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How Wole Soyinka escaped death and defied tyranny in Nigeria’s darkest hour

Wole Soyinka is a Nigerian writer, poet, dramatist, and literary critic who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential African writers of the...
History

The mysterious river of immortal catfish in Nigeria

Imagine a river that is home to a colony of catfish that can never die. Sounds unbelievable, right? But that's exactly what you'll find in a small town in Nigeria, where a sacred river...
History

Mansa Musa I: Richest & most influential African King in History –

Mansa Musa I, also known as Musa Keita I, was the tenth emperor of the Mali Empire, which was among the most prominent empires in West Africa. He is widely regarded as the richest...
History

The mystery of Igbo Ora: How a Nigerian town became the ‘Twin capital of the world’

Imagine a town where almost every household has at least one set of twins. Where the sight of two identical faces is so common that no one bats an eye. Where the local greeting...
History

Meet Otumfuo’s rep at Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953

The bond between the Ashanti and British kingdoms dates centuries back and has in recent years been butressed by visits by monarchs on both sides. The most recent visit is of Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu...
History

Bob Junior lion killed by rivals after 10yrs dominance

A lion in Tanzania known as the Serengeti's King has been murdered by competitors after almost 10 years of dominance. Tour operators and visitors to the national park have paid tribute to the “legendary” Bob...
History

Story of the Yoruba metal Art of the mediaeval age – A world class civilization

Iron smelting and forging techniques may have been used in West Africa as early as the sixth century BC among the Nok people of Nigeria, according to well-established evidence on Yoruba metal art. Between...
History

Does the name ‘Busia’ truly mean ‘Best University Scholar in Africa’?

The surname of Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia, who served as prime minister of Ghana from 1969 to 1972, has been scrutinized due to its true meaning or nomenclature, according to tales and occasionally what...
History

Five interesting facts about African Jees you need to know

Jews lived on the Arabian Peninsula, which is located northeast of Africa on the Arabian Plate and contains nations like Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), before Christianity and Islam...
History

Did you know corsets are used in Dinka culture to determine the age and wealth of men?

The Dinka people of South Sudan have been pastoralists for millennia; as such, many of their assets are practical valuables they can bring with them whenever they take care of their animals rather than...
History

The ‘hated’ Asante traitor Kwame Tua who kidnapped an Asantehene’s wife

Kwame Tua was despised in the Ashanti community, despite the fact that the story is obscured by numerous narrations from various narrators. Kwame Tua was a favorite of the British because he always provided them...
History

Nigeria’s Northern Knot of Dutse Palace, a representation of African culture and unification

The Dutse Palace art is a testament to the rich cultural heritage of Northern Nigeria. Its intricate designs and motifs are not only aesthetic but hold great significance to the people of the region....
History

Meet the barefoot nun who turned to be Ethiopia’s ‘piano queen’

Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou, the composer and piano-playing nun who died this week at the age of 99, had an extraordinary life, which included being a trailblazer for women's equality and walking barefoot for a...
History

How body Markings and Tattoos emerged in Africa

More than merely skin deep, tattoos In Africa and body marks are visible. But, when we imagine tattoos, we typically see them on people with white complexion or caramel (African American) skin. We have recently...
History

How Gold Coast was named after the Ghana Empire

Did you know that the name Ghana, which we proudly bear today, has a rich and fascinating history? Before we became Ghana, our beloved country was known as Gold Coast.  But have you ever wondered...
History

Meet Dr Quartey-Papafio, Ghana’s very first doctor and physician

Ghana's first doctor and physician, Dr Quartey-Papafio, was discovered when the West African country was referred to as Gold Coast. He was born in June 1859 to Momo Omedru, a businesswoman, and Chief Quartey-Papafio. Emmanuel and...
History

Queen Abla Pokou: The Akan Princess who founded a tribe in Ivory Coast

Did you know Baoule people from Ivory Coast are a subset of the Akan tribe? And oh, present Ivory Coast was founded by a great woman…. Queen Abla Pokou born between 1700 and 1720 on Tuesday,...
History

