Has anyone studied or researched sub-Saharan African history? Here's some good info for those not familiar with this particular history. The Yoruba People Traditional Yoruba city-states were sub-divided into over 25 complex, centralized kingdoms. Of these, Ile-Ife is universally recognized as the most senior and most ritually important Yoruba city. The founding of Ife is believed to date to about 850 AD. The rival Oyo kingdom just to the northwest of Ife, was founded about 1350 AD. The Oni of Ife and the Alafin of Oyo are still the most highly respected Yoruba kings in Nigeria. Other major kingdoms were Ijesha and Ekiti to the northeast; the Shabe, Ketu, Egbado, Ijebu, and Awori in the southwest; and the Ondo, Owo, and Itsekiri in the southeast. For centuries, the Yoruba have lived in large, densely populated cities where they are able to practice the specialized trades that provide goods and services for the society as a whole. LINK The Mali Empire The Mali Empire (1235-1546) was an Empire of the Mandinka, a Mandé people in West Africa, dating from the 13th to 16th centuries. The empire was founded by the king Sundiata Keita, and was famous for the generosity and wealth of one of his successors, Mansa Kankan Musa I, and for the fabled wealth of the city of Timbuktu. LINK The Kongo Kingdom In the middle of the fifteenth century, the Kongo Kingdom was the most powerful of a series of states along Africa's west coast known as the Middle Atlantic kingdoms. Kongo evolved in the late fourteenth century when a group of Bakongo (Kongo people) moved south of the Congo River into northern Angola, conquering the people they found there and establishing Mbanza Kongo (now spelled Mbanza Congo), the capital of the kingdom. LINK The Benin Kingdom The powerful ancient Benin kingdom was founded by the son of an Ife king in the early 14th century AD. It was situated in the forest area of southern Nigeria, 106 miles southeast of Ife. The art of bronze casting was introduced around the year 1280. The kingdom reached its maximum size and artistic splendor in the 15th and 16th century. For a long time the Benin bronze sculptures were the only historical evidence dating back several centuries into the West African past, and both the level of technical accomplishment attained in bronze casting, as well as the monumental vigor of the figures represented, were the object of great admiration. LINK
Some information on the Nok culture of Nigeria. Nok Culture Sub-Saharan Africa's earliest civilization? In 1943 clay shards were discovered during tin mining operations on the southern and western slopes of the Jos Plateau. When reconstructed they were found to be representations of human heads and animals. At the time no archaeologists were present in the region and reconstruction work was carried out by art historians. The disturbance caused by the mining operations meant that the finds could not be dated with any accuracy. Similar discoveries have been made across a large region of the plateau, stretching 500 km east to west and 300 km north to south. Both the terracotta sculptures and the society which made them are known by the name of the village near to which the first discovery was made: Nok. Since 1943 archaeological studies, especially at two important sites at Taruga and Samun Dukiya, have provided more accurate information. The pottery has been dated, mainly by thermo-luminescence testing and radio-carbon dating, to a period from 500 BCE to 200 CE. In addition to the Nok terracotta sculptures, domestic pottery, stone axes and other tools, and iron implements have been discovered. The Nok Culture spanned the end of the Neolithic (Stone Age) and start of the Iron Age in sub-Saharan Africa. Archaeological evidence at the two sites suggest that these were permanent settlements, and centres for farming and manufacturing - this is the oldest evidence for an organised society in sub-Saharan Africa. Iron working, smelting and fabrication of iron tools became widespread in the region form around 350 BCE. Archaeologists disagree whether this was an independent development (methods of smelting may have derived form the use of kilns for firing terracotta) or whether the skill was brought south form the North African coast by traders (records suggest that Phoenician traders were crossing (what is now) the Sahara at that time. Nok culture terracottas are heralded as the prime evidence of pre-colonial civilization in sub-Saharan Africa, and it is suggested that the society eventually evolved into the later Yoruba kingdom of Ife. Later brass and terracotta sculptures of the Ife and Benin cultures show significant similarities with those found at Nok. LINK
I really wished that sub-saharan African history was taught more in schools. This is one reason so many have misconceptions about Africans below the sahara as not ever having any developed societies before the Europeans came.
