Kenya's colonial officers tried to erase her name. It didn't work.
https://mythopia.io/story/1256/mekatilili-wa-menza-wonder-woman
#Kenya #AfricanHistory
#africanhistory — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #africanhistory, aggregated by home.social.
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Much Ado About Mapping by Michelle Gavin
The lone dissent came from Washington on a UN resolution over a map long criticized for making Africa look smaller than it is.https://lawakhigbe.com/2026/10/08/much-ado-about-mapping-by-michelle-gavin/
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My Great-Grandfather, the Nigerian Slave-Trader by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani
My parents’ compound in Umujieze sits on a hill that has been in the family longer than most of us have had the decency to feel embarrassed about it. We bury our dead right under the living-room carpet, the study, and occasionally near the front gate because nothing says “welcome” like an umbilical cord and a few ancestral tibiae. Somewhere down the slope, half-swallowed by bush, lies the prize exhibit: Great-Grandfather Nwaubani Ogogo Oriaku, the man who turned human beings into a respectable export business and still managed to get a leopard sacrificed at his funeral. “He was a renowned trader,” my father still announces with the same pride other families reserve for inventing penicillin. “He dealt in palm produce and human beings.” Note the elegant pairing. One product softens the hands; the other paid for the canvas shoes that made him the best-dressed man in a land where most people went barefoot. Long before the Europeans showed up with their ships and their appetites, the Igbo were already practicing a more intimate form of slavery debtors, criminals, prisoners of war the sort of arrangement that allowed a man to own property and still risk being buried alive with his master. Then the Atlantic market opened and the whole enterprise scaled up beautifully. Kidnapping distant villages became a growth industry. Disgraced relatives were quietly exported, rather like the British shipping their convicts to Australia, only with better weather and worse outcomes. Nwaubani Ogogo held a proper slave-trading licence from the Royal Niger Company, which is roughly the colonial equivalent of a Google Partner badge. His agents did the dirty work inland; middlemen ferried the merchandise to Bonny and Calabar; white merchants handled the final leg to Cuba and Brazil (the United States and Britain having inconveniently abolished the trade by then how very gauche of them). Local chiefs, eager for influence, offered him their daughters. By the time he died he had collected enough wives to staff a small parliament. Colonial officials, impressed by the efficiency, made him chief of several towns. He built a guesthouse, entertained British dignitaries, and received locks of Caucasian hair in advance so he could confirm the visitors were genuine. One imagines the envelope arriving with a polite note: “Please find enclosed proof I am white and important.” When the old man finally expired, the funeral was suitably lavish: a leopard, six live slaves, and the heavy iron chains that my father, as a boy, could barely lift. We still have the chains. We still have the stories. And every so often a distant church turns up to thank us for the armed escort our ancestor once provided to the first missionaries. Progress, it seems, has a long memory and a short conscience. My father remains unapologetic. “His business was legitimate at the time,” he says, as though legitimacy were a seasonal fruit. “Not everyone could summon the courage to be a slave trader.” Courage. Yes. That is one word for it. The rest of us the ones who now live in cities, watch films about the Middle Passage, and occasionally wonder whether someone might someday invoice the family for reparations — are less certain. We inherited the name, the land, the stories, and a lingering suspicion that some debts refuse to stay buried under the living-room floor. -
A lot of people confuse Edo, Benin, and Bini in context, and the confusion is completely understandable because the terms look and sound so closely related.
According to historical records and documentation like the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edo_people, here is how to break down the distinctions clearly:
Edo is the place (specifically, the modern geopolitical state in Nigeria).Benin is the people and capital city (referring to the historic heartland and the legacy of the ancient Benin Kingdom).
Bini is the language spoken by the people (though it is formally classified linguistically as the Edo language).
The Golden Rule to Remember:
Not everyone from Edo State speaks Bini (because the state also comprises other distinct ethnic groups like the Esan, Afemai, and Akoko-Edo), but all Benin people natively speak Bini.
