Personality Profile

Thomas Fuller, an African sold into slavery in 1724 at the age of 14, was sometimes known as the “Virginia Calculator” for his extraordinary ability to solve complex math problems in his head. Rumors circulated that he was a servant. However, he could not read or write, which was not uncommon among slaves at the time. Some believed that he …

Yohannes IV, a nobleman by birth, a cleric by education, a zealot by faith, moralist by tendency, a monk by practice, a nationalist by policy, and a soldier and emperor by profession His birth name was Kahsai Mrcha. He was born on July 12 1837 at Mai Beha Tembien. His father was Shum Tembien Mircha Woldekidan of Tembien. Mircha’s mother Woyzero …

Moshoeshoe I, the founder and king of the Basotho Kingdom (current-day LESOTHO), was known for his military superiority and diplomatic capabilities. He was a key figure in defending Lesotho against European colonization and helping the country’s independence. Moshoeshoe was the son of a Koena chief, and his original name was Lepoqo. Moshoeshoe earned a reputation as a leader as a …

The Rozvi Empire (1684–1866) was a Shona state established on the Zimbabwean Plateau by Changamire Dombo. The term “Rozvi” comes from the Shona word “kurozva,” which means “to plunder.” It refers to their history as a warrior nation. Origins Following the death of King Matope, Dombo or Changa relocated to the south and established the Rozwi Kingdom. In establishing the …

Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr al-Turi, known as Askia Muhammad I (1443–1538), was the first king of the Songhai Empire’s Askia Dynasty, ruling from 1493 to 1528. In modern Songhai, he is known as Mamar Kassey and is also known as Askia the Great. Askia Muhammad expanded his dominion, making it the largest in history of West Africa. The Songhai Empire …

Ndumbo Tembo protected Tchokwe sovereignty and resources by establishing an autonomous territory with tight restrictions on European access. The Tchokwe were able to maintain their independence thanks to Ndumba Tembo’s efforts. The Chokwe people, also known as the Kioko, Bajokwe, Chibokwe, Kibokwe, Ciokwe, Cokwe, or Badjok, are a Central and Southern African ethnic group. They’re mostly found in Angola, the …

Khama was highly regarded as a peace-loving king who prioritized technological achievements such as the construction of schools, scientific cattle-feeding, and the establishment of a mounted police force, which effectively suppressed crime. Because of his good rule of developing his nation and caring for his people England granted him permission to remain independent of Bechuanaland. Khama was known for being …

Menes (c. 3200–3000 BC) was a pharaoh of ancient Egypt during the Early Dynastic Period. He is recognized by classical tradition with uniting Upper and Lower Egypt and establishing of the First Dynasty. Although conventional Egyptological consensus links Menes to the Naqada III monarch Narmer First Dynasty pharaoh Hor-Aha, the identity of Menes remains a point of contention. Various authorities …

Mekatilili was a remarkable woman; who played a crucial role in the independence of Kenya from the grip of colonial rule. Similar to what Rosa Parks did almost 50 years later in Southern America. Mekatilili wa Menza wasn’t just any woman; she was a powerhouse. She was a woman driven by justice. And she understood the need to preserve cultural …

Amina, a 16th-century Hausa warrior-queen, is known to have captured lovers from the towns she conquered. Queen Amina is frequently cited among the norm-breaking African women of the past, whose abilities and acts much exceed what we have come to expect of women in current society. Despite the fact that her historicity has been called into question on several occasions, …