Suggestion for revised sub-saharan lists
Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 5:02 pm
Hi Folks
I have a few suggestions for changes to the Sub-Saharan African Lists currently listed:
FoGR4 – Colonies & Conquest
6. Somali
Re-name as Muslim Horn of Africa. Somali is more restrictive and doesn’t really apply to the main state, Adal, during this period.
7. Abyssinian
Ok.
10. Zanj
Ok.
Addition of a list for Oromo? – see notes below
FoGR6 – Cities of Gold
4. West African Forest Peoples
Re-name as West African Forest. To include Benin, Yoruba, Akan States and Dahomey but not Kongo or Jaga which did not fight in Forest but mostly Savannah or Hilly and would be better to include under Central African States anyway.
5. West Sudanese
To include Songhai , Hausa and other minor states. Suggest having a separate list for Bornu & Bulala as these armies were slightly different in composition.
6. Tuareg
Ok.
7. Central African States
To include Kongo, Ndongo, Jaga, Imbangala, Monomatapa, Changamire and the Zimba; from west coast to east coast below the equator. This list could be included either in FoGR4 or FoGR6.
16. Alwa
Replace this list? The Alwa DBR list is based on earlier medieval records. For all we know there may have been very little left of Alwa by 1494 AD as there are so few records from this time. I would suggest replacing it with Bornu & Bulala (perhaps to include Wadai & Darfur also?).
17. Wadj
I can’t really see why this list was included in DBR at all. Wadj or Waj was just one of several semi-autonomous states in north-east Africa. The publications by Pankhurst are the main English source for this region and he hardly mentions their supposed period of independence at all. There were several minor states in the region who had a similar history. I would replace this list with one for Oromo whose invasion had a major impact on both Abyssinia and the Muslim Horn of Africa. However, an Oromo list would perhaps be better to include in FoGR4.
18. Funj
Ok.
19. Shaiqiya
Again I find little reason to include this list. You could include other minor kingdoms in the southern Sudan region that were or claimed independence at various times. I would include Shaiqiya and other similar states under the Funj list.
Instead I suggest replacing this list with one for the Mossi. This list is unique among sub-Saharan African armies in relying mostly on light cavalry.
Regards
Richard
I have a few suggestions for changes to the Sub-Saharan African Lists currently listed:
FoGR4 – Colonies & Conquest
6. Somali
Re-name as Muslim Horn of Africa. Somali is more restrictive and doesn’t really apply to the main state, Adal, during this period.
7. Abyssinian
Ok.
10. Zanj
Ok.
Addition of a list for Oromo? – see notes below
FoGR6 – Cities of Gold
4. West African Forest Peoples
Re-name as West African Forest. To include Benin, Yoruba, Akan States and Dahomey but not Kongo or Jaga which did not fight in Forest but mostly Savannah or Hilly and would be better to include under Central African States anyway.
5. West Sudanese
To include Songhai , Hausa and other minor states. Suggest having a separate list for Bornu & Bulala as these armies were slightly different in composition.
6. Tuareg
Ok.
7. Central African States
To include Kongo, Ndongo, Jaga, Imbangala, Monomatapa, Changamire and the Zimba; from west coast to east coast below the equator. This list could be included either in FoGR4 or FoGR6.
16. Alwa
Replace this list? The Alwa DBR list is based on earlier medieval records. For all we know there may have been very little left of Alwa by 1494 AD as there are so few records from this time. I would suggest replacing it with Bornu & Bulala (perhaps to include Wadai & Darfur also?).
17. Wadj
I can’t really see why this list was included in DBR at all. Wadj or Waj was just one of several semi-autonomous states in north-east Africa. The publications by Pankhurst are the main English source for this region and he hardly mentions their supposed period of independence at all. There were several minor states in the region who had a similar history. I would replace this list with one for Oromo whose invasion had a major impact on both Abyssinia and the Muslim Horn of Africa. However, an Oromo list would perhaps be better to include in FoGR4.
18. Funj
Ok.
19. Shaiqiya
Again I find little reason to include this list. You could include other minor kingdoms in the southern Sudan region that were or claimed independence at various times. I would include Shaiqiya and other similar states under the Funj list.
Instead I suggest replacing this list with one for the Mossi. This list is unique among sub-Saharan African armies in relying mostly on light cavalry.
Regards
Richard
