Since ~1400: Power of Mali Empire begins to crumble, its former vassals (like Songhay / Gao) gain more power. 15th century: Kingdom of Benin (in OTL SW Nigeria) starts to flourish. They're approached by Europeans in 1488. Great Zimbabwe starts to fall apart. The city is given up. Solomonic dynasty of Ethiopia organizes the state into the provinces of Tigray (northern), Amhara (central) and Shewa (southern). Loanga kingdom (OTL Republic of Congo) founded. Mossi state founded in OTL Burkina Faso. Nupe immigrate from the Nile (it's claimed) to OTL Central Nigeria. 1465: Songhay takes Timbuktu.