Since this forum is so riddled with Eurocentric people trying to demonize and make SS Africa look like an uncivilized crap hole, I am starting this thread to show otherwise. I feel that it is important for people, especially black Americans with disconnected history, to know that Africa indeed had sophistication, technology and civilizations.
Back earlier this year, I took two DNA tests and found out I have connections with Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Cameroon, Congo and Senegal and decided to look more into these regions.
Let's start with Ghana:
https://www.britannica.com/place/Gha...African-empire
The Soninke (black Africans and some of the ancestors of today's African-Americans) were the founders of the ancient empire of Ghana, now part of present day Mali, Mauritania and Senegal. The Empire of Ghana was wealthy and a highly sophisticated trade market where the Kings imposed an import-export tax on traders and a production tax on gold, which was the country’s most valuable commodity. Much like many non-African kingdoms, the Soninke held courts were political and administrative matters took place, and what the king said went.
The Soninke also had large militaristic forces. Unfortunately, Ghana declined with the rise of Islam and Arabic forces and influences and was unable to withstand them. Still, I am proud to say that 15% of my DNA came from present day Mali and Senegal, and many African-Americans carry this Empire in our DNA.
https://www.britannica.com/place/Mal...-empire-Africa
Ever heard parents threaten their kids to send them to Timbuktu? Ever wonder where it was? It is located in present day Mali, and the Empire of Mali was vast, encompassing Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Niger, Mali, Ivory Coast and Senegal. Considered an extremely wealthy state, Mali, like Ghana, also was a world trade market of goods and intellect, as Mali had libraries full of text, some in West African languages with Arabic thrown in as well. The architecture was in the Sudano-Sahelian form, a West African style of palace. Yes. Not all Africans lived in HUTS!
Not to mention, historians consider Mali to be the wealthiest ancient Kingdom, with its tenth King, Mansa Musa, the richest man to have ever lived (and yes, he was black). Stated Time Magazine : "There's really no way to put an accurate number on his wealth."
I could go on and on about the Empire of Mali, but I will say that I am proud that nearly 1/5 of my DNA came from it. Many slaves were taken from this region and brought to the Americas.
https://www.britannica.com/place/Songhai-empire
The Songhai empire succeeded Mali as another place of trade, intellect and wealth. It was huge as well, extending from Senegal to Nigeria and Cameroon. It was divided into five provinces each led by a governor, and all were ruled under an Emperor.
Leaders to look up: Askia the Great
Askia the Great
To start, Askia simplified his newly-won empire and established harmony among the religious factions that were continually in conflict with one another. He orchestrated a program of expansion and consolidation that extended the empire from Taghaza in the North, to the borders of Yatenga in the South; and from Air in the Northeast to Futa Tooro in Senegambooties. Instead of organizing the empire along Islamic lines, he tempered and improved on the traditional model by instituting a system of bureaucratic government that was unparalleled in the Western Sudan region. In addition, Askia established standardized trade measures and regulations, and initiated the policing of trade routes. He also encouraged learning and literacy, ensuring that Mali's universities produced the most distinguished scholars, many of whom published significant books.
To secure the legitimacy of his usurpation of the Sunni dynasty, Askia Muhammad allied himself with scholars from Timbuktu and, ushered in a golden age in the city for Muslim scholarship. He knew that a key strategy to keeping his power would be to keep the high priests of the government out of his business. He divided the empire into four parts and chose a viceroy to preside over each. Askia also made a way to have all of his family and relatives part of the government, which brought even more unity within the empire. He did this by taking the daughters of his vassal chiefs as his wives (polygamy is still practiced in some parts of Africa today), and he would marry his own daughters and nieces off to his subject chiefs, high dignitaries, governors and judges in turn. By doing this, majority of the prominent families within the empire were in some way related to him.
He created an army, complete with a reserve, and to police the kingdom, he invented another army made up of cavalry that was fully armored and equipped with weapons such as lances and bow and poisoned arrows. Along the Niger River, Askia demanded harbors be erected and canals be dug. War ship fleets and merchant ships were built in large number and served the purpose of commerce and protection. His main naval fleet was stationed in the center of the river. A robust relationship for trading developed between other nations like Portugal and other Mediterranean empires, while caravans full of goods were sent to Cairo, Algiers, Morocco and Baghdad for trade. Askia was also set on creating highly-advanced education institutions. Children of the Songhai empire were all encouraged, despite religion or racial make-up, to study abroad by attending the Muslim universities in places like Europe and Asia, and likewise, scholars from around the world were invited to study in Timbuktu, where they were given subsidies and accolades. Consequently, the residents of Timbuktu were often well learned. Astronomers from Songhai, for example, knew what things like comets and stars were, while the citizens of England were terrified of giants orbs in the sky that were unknown to them. Because of Askia, Timbuktu garnered the name of “The Queen of Sudan.”
As you can see, Songhai was amazing. I was elated to come back with high Malian, Senegalese, and Nigerian and Cameroonian roots, which comprised of the vast majority of my DNA. I want black Americans and non-black people reading this thread to be in awe of the beauty and complexity that was West Africa, a place that is always dogged and shat on for supposedly being unsophisticated, unintelligent and inferior...it wasn't.
Sometimes I wonder what Africa, especially West Africa, would have been like if Europe never set foot in it and destroyed it with its weapons, violence and chains. At the same time, black Americans wouldn't have been here if weren't for the slave trade and the rape that infiltrated our blood line.
To be continued.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
