Untold 10 facts in African History
The name Africa is a phenomenon. Home to 1.216 billion people, the world’s second-largest population and 2nd largest continent after Asia. Below we have highlighted ten things that first appeared or invented by Africans but history chose to forget.
1. Africa was called Alkebulan (mother of mankind). Before today’s name ‘Africa’, our continent was called with different names by our forefathers. In Kemetic History of Afrika, Dr cheikh Anah Diop writes, “The ancient name of Africa was Alkebulan. Alkebu-lan “mother of mankind” or “garden of Eden”.” Alkebulan is the oldest and the only word of indigenous origin.
2. Africa ruled the world for 15,000 years.
Africa ruled the ancient world for 15,000 years & civilized mankind. Africa was celebrated in ancient times when it had powerful Kingdoms and wealth.
3. Richest man in history is an African King (Mansa Musa). Mansa Musa I was the 10th King of the Empire of Mali, he came to power in c. 1312. He was given the name Mansa which mean King in the ancient Mali. He had more than $400 billion and it is in ancient Mali where one of the world’s earliest Universities exist till date.
4. Africa civilized mankind.
Africa Ruled The World For 15,000 Years & Civilized Mankind
5. Mining started in Africa 43,000 years ago, In 1964 a hematite mine was found in Eswatini at Bomvu Ridge in the Ngwenya mountain range.
Located north of the Eswatini capital Mbabane is the oldest mine in the world. Man first started chipping away at the iron ore of Ngwenya mountain over 43,000 years ago, history says. The site was known by early humans for its deposits of red and specular haematite, used in cosmetics and rituals.
6. Africans were the first to organise fishing. expeditions 90,000 years ago at Katanga, Congo.
Fishing expeditions were first organized by Africans 90,000 years ago. A finely wrought series of harpoon points, all elaborately polished and barbed, was discovered in Katanda, a region in northeastern Zare (now Congo).
A well-crafted tool, thought to be a dagger, was also discovered. The findings suggested the existence of an ancient aquatic or fishing culture.
7. Africans carved the world’s first colossal sculpture 7,000 years ago.
Africans carved the world’s first colossal sculpture, ‘the Great Sphinx of Giza‘, which was fashioned with the head of a man combined with the body of a lion, some 7,000 or more years ago.
8. The ancient Egyptians had Afro combs.
Felicity Heywood traces the origins of the Afro Comb from 3500 BCE to the present day.
Most of us today know the Afro comb in relation to the Black Power salute of the 1960s, as stuck in the side of a young man’s hair or the implement that gave pain when our mother combed through our knotted hair.
But this type of African comb with its vertical design and long teeth, originated in Kush and Kemet in present day Sudan, South Sudan and Egypt.
9. African Kings ruled India.
A dominant civilization was built in the Indus Valley more than a thousand years by prideful and ambitious Black men and women known as the Dravidians before the foundation of Greece and Rome. From those origins, African Kings have driven the trade, culture, and belief systems of the region in India.
10. Africa is a home to World’s oldest University. The oldest university in the world is Africa’s University of al-Qarawinyyin, founded in 859 and located in Fez, Morocco.
