_{Written by Jasmine Grace – high school Intern}

The West African nation of Senegal  has a rich history going back to ancient times. Prehistoric tools, copper and iron artifacts, and shards of pottery have been found in the Senegal River Valley. This area saw the rise and fall of not one, but two West African Kingdoms: the Mali Empire and the Songhai Empire. The Songhai Empire, the last of all West African Kingdoms, lasted all the way to the year 1591 AD.