Previously on this blog, we’ve briefly looked into the history of 5 of the most fierce women who once took dominion of ancient African empires. But without a king, it would be hard to make exploits, especially in the type of era Africa operated in, which was very different than the Africa we are accustomed to today.
Below are the 3 powerful and wealthy kings that once ruled Africa.
1. Musa Keita I
(Mansa Musa which translates as, “Kings of Kings” or “Emperor” of Ancient Mali) Keita 1 was the 10th Musa of the Mansa Dynasty. Under the rule of the king Musa Keita, Mali became one of the most wealthiest empires in the world in their known time. From their gold and salt production, agriculture and imperialistic nature and dynamic trade location, the kingdom thrived. Musa Keita I is mostly recognized as the one who was responsible of enriching the great trading city of Timbuktu, establishing the library and Islamic Universities. Musa Keita’s reign over mali ended, however, one of his sons succeeded the throne in 1337
2. Taharqa
Taharqa reigned through the 25th Dynasty Reign 690 – 664 BCE. Taharqa was deemed one of the most respected Nubian Kings. As soon as Piye, the father to Taharqa, successfully conquered Egypt in battle, Taharqa united the two kingdoms to form the largest African empire at the time. His empire spanned from the 5th Nile Cataract in Nubia, throughout all of Egypt, up into the Middle East in Palestine. Biblical scholars have concluded that he is referenced in the Biblical book of Kings 19:9 and Isaiah 37:9 as the great King of Kush who waged war against Sennacherub, King of Assyria.
3. Amenhotep
Amenhotep III (Egypt) 18th Dynasty 1388-1351 BC. During his reign, Egypt enjoyed immense wealth, peace and economic stability. There were several exquisite building projects and monuments he was responsible for building as well as the first man-made lake outside his palace in Malkata for his wife, the Great Queen Tiye. During his reign, Egypt had exceptional influence in foreign policy and diplomacy, which he handled along with his wife, Queen Tiye. Proof of this is in the “Amarna” letters that came from Assyria, Babylon, Mittani and Hatti. When Amenhotep III died, he left behind a country that was at its very peak off its power and influence, commanding immense respect around the world.
There are many other kings that reigned during the ancient times within Africa. These are just 3 of the kings that ruled back in the day that held immense power and wealth, as well as the weight in ensuring their kingdoms thrived in the way that they did. It is no surprise that the history of these pre-colonial kings is most celebrated throughout pop culture in movies and even promotes the topic of Afro-Futurism, which is the idea of a revived African history in a technologically advanced civilization, but that is a topic for another day.
Afro Futurism… what is it? More than anything it seems to sound like a genre that could be used in movies or novels. Truthfully, it actually is. But in more of a detailed context, its an idea that’s been trending lately with the intent of giving the concept of the integration of technology into the African diaspora. Looking at the history of Africa in one huge nugget, Africa is the richest land with the richest amount of history, culture, and peoples and that goes without debate. The history within has literally paved the way in which the world has benefited from. Through the negative effects of colonialism on the self image and history of Africa, The ‘Afro Futuristic Future of Africa’ is the idea existing within black African American pop culture as the idea that will bring back the very identity that the African continent and people lost during the dark ages. It basically allows for the past to be revisited… and proposes what can be. The integration of Africa’s beautifully diverse cultures and traditions and the rapidly life changing advancements of technology, therefore creating a “brand new” Africa of sorts…recreating it and re-emerging the glory it once had as a continent housing the biggest and wealthiest empires of the pre-colonial world.
Looking in the film industry, the emergence of the black African American image undeniably seen, from Marvel’s blockbuster fantasy film, Black Panther, which is one of the perfect examples of the vision of Afro Futurism, which envisions an Africa that is united, rich in resources and technological capabilities to even music, where African American artists, producers and song writers now embrace the black African skin through their artistic gestures and aesthetic, to even tracing back their origins to Africa…being a result of the slave trade that happened centuries ago. This also serves a cry for the re-write of the African history, a history of pain and “white supremacy” to a new and improved history, where Africa finally embraces its people, its culture and harnesses its power and become a newly reformed historical “superpower” if you will.
The effects of Africa’s past bled out to the present generations. The “white washing” of the African history has propelled Africans residing in Africa as well as those residing in other continents to re-evaluate, with the little information they have acquired about their history, past and power, to re-create and re-write the destiny of Africa. Since we see Afro Futurism and what its about? Where to from here? It is something we as Africans should fully embrace?
If you’ve been keeping up with The House of Nzinga, you’ll know that it is an online archive which attempts to showcase Africa’s true greatness and potential so here we like to keep it blunt and raw. In my opinion, Afro Futurism is something us Africans should see the possibility of but not get too immersed into the idea. Our land, being extremely rich of resources and minerals, sooner or later will awaken to the power and worth we have always had as Africa but have been blinded because the tragic past we’ve had must definitely give birth to something greater…something powerful…and Afro Futurism looks like something that has great potential to become a reality. In the crux of it all, we must be aware that the African culture is one that cannot be matched throughout the world and that should not be drowned in our resolve to redeem ourselves but should be used as the very “spear and shield” to fully overcome the effects of the past and to embrace the future.
