Hello fellow explorer.
In this article, I want to explore the Northern half of Africa, as this is the part of the continent that was explored with the African Royals expansion. As you know, all major and minor civilizations as well as maps focus on that specific part of the continent.
If you are like me, you probably did not have much info about the history of that region. That is why I share this info. Hopefully you’ll find this interesting.
Let’s start by exploring the region, starting by the North.
Northern Africa and the Sahara
Fortunately for us, this area of Africa is relatively well known and is marked by the domination of two major states: the Moroccan and Ottoman empires.
The Saadian and their successors the Alawi controlled a massive territory, having influence up to Timbuktu. The Alawi are the current ruler of Morocco.
Multiple minor states, Europeans protectorates as well as tribal entities existed in the region, one of the most well known are Berbers (Minor civ.).
West Africa
That part of Africa had multiple new states during the period. We will look at multiple maps and focus on states that survive for most of the time period.
1648 Map
The Gold Coast include two of the Minor Civ. we have : Akan and Yoruba.
In the center, the Malian Empire (Malians from AOE2) and Songhai Empire still exist, but are mere shadow of their former self.
Neighboring them are two interesting states: The Mossi Kingdoms and the Ségu Empire.
The Mossi Kingdoms (or Empire, 11th century–1896, modern day Burkina Faso) is a powerful centralized state that existed for the whole period.
The Ségou (or Banama Empire, 1712–1862) is a Malian Empire taking the place of the most important state in the Malian region.
1789
The Akan (Asante), Yoruba (Oyo) are still there a century later. Note the Dahomey between them: the mercenary unit Dahomey Amazon is in the game.
To the West, you’ll note the Fulani Kingdom of Khasso and various other Fulani (Senegalese) states. Here is a map in the 18e century:
1837
Not much has changed in 1837. You’d note the Sokoto Caliphate (1804–1903), succeeding the Hausa Kingdoms: remember Usman dan Fodio from the Historical battle?
Like the Sokoto, the Masina Kingdom, a Fulani state, would rise from the Jihads that were common in that region in the 19E century. The Toucouleur Empire or Tukulor (1861–1893) is one of the last of those jihadi state before the European occupation of the region:
1871
From the Hausa States to the Horn of Africa
Fortunately, most states in that area survived for the whole period.
At the East of the various Hausa city States (Kano, Katsina and Zaria on the map), existed two major Chadian States: the Bornu Empire (1380s–1893) and the Wadai Sultanate (1501–1912).
The Kanuri Guard is a mercenary unit from Bornu present in the game.
Between them and Ethiopia, there were two powerful Sudanese States, Darfur and Sennar, as well as a smaller one, Shilluk. The Sudanese Minor Civ. reference Darfur and Sennar directly, as can be read on the Historical Infos present in the game:
The Sudanese are a large collection of people-groups – the most numerous of which are Sudanese Arabs – indigenous to modern-day Sudan. During the early modern period, this region was ruled primarily by two sultanates: Darfur (17th-20th centuries) and Sennar (16th-19th centuries).
A mercenary unit is named after them: the Sennar horseman.
Not present on the map were Somalis States (they would be at the East of Ethiopia). Many of them were present during the time period and the game represent them with the minor civ of the same name.
Conclusion
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NOTE the game is a bit inconsistent with the naming of its civs, both minor and major.
Some of them are named after the Ethnic group that was in political control of the region (Hausa, Akan, Yoruba), while other are more generic and linked to the modern countries (Sudanese, Somalis). Africa is home to so many ethnic groups spread across vast areas and the concept of Nation State did not exist, so it can be confusing to name civilizations for gameplay purpose. Most of the states we have seen were named after their capital. — For example, you could name the Masina Empire as Masina, Fulani (the ruling group) or Malians (this was an historic state of Mali). Feel free to use the one you want.
Time to look into options for new civs!
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Moroccans seem to be an obvious choice.
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Malians could also be an option in my opinion. Even if the well known Malian Empire disappear, there are other important Malian states during the whole period.
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Mossi Empire (Burkinabé? modern Burkina Faso) is also interesting, as it survive for the whole period.
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Chadians (based on the Bornu or Wadai, modern Chad) are also a perfect fit here: they cover a huge area and are present for the whole period as well.
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Sudanese (Darfur and Sennar) would be the best option of all Minor civs to be upgraded. They are way more important than the (multiple) Somalis states for example, as they are part of the states that were major and existed for long too.
So what do you guys think?
Are you wishing for more African civs?
What about South Africa?
Should I explore this as well? 
