yes it was
While there was no official "capital" (because of the multiple empires that come and go), one of (if not the) most important trade city in West Africa was Timbuktu.
Salt or gold. They were equal in trade.
There are many trade routes in Africa. These routes were used as routes for trade and often times for travel.
Trade brought wealth, cultural exchange, and the spread of ideas to the ancient kingdoms of West Africa. It fostered the rise of powerful trading cities such as Timbuktu and Gao, and facilitated the trans-Saharan trade routes that connected West Africa to North Africa and beyond. Additionally, trade introduced new goods, technologies, and religions to the region.
because africa were not discovered
salt
well some names are really important to Africa
Assuming you mean ancient Africa, the Igbo people.
It was used for trade,
it wasnt important back then
Ivory
They could get the things they wanted or needed.