AHC: Turn a Sub-Saharan State into a Power

What would it take to turn a Sub-Saharan nation into a world power, on par with that of France?

The PoD can go back as far as necessary. I would prefer it if like France, it was at the height of it's power during the Victorian Age. I would also like it if it remained a power on the world stage today.
 
This goes way back. Arguably, what is needed is an agricultural package being introduced earlier that allows sub-Saharan empires to derive power not only from trade, but land and population. The low-density population that the tropical farming allowed meant there was little State influence possible.
 
This goes way back. Arguably, what is needed is an agricultural package being introduced earlier that allows sub-Saharan empires to derive power not only from trade, but land and population. The low-density population that the tropical farming allowed meant there was little State influence possible.
Also, the disease regime in tropical Africa is horrible. When people are dying of malaria and yellow fever and several other diseases, it's hard to build up a large state.

Your best bet might be if mediterranean (climate) crops were introduced to southern Africa much, much earlier. Get the Bantu down there a bit sooner, perhaps and have some Egyptian or Indian traders introduce a crop package? That might work.
 
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