading contributors of where all of the ancient stories came from. Scarification is the scratching, burning, or branding of the skin that was practiced in early african culture before their was modern day tattoos. This shows evidence of relation with Asian culture because they had already begun these features of culture. We can also see that some migrants that were Asian began to leave a lasting legacy on the early African culture.

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African Kingdoms Timeline

Ghana : 750-1076

Mali : 1235-1610

Songhay : 1464-1612

Great Zimbabwe : 11th - 15th C.E.

Swahili Coast : 12th-15th C.E.

Ghana

The origination of Ghana is recorded in Sudanese chronicles of Mahmud Kati and Abd al-Rahman as-Sadi as a flight of people that moved into the area and started Ghana. From here, Ghana thrived for the following years, until the competitors finally caught up. After barely surviving one attack of Muslims, the Ghana Empire was finally overtook in 1076 A.D. by the Almoravids.

Mali

Mali was originated around the mid-13th century in Western Africa. Mali was known for their immense amount of wealth, and one leader Mansa Musa. It was the largest empire of Western Africa and was able to spread its language, religion, and culture all along the Niger River. The Empire fell when an important leader, Mahmud Keita IV, died and did not leave the throne to one of his three sons in particular. This led to having no one become leader of the Mali Empire which eventually led to its collapse.

Songhay

The Songhay Empire originated right at the fall of the Mali Empire. When they were able to see Mali disintegrating the Songhay took control of Gao, and implemented new Songhay all around the land of where the Mali Empire was. Once they had took Gao the Songhay continued to outshine the Mali empire until the Mali collapse. After the death of Askia Daoud a civil war broke out all throughout the empire. This led to Moroccan people invading Gao and Songhay. The Moroccans were able to beat the Songhay in the battle Tondibi by triggering a stampede with gunpowder weapons. From there they sacked Gao which marks the official decline of the Songhay empire.

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3. African Kingdoms around the Niger River - Sam

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3. African Kingdoms around the Niger River - Sam

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Trade had begun with the Middle East and Western Africa Empires which was the perfect lead in for Islam into Northern and Western Africa. With trade, the merchants also brought their beliefs and culture. This is what initially started the trend of Islam in Africa. The trans-saharan trade route was the routes of trade from Europe, the Middle East, and the Coast of Northern Africa, to get to sub-saharan Africa. It began in Europe and would finish in South Africa. Salt, gold, and slaves were some of the top items that were traded along the trans-saharan trade route.

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Timbuktu was extremely minor before trade, it was just a small settlement of people not claimed by any empire. Once trade had begun it became a booming place to sell gold, salt, ivory, and slaves. This is when Mali embraced Timbuktu as apart of their empire and also made it their capital. From then, it became apart of the Songhay Empire and continued as a capital of the empire and of trade. Once the Moroccan had eliminated Songhay and took Gao, they officially moved the capital from Timbuktu to Gao.

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4b. Travelers coming into Timbuktu - Sam

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4b. Travelers coming into Timbuktu - Sam

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(c.) Gold and salt were the blood of trade in the African kingdoms providing wealth and power to whoever could control the supply. Of course along with wealth came power and glory, inciting people to try to claim some for themselves. The kingdom of Ghana established control over the entirety of southern Sahara trade sending caravans from mines to towns and trading ports. The most important commodity coming south with the caravans is salt, essential in the diet of African agricultural communities. However slaves are close seconds in terms of value with gold. The Niger kindoms as well as other kingdoms like Ghana, mail, and the Songhai empire relied on these materials for economic and social purposes.

(d.) Musa was the tenth "Mansa" (king of kings) in the west African Mail empire. Some have speculated he would have had a modern day net worth of 400 billion, making him the most wealthy person in human history. During his pilgrimage to Mecca Musa gave gold to the poor and built a mosque every Friday. This drew alot of attention to Him and Africa kinda putting Africa on the map in Europe's eyes for future slave trade.

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The Swahili coast soon became an important trade port for Central Africa trading goods such as gold, ivory, and slaves which helped develop market towns such as Mogadishu, Shanga, Kilwa, and Mombasa. They took part in the Indian ocean trade route and traded with the middle east, central Africa, Europe, and Asia

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Christianity in Berber Africa is dated to have started before 180AD. Christianity spread to Egypt, Sudan, Central Africa, and North Africa, for a while. Islam soon spread into Africa as well and clashed with Christianity in Northern Africa. As of now Christianity is one of the most widely practiced religions on the continent. Even today violent clashes still happen between the two competing religions.

(Below is an example of an African mosque)

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Another African mosque

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"Swahili Coast." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2015.

"The Bantu in Ancient Egypt." The Bantu in Ancient Egypt. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Nov. 2015.

"Bantu Migration." Bantu Migration. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Nov. 2015.

"Scarification." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 01 Nov. 2015.

"The Fall of the Ghana Empire." The Empires of Africa. N.p., 03 Dec. 2012. Web. 01 Nov. 2015.

"Ghana Empire." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 01 Nov. 2015.

"Songhai Empire." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 01 Nov. 2015.

"Trans-Saharan Trade." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 01 Nov. 2015.

"HISTORY OF AFRICA." HISTORY OF AFRICA. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Nov. 2015. "Mansa Musa I of Mail." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 02 Nov. 2015. "Christianity in Africa." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 02 Nov. 2015.