That's true but they eventually got them. Do you think Africa will rise to become a continent of development, the number 1 continent, it seems every continent had it's share of greatness except Africa, well the exception was a Moorish empire in Morocco and Spain of which Cordoba was capital and at the time the worlds cultural center.
If you have done proper research on modern africa and earlier africa you would not have ask these questions.
What history books on africa have read,because if you read any,you would know africa has/have greatness in the past.
It had civilization that were ahead of other civilizations.
Mali by way is west africa and so is songhai.
Parts of it is in north africa,but they are considered west african civilizations/empires first.
Ethiopia is east africa .
The horn OF africa etc.. is in not in north africa.Only the northern part of nubia is really north africa,the rest of nubia could be considered east africa BUT IN THE NORTHERN PART.
Now since we told you that africa had many civilizations,i guest you want to know if it had large empire's like rome.
Well yes,africa had a number of large empires,some lasting has long,almost has long or some others lasting longer then rome.
Mali,the songhai,kush,alwa,the funj, etc..
Just look up african empires,or west african empires,east african empires,central african empires or southern african and north african empires.
Modern africa is developing by the way but it's behind on average because of the past colonialism.It had different problems then any other place and much of it was free only since the 1960's plus major set backs in the 1980s'
Keep in mind it was ahead of asia in the 1960's but because of the set backs IN THE 80'S it fell behind.
Africa now is one of the fastest growing regions,but because the population is growing a bit fast economic development for most african countries will take time but infrastructure development and other developments are happening if you just take time to do the proper research or go to africa for yourself.
If you do some reading some europeans are heading to africa because of europe's problems.
Do some reading on spain and portugal for example.
Another thing that seems to went over your head,those civilizations that the earlier poster mention are in africa.He just gave links to read about africa's greatness but you just ignore it,and really do not want to learn but to cause trouble.
Before anybody answers anymore of your questions what books have you read about african civilizations? and what books you plan to read?
Just answer those two question before you go on.