The correct answer is C) centralized, kings.
West African empires utilized centralized governments ruled by kings.
When we are talking about powerful empires in West Africa, the first one that comes to mind is the Ghana Empire that ruled vast territories of what today is modern Senegal, and parts of Mauritania, and Mali. Its power was mostly based on trade. They had gold and traded with other nations. This great Empire ruled the territory from the 8th to 9th century CE.