What is a “mermaid” in various African languages?
There are mermaids or mermaid-like beings in various African mythologies and folklore. For instance, in a sample of 25 African languages, a mermaid would be called: • Achai Wiir in Dinka 🇸🇸 • Arusa el bahari in simple Arabic Juba 🇸🇸 • Binuwe (Benue) in Gbata tribe of Nigeria meaning “mother of water” • Ingwenyama …
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Tomatoes: A Culinary Journey from Continent to Plate
In the vast realm of culinary delights, the humble tomato stands as a vibrant symbol of flavor and versatility. Native to the Americas, this plump and juicy fruit has transcended borders, captivating taste buds across the globe. From its ancient beginnings to its widespread cultivation, the tomato has left an indelible mark on the world’s …
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Politics of Non-click languages: come on a journey into the undiscovered past
The non-click language families include 10 language families: 1. Indo-European: This family includes numerous languages spoken in Europe, South Asia, and other regions. Examples include English, Spanish, Hindi, Russian, and German. 2. Sino-Tibetan: This family includes languages spoken primarily in East Asia, particularly China and its neighboring countries. Examples include Mandarin, Cantonese, Tibetan, and Burmese. …
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Exploring African Ethical Systems: Common Values Across Diverse Cultures
In a recent experiment aimed at dispelling the misconception of Africa as a monolithic entity, I discovered that justice, morality, and character hold significant importance across various African traditional ethical systems, regardless of one’s religious affiliation. The experiment sought to shed light on the rich tapestry of ethical codes present in Africa. Before colonization, many …
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How Niger changed a derelict village mosque into a mixed use library called the Hikma Complex
Once upon a time, in the village of Dandaji, Niger, a mosque was built as a place of worship. Over time the mosque became derelict but the village realised that site of the mosque contained enough space to create a library and a community centre to support the new local needs of students and the …
Anti-slavery in Precolonial Africa
Also, it is important to clarify that in many African societies jails in the modern arrangement did not exist, so what today we call prisoners, some academics have lazily called slaves. In the absence of standalone jails, imprisonment as slaves was used to punish treason, murder, grievous bodily harm, rape or kidnapping.
Literacy in precolonial Africa – the Nok civilisation
Not many people know that the Nok civilisation were //semi-literate//. Academics have never bothered to decode the meaning of Nok writings. The Nok civilization is known for its distinctive terracotta sculptures, which are considered to be some of the earliest sculptures made by any civilization in Africa. These sculptures have been found in a number …
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The Kuba Kingdom
The Kuba kingdom of modern Democratic Republic of Congo was one of 22 literate societies that inhabited Africa during the last 5000 years. The Kuba kingdom existed from 1625 to 1884. The Kingdom of Kuba has evidence of human habitation before 1000 AD, including Paleolithic and Neolithic artifacts (source: “Art of the Lega,” by Elisabeth …
Enslavement of Europeans
Using any available books or studies already published, I estimated the numerical estimates (with sources) for European people enslaved or used as forced labour during these periods of oppression, conflict or global changes. Between 10.2 million and 14.8 million Europeans have been enslaved or used as forced labour since 300 Bc. I don’t know every …
Apartheid
Apartheid is a mind-set that took 300 years to put in place in South Africa, which relied on racist attitudes of successive white-settlers who accumulated power over time. The major social-engineers of apartheid included prime minister Daniel Malan (the 4th prime minister of the Union of South Africa), prime minister Johannes Strijdom, and prime minister …
James Pinson Labulo Davies (1828 – 1906)
James Pinson Labulo Davies (1828 – 1906). Davies was a businessman, farmer, merchant-sailor, naval officer, industrialist, statesman, philanthropist, and the husband of Sara Forbes Bonetta (Princess Aina). Davies was a lieutenant on HMS Bloodhound , the vessel which capture Lagos in 1841 ousting the Oba Kosoko, with the objective of ending the slave trade. Davies is credited …
Colonial Wars involving France and the United Kingdom
There are some people who don’t know the history of wars involving European nations and African nations. Between 700 and 2020 there have been at least 104 wars, mainly initiated by European nations on African nations or the Diaspora of African nations. Only 1 of those wars was initiated by African nations. There have been …
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Egypt: the 2,000 year wait to return to indigenous rule (332 BCE to 1953)
Egypt from 306 BC to Today Part I The impact of the Greeks Scholars in the ancient library of Alexandria Egypt was conquered by the Greeks in 332 BC, bringing an end to the Late Period of Ancient Egyptian civilization. The Greeks founded their own dynasty, the Ptolemaic Dynasty, which reigned for nearly 300 years …
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Terence the African playwright
His works were entertaining and clear. The plots in his plays were absorbing. Monasteries and convents used his works to learn Latin during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. By copying his works, scribes in later generations were taught to write in Latin. 650 manuscripts created after 800 AD contained parts or all of his …
How to teach children history
Philosopher George Santayana (1863-1952) once said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it..”
The Colonization of Africa and why it came to an end
The Good Ol’ Days During the Colonization of Africa As we look back to see how we got here, it becomes obvious that a few Africans were not taught what the colonization of Africa was like and why almost all African territories were handed back self-rule. To solve problems like poverty, misrule, dictatorships, corruption and …
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Scientists who benefitted from the slave trade and uncredited contributions of slaves
In the 1700’s, science in the western world exploded at a frantic space. There were huge advancements in science, and many new technologies were discovered. However, in work published by Sam Kean in Science magazine, we find out that a lot of these advancements were achieved in part due to slaves. We discover that scientists …
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United States racial wealth gap since emancipation
“Segregation now,
Segregation tomorrow,
Segregation forever”
George Wallace, former Alabama Governor, 1963
Nigerians for those who don’t know
A few citizens of South Africa don’t know who Nigerians are. Although black South Africans suffered immensely due to racist ideas and racist oppression, I have observed that racism has become internalized by some, not all, South Africans and those individuals are unable to see greatness in others, only absurd stereotypes about Nigerians. So, allow …