Economically lucrative for European slave traders and later for their colonial successors, the territories along Africa's Atlantic coast were forced to overcome great adversity before achieving autonomy. This volume surveys the history of the many nations of western Africa where vestiges of its past are still visible in cities like Timbuktu and where its diverse peoples continue to navigate a path towards a more stable future. --from publisher description.

Early history -- The beginnings of European activity -- Pre-colonization developments: Islamic revolution and increasing European activity -- Colonial era -- Benin -- Burkina Faso -- Cameroon -- Cape Verde -- Chad -- Côte d'Ivoire -- Equatorial Guinea -- The Gambia -- Ghana -- Guinea -- Guinea-Bissau -- Liberia -- Mali -- Mauritania -- Niger -- Nigeria -- Senegal -- Sierra Leone -- Togo.