As we await an answer, here’s an old post that partially addresses your question (courtesy of u/cleopatra_philopater)

Read into West African Empires (Benin, Mali and Ghana) many Sub-Saharan African Empires were built on trade and conquest. If you look into the Mali Empire you would fine that it dwarfed the Holy Roman Empire at its height of power. Sub-Saharan Africa did actually have notable achievements yet a lot of it was destroyed by Europeans attempting to promote their Social-Darwinism and attempting to make everyone believe Africans were no better than primates.

Read into West African Empires (Benin, Mali and Ghana) many Sub-Saharan African Empires were built on trade and conquest. If you look into the Mali Empire you would fine that it dwarfed the Holy Roman Empire at its height of power. Sub-Saharan Africa did actually have notable achievements yet a lot of it was destroyed by Europeans attempting to promote their Social-Darwinism and attempting to make everyone believe Africans were no better than primates.

Read into West African Empires (Benin, Mali and Ghana) many Sub-Saharan African Empires were built on trade and conquest. If you look into the Mali Empire you would fine that it dwarfed the Holy Roman Empire at its height of power. Sub-Saharan Africa did actually have notable achievements yet a lot of it was destroyed by Europeans attempting to promote their Social-Darwinism and attempting to make everyone believe Africans were no better than primates.

Read into West African Empires (Benin, Mali and Ghana) many Sub-Saharan African Empires were built on trade and conquest. If you look into the Mali Empire you would fine that it dwarfed the Holy Roman Empire at its height of power. Sub-Saharan Africa did actually have notable achievements yet a lot of it was destroyed by Europeans attempting to promote their Social-Darwinism and attempting to make everyone believe Africans were no better than primates.