List of kingdoms in Africa throughout history

This is a list of kingdoms and empires in Africa throughout history, with exceptions for a few non–contemporary republics.

The vast majority of kingdoms included in this list existed prior to the Scramble for Africa (c. 1880–1914) when almost all of the continent came under the control of European powers.

Some kingdoms, such as the Kingdom of Ardra in Benin, Kingdom of Buganda in Uganda, or the Kingdom of Bailundo in Angola, still exist today as non–sovereign monarchies. The roles, powers, and influence of non–sovereign monarchs throughout Africa vary greatly depending on the state. In some states, such as Angola, the local monarch may play an integral role in the local governing council of a region.^[1][2] They are often regarded as custodians of tradition and culture, and in some cases, play an important role in local religious activities.^[3][4] On the flipside their powers may be curtailed, as happened in 2022 with Wadai in Chad,^[5] or had their positions abolished, as happened in Tanzania in 1962,^[6] and in 1966 in Uganda with Buganda, which was later restored in 1993. In this list they are labelled (NSM).

There are only three current sovereign monarchies in Africa;^[7][8] two of which (Lesotho and Morocco) are constitutional monarchies where the rulers are bound by laws and customs in the exercise of their powers, whilst one (Eswatini) is an absolute monarchy where the monarch rules without bounds. Sovereign monarchies are labelled (SM).

There have been a number of autocrats in Africa who invoked hereditary succession in order to preserve their regimes,^[9] such as the Bongos of Gabon,^[10] Gnassingbés of Togo,^[11] or Aptidon–Guelleh of Djibouti,^[12] generating the term monarchical republic.^[13] These have been tentatively included due to their similarities to, and possibly even taking inspiration from, the institution of monarchy and are labelled (MR).