Why was gold and salt important to West Africa?

Answer 1

The human body can survive without gold, but it can't without salt. Salt was needed in their diet although it was easier to obtain then gold:While salt was an important part of people's diets, it was no easier to mine than gold. It was more present in some countries than others. Salt is also a preservative which keeps another part of their diet MEAT preserved. This is how it worked in a nutshell.

Answer 2

Because they ahd an excess of gold and since salt is a preservative then they would need it to preserve meats. Other countries like gold and they say "Hey we have so much white rock that we could give it to them and take their shineys!" so Mali and that other country trade salt for gold, and gold for salt nd each has what they want or desire.

[GOLD] <--- SHINY!