Final answer:
The transformation of West Africa referred to in the question is overwhelmingly characterized by the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, a significant historical event that caused substantial social, economic, and political changes in the region.
Step-by-step explanation:
Transformation of West Africa
The transformation of West Africa that is under discussion involved several historical events, but the most consequential and enduring was the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. This trade commenced not long after the Portuguese had built Elmina Castle, otherwise known as São Jorge da Mina, which served as a fortified trading post in present-day Ghana. The castle became a significant early hub for European traders who sought West African gold and soon played a pivotal role in the emerging slave trade, linking the resource demands of the New World with the human resources of West Africa.
Before the rise of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, West African kingdoms such as Ghana, Mali, and Songhay thrived primarily through commerce, including the trans-Saharan trade in gold. However, the establishment of Elmina Castle marked the beginning of a direct trade relationship between Europeans and West Africa, which evolved into a trade in enslaved people. The Kingdom of Dahomey and other West African states became embroiled in this trade, resulting in societal restructuring and conflicts.
The effects of the slave trade on West Africa were profound. It escalated conflicts and warfare within the region, as some African leaders participating sought to gain European weapons in exchange for slaves. Others, like Affonso I of the Kongo, sought to mitigate or end the slave trade in their domains. Nonetheless, over the centuries, the trade in African captives, driven by European powers' demand for labor on plantations across the Americas, transformed the social, economic, and political landscapes of West African societies.