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“THE 1925 CARTOON THAT PREDICTED TODAY
In 1925, an American political cartoonist named Robert Bob Minor drew something that looked crazy at the time. “#AfricanHistory #history
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Tulsan launches Black Wall Street Travel to connect tourists with their ancestors
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Born in the 1840s, Mekatilili became one of Kenya's earliest freedom fighters. Colonial officers tried to erase her name. They failed.
https://mythopia.io/story/1256/mekatilili-wa-menza-wonder-woman
#Kenya #AfricanHistory -
No Victor, No Vanquished? Gowon’s Memoir Reopens Biafra’s Bloody Ledger by MARCEL MBAMALU
His new memoir, “My Life of Duty and Allegiance”, points a finger from the grave of history at Chukwuemeka Ojukwu — accusing the dead Biafran leader of lying about Aburi, arming the East for war, and dragging Nigeria into bloodshed. Ojukwu, buried since 2011, cannot answer. -
Rejoinder: BOOK REVIEW: Yakubu Gowon’s “My Life of Duty and Allegiance”, – Aburi Accord failed due to federal backtracking, not Ojukwu’s intransigence,’ says Onoh by Oluyemi Ogunseyin
Drawing from over a decade of deep, personal discussions with his late brother-in-law, Ojukwu, in his private residence and office, as well as his personal interactions with late Col. Achuzie and particularly his 1998–1999 conversations with late Maj. Gen. Philip Effiong, Onoh said his narrative is a firsthand account of the events. -
The Marriage That Left No Paper Trail: On Proving Customary Law Marriage in Nigeria by Lawson Akhigbe
Nigerian law has always been more comfortable with paper than with people. A statutory marriage produces a certificate, a registrar, a stamp, a bureaucratic afterlife. A customary marriage produces witnesses, memory, and decades later, when the deceased’s estate is being carved up by relatives who suddenly remember every obligation of kinship a courtroom full of people arguing about who exactly was standing where when the kola nut was broken. -
Dissolution Of Customary Marriages
When a customary marriage is dissolved in Nigeria, the distribution of property and assets does not follow the same rules as a statutory (court) marriage. While statutory marriages are governed by Section 72 of the “Matrimonial Causes Act (MCA)” which grants judges wide discretion to divide matrimonial properties equitably, customary marriages are governed strictly by “Native Law and Custom”, subject to constitutional tests of fairness.https://lawakhigbe.com/2026/08/27/dissolution-of-customary-marriages/
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Uzochukwu v. Uzochukwu Traditional Vs Statutory Dissolution of Marriage by Lawson Akhigbe
In Nigeria’s plural legal system, a marriage is meant to be dissolved in accordance with the law under which it was celebrated. -
https://www.europesays.com/africa/392331/ Bangkok Post – Africa: Getting the history of slavery wrong #Africa #AfricanHistory #GhanaHistory #GwynneDyer #HistoricalAnalysis #OttomanEmpire #ReparatoryJustice #SlaveryAbolition #TransatlanticSlaveTrade
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One of the worst defeats in British Army history — and most people have never heard of it. My review is live now.
#books #bookreview #Isandlwana #AfricanHistory
https://smpl.is/amcgj -
national identity is Imperative for a people to be serious about history. in the best case it's also critical about the nations past.
but with out a national identity it is just indifferent and concerned with the present.
thus repeating mistakes of the past over and over again -
https://youtu.be/4bffJd7B6NE
By analyzing the suppression of historical records, we look at how the recovery of oral traditions is reshaping our understanding of the past. If you are interested in pre-colonial history or want to learn about forgotten African scientific achievements, this overview provides the necessary context to challenge common misconceptions.#africanfolktales #hiddenhistory #africanhistory #africanmythology #storiesofwisdom #hiddenhistory #africanfolklore #ancientafrica
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@hallvors
It's heavy to think about the sacrifices and the bitter truth of what colonial powers forced African soldiers into for a war that wasn't theirs. This documentary captures that forgotten history: (https://www.aljazeera.com/video/al-jazeera-correspondent/2012/7/22/the-burma-boy)#TheBurmaBoy #WorldWar2 #AfricanHistory #NigerianHistory #Colonialism #ForgottenHeroes
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https://youtu.be/6tLaSaKT6e8
We explore how this master navigator used his stories of wisdom as an intellectual weapon to bring an empire built on lies to its knees. By reclaiming African history and understanding the oral tradition in Africa. -
Britain thought no army could stop them. The Zulu did it in one afternoon. That idea never fully recovered.
