By the turn of the 20th century, the French controlled most of the Mali Empire's former territory. The colonies of French West Africa gained independence by 1960, but France's exploitation of naturala resources and its imperialist monetary policies still cripple the region. Really, the only good thing to come from French rule is that anywhere you go in Mali and Guinea today, you're never too far from a fresh baguette.

— Custodians of Wonder by Eliot Stein (6%)