Every country has thousands of stories.

Drag the map, open a marker and read what has been recorded there. Each marker shows how many published cultural items belong to that exact place.

From the archive

West Africa

Published records from across West Africa.

Ninki Nanka: A River of Stories

Folklore · The Gambia

Ninki Nanka: A River of Stories

Story · 8 min read

Jiidaano and Korondoo: When Communities Call on the Rain

Traditions · The Gambia

Jiidaano and Korondoo: When Communities Call on the Rain

Story · 7 min read

Basket Weaving in The Gambia: The Craft That Holds Everything

Traditions · The Gambia

Basket Weaving in The Gambia: The Craft That Holds Everything

Video · 6 min read

The Story My Grandmother Never Wanted Us to Forget

Oral History · The Gambia

The Story My Grandmother Never Wanted Us to Forget

Audio · 12 min

The Drummers of Dakar

Music · Senegal

The Drummers of Dakar

Video · 8 min

A Recipe That Carries a Family History

Food · The Gambia

A Recipe That Carries a Family History

Video · 10 min

The Meaning Behind a Village Name

Place & History · The Gambia

The Meaning Behind a Village Name

Story · 7 min

The Story Behind a Naming Ceremony

Traditions · The Gambia

The Story Behind a Naming Ceremony

Audio · 9 min

Kankurang: The Guardian of the Grove

Traditions · Senegal

Kankurang: The Guardian of the Grove

Story · 6 min read

Ifá: The Memory of 256 Paths

Folklore · Nigeria

Ifá: The Memory of 256 Paths

Story · 6 min read

Kente: The Cloth That Is Read

Traditions · Ghana

Kente: The Cloth That Is Read

Story · 6 min read

Sanké Mon: The Fishing Day at San

Traditions · Mali

Sanké Mon: The Fishing Day at San

Story · 5 min read

The Sosso-Bala of Niagassola

Music · Guinea

The Sosso-Bala of Niagassola

Story · 5 min read

Zaouli: The Mask That Cannot Stop Dancing

Music · Côte d'Ivoire

Zaouli: The Mask That Cannot Stop Dancing

Story · 5 min read

The Balafon of the Senufo

Music · Burkina Faso

The Balafon of the Senufo

Story · 5 min read

Gèlèdé: The Mask That Honours Mothers

Folklore · Benin

Gèlèdé: The Mask That Honours Mothers

Story · 6 min read

Morna: The Sound of Longing

Music · Cabo Verde

Morna: The Sound of Longing

Story · 5 min read

T'heydinn: The Epic of the Moorish Poets

Folklore · Mauritania

T'heydinn: The Epic of the Moorish Poets

Story · 5 min read

Cure Salée: The Salt Cure at In-Gall

Traditions · Niger

Cure Salée: The Salt Cure at In-Gall

Story · 5 min read

Evala: The Wrestling Season in Kara

Traditions · Togo

Evala: The Wrestling Season in Kara

Story · 5 min read

Gara: The Indigo Cloth of Sierra Leone

Traditions · Sierra Leone

Gara: The Indigo Cloth of Sierra Leone

Story · 5 min read

The Vai Script: A Writing System Made in Liberia

Languages · Liberia

The Vai Script: A Writing System Made in Liberia

Story · 5 min read

Carnival in Bissau: Masks of Many Islands

Traditions · Guinea-Bissau

Carnival in Bissau: Masks of Many Islands

Story · 5 min read

Explore West Africa

Did You Know?

Short facts, objects and traditions from the archive. Tap a card to read the full entry and its source.