Final answer:
Political instability in West Africa stemmed from competition over gold and the slave trade, leading to the growth of the slave trade rather than agriculture.
Step-by-step explanation:
West Africa was indeed rich in natural resources, particularly gold, and its political landscape was characterized by intense competition among tribes and kingdoms vying for control of these resources. This region experienced political instability due to conflicts over the lucrative gold and slave trade. Control over gold-producing territories was central to the power and wealth of West African empires such as the Ghana and Mali empires. The second part of your question relates to the impact of political turmoil on societal development. This turmoil did not directly lead to the growth of agriculture, but it was one of the factors that enabled the slave trade to flourish. The slave trade became a key component of economic prosperity for some kingdoms, and in turn, sustained their power and influence. It necessitated a near-constant state of warfare, which was destabilizing, and it altered the societal structure by militarizing states and reorienting African trade towards meeting the demands of European traders.