The Difference Between French and British Colonialism in Africa
Before European colonialism in Africa, the continent had wider flexibility of movement as national borders were almost nonexistent.
The Forgotten Arab Slave Trade of East Africa
The Arab slave trade in East Africa is one of the oldest, stretching back 700 years before the European transatlantic slave trade.
Idris Alooma, the Mai of Bornu (c.1538–1596)
Idris Alooma was known by the Kanuri title of Mai for a king...
Why Usman dan Fodio’s 1804 Sokoto Jihad failed in Kanem-Bornu
Kanem-Bornu, now in present-day Northern Nigeria, was the only real opposition to Usman dan Fodio's 1804 Sokoto Jihad.
A History of Christianity in Africa
The spread of Christianity in Africa is mostly attributed to Mark the Evangelist who is reported to have brought the religion to Alexandria, Egypt.
Top 13 Most Powerful African Queens
These African queens and warriors led men to war, ruled kingdoms and called the shots. Some even resisted European domination and colonialism.
Imhotep: The Real Father of Medicine is from Africa
What made Imhotep stand out, particularly in the world of Egyptian medicine at the time, was that his medical discoveries were not based on magic.
Mansa Musa: The Financial Recklessness of the Richest Man in History
Mansa Musa amassed so much wealth that he has been described by historians as the richest man in history...
Shishak: The African King Who Sacked Jerusalem in 10th Century B.C.
There is a high probability that Shishak sacked Jerusalem by taking their gold, silver, and other precious treasures to Egypt while simultaneously making Jerusalem subordinate to Egypt.
Did the African Moors Develop Europe?
The African Moors had a lasting impact on Europe's intellectual development and brought the continent from the Dark Ages into the Renaissance.
Did Sultan Moulay Ismail of Morocco father 1000 Children?
Sultan Moulay Ismail was so protective of his four wives and 500 concubines that any man who just looked at any one of them was punished by death.
A History of Great Zimbabwe: The Rise and Fall
Great Zimbabwe was the capital city of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe, which controlled trade along a large part of the East African coast between 1200 and 1600...
Aare Ona Kakanfo Afonja: The Rise and Fall of the Oyo Empire
Afonja was the sixth Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land after Oku of Jabata. His term as Aare Ona Kakanfo signalled the surrender of Ilorin to Sokoto.
The Tragic Story of Patrice Lumumba, Congo’s First Prime Minister
Patrice Lumumba became Congo's first prime minister just as Belgium, the colonial ruler of the region, was preparing to grant her independence on June 30, 1960.
10 Powerful African Women Who Shook the 20th Century
Every 31st day of July is celebrated as African Women’s Day to affirm the role of the African woman in the evolution of a strong Pan-African identity.
Was Ancient Egypt a White Civilisation?
Ancient Egypt lasted from 3100 B.C. when Narmer reigned as Egypt’s first king and ended in 30 B.C. when it fell to the Roman Empire and became a Roman province.
1884 Berlin Conference: How Europe “shared” Africa Like a Piece of Cake
For 14 weeks and 5 days, European countries cooked their plans on how to share Africa like a piece of cake. They called it the...Berlin Conference.
Nzinga Mbande: The African Queen Who Fought Portuguese Colonialism for 37 years
Remembered for her intelligence...political and diplomatic wisdom, and her brilliant military tactics, Nzinga Mbande has become a historical figure in Angola.
What Africa Had Before European Colonization
Long before European colonization, Africa had its own forms of trade, science, art, and other measures of civilization.
What Were Africans Doing During the Life of Jesus Christ?
Jesus Christ of Nazareth lived from around 6 B.C. when Augustus Caesar was Emperor of Rome to around the year 30 A.D.