ABSTRACT
This chapter is about the geography, landscape, and composition of the people of West Africa, identifying where the subregion can be found in Africa and on the world map; its physical conditions such as the topography, soil, relief, drainage, climate, vegetation, and the seasonal changes arising from its geographical location and other environmental factors. It will also examine the composition of the various peoples of West Africa and the subregion's social and economic affairs, such as its natural resources and endowments, which remain the backbone for potential in the social and economic growth and development of the subregion. The geography, landscape, and composition of West Africa have also formed a great part of the study of archaeology. This chapter explores how historical and scientific discipline and its practical applications have continually helped the understanding of the nature and character of West Africa and its place in the natural and physical world.