The Ewe people are of Hebrew origin – the traditional leader provides interesting information

It is emerging that the Ewe people of Ghana, Togo and Benin among others are of Hebrew origin before migrating through various parts of the world and then settling at their present locations. This was disclosed...
History

Story of the Yoruba metal art of the mediaeval age – A world class civilization

Yoruba Metal Art: There is well-documented evidence that iron smelting and forging technologies may have existed in West Africa as early as the 6th century BC among the Nok people of Nigeria. Iron technology...
History

When Ghana, Guinea, and Mali signed to become one nation

Although the idea of a United States of Africa has been present in African intellectual history for almost a century, it was Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's first president, who launched an aggressive drive to realize...
History

Gordon of Khartoum’s story retold from Sudanese view

Award-winning Sudanese writer Leila Aboulela has retold the story of a British army general killed by the troops of the Mahdi - a religious leader in Sudan in the late 19th Century - in...
History

Meet Felicia Abban, Kwame Nkrumah’s official photographer who was an apprentice

Born in 1935 to parents who lived in the Western Region, Felicia Abban grew up knowing the then budding trade of photography because that was her father's trade. When she opted to understudy her father,...
History

What Nkrumah said about being ousted in 1966 by Kotoka

In 1966, Colonel Emmanuel Kwesi Kotoka and Major Akwasi Amankwa Afrifa staged a coup d'état against Ghana's first President, Kwame Nkrumah. Nkrumah was out of the country during the ousting. As Ghana celebrates its 66th...
History

Five fascinating facts you need to know about African Jews

Before Christianity and Islam spread, a lot of the Arabian peninsula, which is northeast of Africa and is on the Arabian Plate and has countries like Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab...
History

Meet Willy T. Ribbs, first African American to drive Formula 1 car in 1986

The knew formula one racing was strictly segregated, but that did not stop Willy T. Ribbs from nursing his dream to race on that track one day. Though he did not have the opportunity...
History

Five fascinating facts you need to know about African Jews

Before Christianity and Islam spread, a lot of the Arabian peninsula, which is northeast of Africa and is on the Arabian Plate and has countries like Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab...
History

These native Africans were the original inhabitants of the Philippines

The Aeta, Agta, or Ayta people are what’s known to be the original Black race who inhabited the remote and mountainous regions of Luzon, the Philippines before the Austronesian migrations of the Malays and Asian group. While history buffs...
History

Celebrating Prince Mbarga for creating “Sweet Mother” song

When I dey hungry my mother go run up and down / she dey find me something when I go chop oh! / Sweet Mother a-aah / Sweet Mother oh-e-oh!” The above is an excerpt...
History

Akpema, the initiation rites in Togo that prepare a girl from the age of 1 to womanhood

Akpema is the rite of passage for young maidens in the West African nation of Togo. It is held shortly after the initiation ceremony for boys which is known as Evala wrestling. Akpema is often...
History

Electrically charged stones that can power generators discovered in DR Congo

It has been reported that electrically charged stones that can power generators have been discovered in the Democratic Republic of Congo. According to courses, these stones could serve as a primary source of electricity to...
History

How Alvin Boutte founded America’s largest Black-owned bank and helped MLK, Mandela

Alvin J. Boutte Sr. became the owner of one of the biggest Black-owned banks in the United States. Prior to his death, he was the co-founder and CEO of Independence Bank. He developed a knack for entrepreneurship...
History

Meet the American who invented Band-Aids

There is genius in simplicity, which makes the Band-Aid one of the most brilliant inventions in human history. A little adhesive tape, some cotton — and voila! The world is suddenly better.  Band-Aids are so...
History

Government and IMF to announce staff-level agreement today

Today, December 13, the government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will reveal a staff-level agreement. In a post from the Ministry of Finance on Twitter, a joint news conference will be conducted at 10...
History