Trending this week : The curious case of the South African” Decuplets”, Self Care Takeaways from Naomi Osaka and Chimamanda Adichie sparks online debate.
Welcome to this week H.O.N Weekly’s edition . Each week, I (try to) bring you the top- pop culture, current affairs, lifestyle and entertainment news- that are currently trending.
But first, a quick life update:
Life is still happening fast as usual and, the past few months have been filled with the same pandemic patterns as in the previous months: Life + Work in the new normal, we’re still dealing with the uncertainties of COVID-19 and Africa is entering a 3rd wave. Plus technical issues has been delaying my content plan. (my website won’t let me be great and has been crashing every other day since my last post in March.)
But so many events these past weeks have motivated me to push past my writer and technical blocks.
N.B This week’s feature is like a goodie bag, you will find a mix of everything: it covers for my missed monthly musings of the past months, offer my take on the last couple of weeks’ trending stories and, a list of my favorite things. All in one.
Here are 4 stories that have been on my radar and a list of random stuffs that I’m currently enjoying.
South Africa: The curious case of the decuplets
On 8 June 2021, South Africans felt like proud uncles and aunts, when a local newspaper exclusively reported that a woman gave birth to 10 babies. The announcement followed the record birth of 9 babies, by Halima Cisse, From Mali, in Morocco. Soon after, the hashtag #nationalbabyshower started trending with concerned people offering their assistance and donations. However, many gaps in the so called exclusive story, led the media and the public to start doubting the existence of the decuplets. Furthermore, local health officials have denied recording the record breaking birth at any of the provincial healthcare facilities.
Few days after, the media, officials and the public started demanding proof of the babies’ existence. Parties involved (the journalist who broke the news, the alleged decuplets father and mother) started making sketchy and contractidory declarations. Eventually the father made a statement, saying : “The family has resolved and concluded that there are no decuplets born between Tebogo Tsotetsi (A.K.A ‘the dad”) and Gosiame Sithole (a.k.a ‘the mom”) until proven otherwise and wishes to apologize for any inconvenience and embarrassment.” Yikes!
This story surely raises many concerns regarding ethical journalism, the propagation of fake news on social media and the credulity of the general public. Mental health issues even!
Here is a BBC video summarizing the saga :
We’ve looked at how a report that a South African woman had given birth to ten babies received global coverage, how an inquiry has found the story is not true & how the journalist behind it won’t back down. Produced @DanaiHowardhttps://t.co/Az7kSh53gdpic.twitter.com/yuDKXUHprs
2. From H.O.N Instagram: 3 self-care lessons from Naomi Osaka French Open’s withdrawal
The backstory: Japanese tennis (Naomi is half-Haitian, half Japanese) recently quits the French Open after she said she will have refused to participate in the compulsory after-game press conference. After winning her first match, and refusing to take part in the after game conference she was fined 15 000 USD. She announced her withdrawal from the competition and announced she was suffering from depression and social anxiety.
Top athletes and celebrities are humans too and can suffer from mental health issues. Naomi is helping bring more awareness by talking publicly about it.
People can suffer from a range of invisible issues and diseases, such as depression, and should be afforded the same empathy and care as people suffering from physical diseases.
No social or professional commitment is more important than your well- being, it’s OK to take time for yourself and say NO to others.
After being praised for a quick response plan to the pandemic, South Africa is now in the middle of a 3rd wave and is overwhelmed by rapid infections rates, slow vaccination roll-out, unfortunate corruptions cases from health government officials and over burdened hospitals are now painting a bleak picture. Many other African countries are also reporting higher numbers of infections and deaths.
Is the worst-case scenario that the WHO were predicting is coming to realization ? Let’s pray not !
4. Author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie sets the internet ablaze with her 3-part essay.
The back story: In case you never heard about her, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a Nigerian author who received huge praise and critical acclaims for her literary body of works , Americanah and Half-the yellow sun among others. Her novels, through complex characters and eloquent storytelling talks about immigration, gender roles in African society and its diaspora Nigerian history, culture and feminism. Her essay We should all be Feminists, was made popular after its narration was used by singer Beyonce in her song ***Flawless.
Chimamanda rapidly became, over the past few years, the face of modern African anglophone literature and a darling of the media and social media.
In an interview with a British TV station, Channel 4, the author declared that “trans women are trans women”. Meaning the experience of trans-women could not be equated with those of cisgender women. Her statement sparked controversy and she is, since then, labelled by some as transphobic.
What’s the latest buzz ?
