Africa, From Its Origins to Its Future
The digital gateway to understanding Africa — history, countries, cultures, people, economies, opportunities and the future, connected in one intelligent system.
NORIAExplore the story of a continent
From the cradle of humankind to Africa 2050 — tap any era and NORIA takes you deeper, with sources.
All 54 nations of Africa
Tap a country — on the map or the list — to open it fully: facts, history, kingdoms & empires, culture, economy and opportunities.
The great civilisations of Africa
From Ancient Egypt to the Sokoto Caliphate — tap any empire and NORIA explores its rise, achievements and legacy, with sources, separating evidence from legend.
The people who shaped a continent
The leaders who freed and built nations, the scholars, the faith leaders and the icons — explored by NORIA, balanced across regions, faiths and eras.
The builders of modern Africa
Real leaders who freed, founded, led and united their nations — tap any to explore their story with NORIA.
Africa's single-currency ambition
What is the ECO?
The ECO is the proposed single currency for West Africa, championed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) — a bloc of 15 nations. Its goal is to deepen trade and integration across the region, ease cross-border business and payments, and give West Africa greater monetary independence.
The plan has faced repeated delays and debate. In 2019, the francophone (UEMOA) countries announced renaming the CFA franc the "Eco" and reforms — including ending the requirement to hold reserves with the French treasury — which caused tension with the non-CFA West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ) countries (led by Nigeria and Ghana) who favour a broader, jointly-governed currency. Convergence criteria on inflation, deficits and debt must be met before launch.