In this comprehensive lecture, Phil Pritchard walks us through the intricate history of French West Africa, exploring how the region’s complex colonial past is reflected in its philatelic issues. He addresses the confusion arising from the numerous name changes and territorial reconfigurations of countries such as French Sudan (now Mali), Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso), Dahomey (now Benin), and others like French Guinea, Senegal, and Togo. Through detailed maps and historical analysis, Pritchard clarifies how these nations evolved, merged, and split over time, and how these changes are documented through their postage stamps. This video serves as an invaluable resource for philatelists interested in collecting West African stamps.