Last week, Chimamanda published on her website a 3-parts essay titled “It is Obscene”, where she reflects on her relationships with 2 past students of her writing workshops, who took part in the public backlash she faced. She writes, “the assumption of good faith is dead. What matters is not goodness but the appearance of goodness. We are no longer human beings. We are now angels jostling to out-angel one another. God help us. It is obscene.”.
The essays of course set the internet abuzz with some people defending her and others less impressed by her latest publication.
Her essay made me ponder on personal image/ branding in the age of social media, bad publicity, public fallout and of course on (the tote word) “Cancel culture”.
Watch/Listen to her Ted Talk ” We should all be feminists here”.
5. A list of my favorite things this month
Here are some of the random things that I’m currently enjoying, reading, watching or listening to:
I was finally able to catch up with all the cool kids and binge on Insecure and can’t wait for the final season.
My first read of the year was the memoirs of Mariah Carey, titled “The Meaning Of Mariah Carey”. I really loved how she narrates her complicated life story, lacing it with her musical creative process behind her biggest hits.
Thanks for reading and tell me what trending story has surprised or entertain you?
Africa is always described as a place where women live under the plight of patriarchy-based traditions and customs. But once you start reading about ancient history and traditions, you’ll find out that women have always occupied important roles in most of our societies.
They are many women in African History who have contributed to creation of, ruled kingdoms and empires; furthermore they led armies and fought wars against invaders and colonizers.
I strongly believe that, we as modern African women, we can take inspiration from these queens.
Following our first part of the series, discover our part 2 of 5 queens, from ancient Ethiopia to the Zulu Kingdom, that you should know:
1. Amina, Queen of Zazzau
Residing in Zazzau, which is the present day North Western region of Nigeria, was none other than Amina, the Queen of Zaria, ruling from the 16th and 17th Century, who was a valiant and fierce Hausa queen who’s leadership skills was one force to be reckoned with, first to be discovered by the likes of her grandfather. History records that she lived 200 years prior to when the Sokoto-Caliphate federation that ruled Nigeria during the period of the colonial rule by the British following the Islamic ‘Holy war’ in the 19th Century. It is said that she expanded the borders of the Hausa people.
2. Makeda, The Queen of Sheba (Ethiopia)
The Africa story of Makeda, also known as ‘Bilqis’, is the Ethiopian Queen of Sheba and is one of the first figures to be mentioned in the ancient Christian, Jewish and Islamic texts and traditions, known to have had a love affair with King Solomon, the King of Israel, right around the 10th Century BCE. Not much is known of her life, although the ancient Christian texts (1 Kings 10:1-14, 2 Chronicles 9:1-12) have record of her interactions with the ancient King Solomon of Isreal.
3. Cleopatra of Egypt
Cleopatra VII Philopator, who lived around 69 BC, was an Egyptian queen who also happened to be the last pharoah to rule ancient Egypt and also was the successor to the throne after her father, King Ptolemy XII Auletes died in 51 BC. The dismal end of Cleopatra’s reign over Egypt occurred when the Roman armies of Octavian surrounded Egypt’s combined forces. This then drove Cleopatra to committing suicide, thus beginning the reign of the Roman Empire in Egypt.
4. Nefertiti of Egyptian
Another Egyptian queen who ruled before the historical Cleopatra is Queen Nefertiti, also known as ‘Neferneferuaten-Nefertiti’, wife of the ancient Amenhotep IV was the queen of Egypt around the time of the 14th Century BCE. She married Amenhotep IV at fifteen years of age as he was a year older and became king when his father passed away. Later on their marriage, Amenhotep IV changed his name and changed the traditions of Egypt. Scholars say that she had been the vehicle Amenhotep IV used to accomplish his goal to changing the worship of the sun god Ra to Aton. After this change, Nefertiti vanished, without a trace of her left behind. However, some scholars suspect that she was exiled out of Egypt by her husband as she was no longer needed.
5. Anna Nzinga of Ndongo & Matamba
Ancient African queen of the kingdoms of Ndongo & Matamba, is Queen Anna Nzinga Mbande who ruled from 1583 – 1663. These kingdoms cover what is presently known Northern Angola. Her resilience and fierceness led her to forge a resistance against the Portuguese colonials as well as heavily disrupting their slave trade in Central Africa. Being a strategically skilled negotiator, she aligned herself with the Dutch against the Portuguese in hopes to be free of Portuguese domination. Despite the efforts of the Portuguese to get rid of her, all attempts failed. She died peacefully at age 82, leaving the Portuguese the power to regain control over the region.
It is interesting to see the history of the african queens and their reign across various parts of Africa and taking a brief journey to exploring the accomplishments of ancient queens that once ruled. The history of the ancient african empires and the leaders that lead in those times has been heavily contaminated, thus allowing for people of this day where information is at the disposal of the masses to be totally ignorant of the once most revered Africa.