#books #bookreview #BritishEmpire #AfricanHistory
https://thisgrandpablogs.com/isandlwana-battle-book-review/ -
The Luba Empire didn’t need paper to document their truth; they had a system that lasted centuries and defied European attempts at erasure. In this episode of Tales of Wisdom by ElEmperor, we dive deep into the african intellectual legacy of the Luba people.
#africanfolktales #africanhistory #hiddenhistory #africanfolklore #ancientafrica
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This video explores the sophisticated systems used by tribes to exchange complex information across dense jungle terrain. We examine how these methods were integrated into rigorous initiation rituals, enabling warriors to execute maneuvers that seem impossible by modern standards.
#africanfolktales #africanhistory #hiddenhistory #africanfolklore #ancientafrica #science
https://youtu.be/Wz5D-SWMxYs -
https://www.europesays.com/africa/332194/ Kenya denies Rastafarians the right to smoke weed #AfricanHistory #BritishColonialRule #Cannabis #dreadlocks #DrugLaws #FreedomOfReligion #HighCourt #IndependenceFighters #Kenya #KenyaLaw #KenyanCourt #KenyanHistory #marijuana #MauMau #PanAfricanism #RastafariTradition #Rastafarians #RecreationalUse #ReligiousFreedoms #ReligiousGrounds #vegetarianism #weed #YoungPeople
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In a forgotten West African village, a boy's creation of an advanced machine stirs fear among the elders, who order its burial before sunrise.
#africanfolktales #africanstories #africanhistory #africanstorytelling #bedtimestoriesforadults #losttechnology #lifelessonstory #africanfolktalesstory
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The bull horn formation wrapped the British line from both sides at once. By the time they saw it coming, it was too late.
#books #bookreview #ZuluWar #AfricanHistory
https://thisgrandpablogs.com/isandlwana-battle-book-review/ -
A 2,000-year-old iron workshop in Senegal ran the same technique for nearly 800 years. What does that kind of stability tell us about how technical knowledge survives? #Archaeology #AfricanHistory #Archaeometallurgy https://www.anthropology.net/p/eight-centuries-of-iron-in-the-faleme
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Oba Ewuare the Great was the legendary king who transformed the Benin Empire during the 15th century, famous for rebuilding Benin City, expanding the empire's territory, and constructing the historic moats.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ewuare](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ewuare)
#History #BeninEmpire #AfricanHistory #EwuareTheGreat #Fediverse #LearnSomethingNew
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If you want to see the incredible artistry and history of our ancestors up close, you need to check out this digital archive. 🎨⚔️
The Horniman Museum holds a stunning collection of historical artifacts from the ancient Benin Kingdom. From the intricate brass castings to the detailed ceremonial regalia, you can explore the preserved history and see firsthand how art, royalty, and traditions were beautifully woven together in Edo history.
Seeing these pieces really makes you appreciate the deep legacy and skill of Benin's royal guilds.
📖 Explore the museum gallery and see the artworks here: https://www.horniman.ac.uk/resource/ancient-benin/
#BeninKingdom #EdoArt #BeninCity #AfricanHistory #Museums #Art #ArtHistory #Culture #Fediverse
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Heri ya Siku ya Muungano! Happy Union Day! Learn about #Tanzania's celebration of uniting into one country. #UnionDay #SikuYaMuungano #Swahili #EastAfrica #AfricanHistory. https://thelanguagegarage.com/tanzanias-union-day/
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Lumumba’s dream lives on. He fought for an independent Africa. That fight isn’t over.
#Lumumba #AfricanHistory
https://thisgrandpablogs.com/the-lumumba-plot-book-review-stuart-reid/ -
Leadership tells the story of its time.
From Samora Machel and his role in Mozambique’s liberation, to Vladimir Putin shaping modern geopolitics, and Emmerson Mnangagwa leading Zimbabwe through transition — this is a reflection of power across generations.