You have the point… Mali civilization being my favorite… But you should keep in mind that there were other civilizations as well. It is pity that Africa still remains ‘unknown continent’. There was a lot of trade on the coast where blending of cultures happened. Africa was not so populated and it resulted in decline of the African civilizations in 15-17th century….
Thank you Motion for sharing! You have peaked my interest in that area. I agree with you that history is not presented well in schools. I fell in love with it on my own, at school it was just lists of names and dates rather than the amazing adventures that can be found.
I almost majored in History with an emphasis on African History. I really find it fascinating. I wish more schools at lower levels (high schools) would introduce a little information about Africa and especially at the college level. There is so much emphasis on African-American History and so little on the history of Africa, which is the basis of African-Americans. How can we understand the history of the US w/o an understanding of the history of Europe? Same thing w/ African history as the basis to understand African-American history. Peace and love
Yes, unfortunately that is true. I minored in History in college and the scope of classes offered was so narrow, all European, American, or African-American. I took an African Literature class and was dissappointed that it also ended up all African-American.
Elayne, what you've mentionned is barely 10% of African history and you seem fixated on tiny things rather than the epic.
Seriously, African history shouldn't revolve around sticking it to the man. The racists who couldn't believe Africans had civilisations must be like 100 years old now. History is about millions of people who lived lives just as important as ours, come on, let's have a little more romanticisation and no more politicisation.
Apparently you have misunderstood my statements, I meant no "stick it to the man" sentiments. I have enjoyed many different areas of history. I was only stating that true African history is an area I have not studied at all, primarily because the schools I attended never offered much on it.
Sorry. It's just that you never see non-politicised views of sub-saharran history on mainstream media so it was easy to mistake what you said for more of it. Any google using proper terms and taking away racial terms will yield non-politicised sub-saharan history. http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q="bantu+civilization"+-black+-white&meta= http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q="songhai+empire"+-black+-white&meta= http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q="mali+empire"+-black+-white&meta= http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q="ancient+ethiopia"+-black+-white&meta= http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q="aksum"+-black+-white&meta= People who politicse sub-saharan history tend to be ill informed so some googles are easier than others... http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=ancient+raphta&meta= http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=ancient+azania&meta=
LOL You know quite a bit about this subject obviously. See I didn't even know enough to realize the touchy subject I bumbled into! Thanks I'll check out the googles!
This is my favorite quote from Hotel Rwanda: Colonel Oliver: [explaining why the world will not intervene] You're black. You're not even a ******. You're an African. That's the sad truth of Rwanda- America didn't intervene b/c there was nothing for the US. The Middle East has oil- of course the US intervenes to "bring freedom" to the Iraqi people and possibly to Iran (hopefully not!). When genocide is occurring and there's nothing in it for the US, how does that affect this country? That is the general feeling of the last administrations. BTW, Bill Clinton was commemorating the Nazi Holocaust, swearing "never to allow genocide to happen again" when the first of many bodies floated downstream from Rwanda. At least 800,000 Tutsis (and Hutus) were murdered in 30 days w/ machetes; that's faster than the Nazi's murder rate, even with their technological advances and death camps. And what did the US do? Argue whether Rwanda was just "acts of genocide" versus actual genocide. What is happening in Sudan and there's not a damn thing the US gov't is doing, besides condemning what is going on and saying "stop it." That's what kills me about this countries disregard for Africa- genocide is fine as long no one hears about it. Paul Rusesabagina: I am glad that you have shot this footage and that the world will see it. It is the only way we have a chance that people might intervene. Jack: Yeah and if no one intervenes, is it still a good thing to show? Paul Rusesabagina: How can they not intervene when they witness such atrocities? Jack: I think if people see this footage they'll say, "oh my God that's horrible," and then go on eating their dinners. Sad, but true. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0395169/quotes Peace and love
Don't worry I'm not an expert or anything.. ^-^' I like to think I understand the importance of information and so I often take the time find out what the school system and TV shows missed out.
We can't leave out the role that Tarzan movies have played in shapping people's views of Africans. So many people believe that the Tarzan Africa is the actual Africa.
I certainly hope not, but you may be right. I like to think we have a slightly more educated public than that.
