Kingdom of Gonja

Kingdom of Gonja was a state in West Africa coast and forest (North and West Africa) that lasted from c. 1552 to 1899 CE, about 347 years. The timeline colours it by the language of its rulers: Niger-Congo (Mande, Yoruba, Akan, Fula, Wolof, Igbo (non-Bantu)).

Kingdom in what is now northern Ghana, founded around 1552 by Prince Naba from Mali according to one written history, or in 1675 by Sumaila Ndewura Jakpa according to other chronicles. Its last independent chief, in Salaga, joined the Gold Coast colony in 1899.

See Kingdom of Gonja on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates: c. 1552 to 1899 CE
Duration: 347 years
Type: State
Region: West Africa coast and forest, North and West Africa
Language of its rulers: Niger-Congo
Capital: Buipe, then Yagbum

Sources

The dates and description above were checked against Wikipedia: Kingdom of Gonja.

Became

British Gold Coast 1821 to 1957 CE

Events in North and West Africa during its time

1591 Battle of Tondibi
1780 Peak of the Atlantic slave trade
1798 Napoleon invades Egypt
1804 Usman dan Fodio's jihad
1869 Suez Canal opens
1884 Berlin Conference
1896 Battle of Adwa

Neighbours in North and West Africa

Ethiopian Empire (Solomonic dynasty) 1270 to 1974 CE
Mali Empire c. 1235 to 1610 CE
Songhai Empire 1464 to 1591 CE
Kingdom of Benin c. 1180 to 1897 CE
Oyo Empire c. 1300 to 1835 CE
Bornu Empire c. 1387 to 1893 CE
Hafsids 1229 to 1574 CE
Funj Sultanate of Sennar 1504 to 1821 CE
Regency of Algiers 1516 to 1830 CE
Alaouite Sultanate of Morocco 1666 to 1912 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

Republic of Venice c. 697 to 1797 CE, Europe
Holy Roman Empire 962 to 1806 CE, Europe
Swahili city-states c. 800 to 1600 CE, Central and Southern Africa
Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE, Europe
Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE, Middle East
Portuguese Empire 1415 to 1999 CE, Europe
Kingdom of Kongo c. 1390 to 1914 CE, Central and Southern Africa
Ayutthaya Kingdom 1351 to 1767 CE, Southeast Asia
Mughal Empire 1526 to 1857 CE, South Asia
Portuguese Brazil 1500 to 1815 CE, South America

Questions

When did Kingdom of Gonja exist?

c. 1552 to 1899 CE, about 347 years. These dates are approximate, because the evidence for its beginning or end is uncertain.

Where was Kingdom of Gonja?

West Africa coast and forest, in North and West Africa. Its capital was Buipe, then Yagbum.

What language did the rulers of Kingdom of Gonja speak?

Niger-Congo. This family includes Mande, Yoruba, Akan, Fula, Wolof, Igbo (non-Bantu).

What came after Kingdom of Gonja?

British Gold Coast.