All to know about sacred Antogo fishing ritual of Mali

Rituals are characteristic of most cultures. They are passed down from generation to generation. Different actions explain why some rituals are sacred while others may not. Traditional Africans used varied rituals to keep things...
History

How the Dibaba sisters from Ethiopia became the fastest family on earth

Ethiopian distance runner Tirunesh Dibaba made history at the 2008 Beijing Olympics when she became the first woman to win gold in both the 5,000-metre and 10,000-metre races. She defended her gold medal title...
History

All about African greeting positions and how they are used

“What’s for breakfast this morning, I just woke up and I’m hungry.” One may get away with this statement early in the morning after waking up from bed in just about any home, but...
History

A museum 2,300 years in the making

When the International African American Museum opens in January in Charleston, South Carolina, it will tell the story of slavery in the US – going all the way back to 300 BCE. Michael Boulware Moore...
History

Nigeria’s Ancient City, Sungbo’s Eredo, was bigger than Rome and Cairo when built

If the discussion is limited to Nigeria’s version of the world’s wonders, it would be unfair to leave out the ancient city of Sungbo’s Eredo. Sungbo’s Eredo is said to be Africa’s largest single pre-colonial...
History

Mali in West Africa was the richest Empire on Earth in the 14th century

Some of the richest men in the world today are tech billionaires and business leaders from the West and China. However, the title of “richest man who ever lived” goes to a little-known ancient...
History

Ancient South Africans used fire to roast meat a million years ago

It is still one of the facts supporting the claim that early humans in Africa two million years ago used fire. Despite being an unintentional discovery, archaeologists say the Wonderwerk Cave has revealed new...
History

Meroe in Sudan was the Capital of the Great Kushite Empire

Archaeological discoveries and historical documents indicate that the ancient city of Meroe served as the capital of the kingdom of Kush, which is now located in Sudan. Kush was a northern African kingdom whose influence...
History

All to know about Omeife, Africa’s first humanoid recently unveiled

While all “metallic miniature humans” are termed as robots, there are distinctions and humanoids are one variation of a robot. Humanoids are generally termed non-living creatures with human features. The term was used to...
History

How Ethiopian-trained lions helped defeat Italians battles

Military conquest was a key attribute at the peak of colonization. One reason the Europeans suddenly became interested in Africa was to show how good they were at war. It was believed that the...
History

First African-American woman to hold a PhD in Zoology

She was shattered, broken and confused when it became apparent her dream of attaining a Ph.D. was a pipedream after she failed her entry exam on the first attempt. To make matters worse, she was...
History

How Carriacou escapees made history by risking their lives

When the Spanish Crown decreed in 1680 that an enslaved person would acquire their freedom when they accept the Catholic faith, many slaves dreamed of making it to its colonies. It did not matter...
World

The fall of the FTX ‘King of Crypto’ Sam Bankman-Fried

It took fewer than eight days for Sam Bankman-Fried to go from being nicknamed the "King Of Crypto" to his company filing for bankruptcy and him stepping down as CEO, potentially facing federal investigations...
Independent Africa

Abdissa Aga: The unsung Ethiopian hero who terrorized Fascist Italians

He was one of Ethiopia’s greatest Patriots during the era of Italian Occupation yet his story is little-known. Abdissa Aga, born in Welega, Oromia, was just 14 when he joined the Ethiopian Army and...
History

5 little-known black female slave traders who changed the course of history

Whenever slave masters or slave traders are mentioned, the images of men usually come to mind. History books mainly reflect the involvement of men while brushing aside the involvement of women in upholding the institution....
Independent Africa

Egypt to celebrate the centenary of the discovery of King Tut’s tomb

It's almost 100 years since the tomb of King Tutankhamun was discovered in the Valley of the Kings. He has become the most famous Ancient Egyptian pharaoh in the world, thanks to the incredible condition...
History

These are the most expensive World Cups in history

The much anticipated FIFA World Cup kickstarts in 23 days as Qatar become the first Arabian national to host the biggest football festival in the world. 32 countries out of the 211 national associations including...
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