History is not separate from the present. It informs it.
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https://www.europesays.com/africa/203434/ Kwame Nkrumah Ghana Independence Legacy Pan-Africanism #AfricanHistory #AfricanLiberation #BlackLeadership #Featured #Ghana #GhanaIndependence #GoldCoast #KwameNkrumah #PanAfricanism #PlantingPeopleGrowingJustice
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The story of Esigie, Queen Idia, and “Arohuan the giant” (as told in popular retellings of Benin history) is one of power, intelligence, war strategy, and cultural legacy 👑
Oba Esigie was one of the great rulers of the Benin Kingdom, known for strengthening the kingdom during a period of political tension and warfare. His reign is often remembered not just for battles, but for the strong influence of his mother, Queen Idia.
Queen Idia was not an ordinary royal figure. She is remembered as a powerful strategist, advisor, and spiritual force behind the throne. During Esigie’s rise to power, she played a key role in securing his position and helping him maintain stability in the kingdom. Her intelligence and political influence were so significant that she became one of the most respected figures in Benin history. She is also famously associated with the Benin ivory mask tradition, symbolizing strength and wisdom.
In some modern storytelling and oral interpretations, figures like “Arohuan the giant” appear as symbolic characters representing external threats or rival forces faced during Esigie’s reign. While not always documented in formal historical records, such figures are often used in storytelling to represent the scale of conflicts the Benin Kingdom had to overcome during expansion and defense.
What makes this story powerful is not just war or leadership, but how it shows the balance between wisdom and strength. Esigie ruled with authority, Queen Idia guided with intelligence and spiritual influence, and the struggles of the time shaped the identity of the kingdom.
The Benin Kingdom itself was known for its strong structure, organized military system, and rich artistic expression. This story reflects how leadership was not only about the king, but also about the unseen influence of powerful figures behind the throne.
Even today, the legacy of Esigie and Queen Idia continues to inspire discussions about leadership, heritage, and African history. It reminds us that history is not just about battles, but about the people who shaped outcomes through wisdom, courage, and strategy.
#BeninKingdom #QueenIdia #ObaEsigie #AfricanHistory #Culture #Heritage #Storytelling #History
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#jobKlaxon: Doctoral Researcher in Digital Environmental History of Africa
3-year position at the Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History (C2DH)
https://www.uni.lu/en/jobs/doctoral-researcher-in-digital-environmental-history-of-africa
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A 2,400-year-old iron smelting workshop in Senegal ran for nearly 800 years and barely changed its technique throughout. New research reveals what that kind of continuity looks like in the ground. #Archaeology #AfricanHistory #Archaeometallurgy
https://www.anthropology.net/p/eight-centuries-at-the-furnace-a
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"But from 1967 onwards, Israel deepened relations with the apartheid South African regime"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel–South_Africa_relationsIOF = isntraeli occupation forces
[South Africa] helped Israel get nuclear weapons
https://www.indiatoday.in/history-of-it/story/south-africa-country-junked-nuclear-weapons-helped-non-proliferation-treaty-ben-gurion-nehru-golda-meir-iran-2746849-2025-06-27 -
VINTAGE POSTCARD Negre Black Man Senegalese Village Carries Toucouleurs Shirt www.cpaphil.com/en/p... #VintagePostcard #SenegaleseVillage #BlackHeritage #ToucouleursCulture #AfricanHistory #VintageAfrica #ColonialPostcard #TraditionalDress #SenegalMemories
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No one ever expects an umbrella to be adorned with jawbones, do they? (Or maybe, just maybe, accuracy wasn't the main goal for this book.)
<<The Jaw Umbrella, Gelelé's Stool, Guns, Sticks, Swords, etc.>>
Illustration from the 1874 European book "Dahomey as it is; Being A Narrative of Eight Months' Residence in that Country with a full account of the notorious annual customs, and the social and religious institutions of the Ffons"Yale University Library, https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.36729854
#libraries #umbrella #dahomey #Benin #africanhistory #WestAfrica #history #weird
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Ethiopia is the only country that was never conquered by white people.
It was because every time a white person "found" them, they were treated well but never allowed to leave.