British West Africa
British West Africa is the collective name for
British colonies in
West Africa during the colonial period, either in the general geographical sense or more specificaly those comprised in a formal colonial administrative entity. The
United Kingdom colonised varying parts of these territories or the whole from the late 1780s until the 1960s.
Encyclopedia
British West Africa is the collective name for
British colonies in
West Africa during the colonial period, either in the general geographical sense or more specificaly those comprised in a formal colonial administrative entity. The
United Kingdom colonised varying parts of these territories or the whole from the late 1780s until the 1960s.
Historical jurisdiction
British West Africa or the
British West African Settlements constituted during two periods an administrative entity under a governor-in-chief , an office vested in the governor of
Sierra Leone .
The other colonies originally included in the jurisdiction were the
Gambia and the British Gold Coast .
Nigeria as a whole never was, but since the re-constitution in 1866 its nucleus, Lagos territory, was.
Aftermath
Even after its final dissolution,, a single currency, the
West African Pound, was in effect throughout the region -including Nigeria- from 1907 to 1962.
Nigeria gained independence in 1960.
Sierra Leone was self-governing by 1958 and gained independence in 1960.
The Gambia gained independence in 1965.
In 1954, the British Gold Coast was allowed by Britain to self-govern and in 1957, the Gold Coast was given independence from Britain, under the name
Ghana.
Sources and references
