SAround the Gulf of Guinea, the forest prevented the formation of great empires. But, from the 16th century, the establishment of European trading posts on the coasts favored the development of merchant cities thanks to their craftsmanship and even, for some, thanks to slavery.
Metalworking
With more than 130 inhabitants per km2, southern Nigeria is one of the most populous regions in Africa. The organized cultivation of yam for 6500 years seems to have favored this high population density.