This is the third part of our “African History All Year Round” series, where we celebrate historic African leaders each month throughout the year. Africa is rich in diverse history and culture, and it is our goal to explore these and educate Africans living everywhere across the globe.
African History July: Queen Amina
Queen Amina was a powerful 16th-century queen who ruled over the Zaria Kingdom in what is now Nigeria. She was a warrior and a brilliant military strategist, known for her fearless leadership and for expanding the reach of her kingdom through her conquests. Queen Amina’s reign was characterized by her intelligence, her strategic prowess, and her unwavering commitment to her people. She was a visionary leader who paved the way for future generations of African women, demonstrating that women could be just as powerful and effective as their male counterparts.
Queen Amina’s legacy is one of strength, resilience, and determination. Her life teaches us that even in the face of adversity, we have the power to shape our own destinies and make a positive impact on the world. From her life, young black ladies can learn the importance of education, embracing their heritage and their history, and never giving up on their dreams.
They can learn the power of determination and resilience, and how to channel these qualities to achieve their goals. For the month of July, we shall celebrate the legacy of Queen Amina, and let her life be an inspiration to young ladies everywhere.
African History August: Imhotep
“All life is a jest, and it is death who laughs last. Do you not hear it at every feast? Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow you die.”
For this month, we go back in time, the most ancient of days to project a black man who contributed to world civilization in the areas of mathematics, architecture, astrology, astronomy and medicine. He is an African with texture, a multi-genius of a man by the name of Imhotep.
Imhotep was an ancient Egyptian architect, physician, statesman and polymath who lived in the 27th century BCE. He was a highly influential figure in Egyptian society and is widely regarded as one of the earliest known architects in African history. Imhotep was born into a noble family in Memphis, Egypt, and he rose to prominence as the chief advisor to Pharaoh Djoser, the second king of the Third Dynasty.
As an architect, Imhotep is best known for his design of the first stone pyramid in Egypt, the Step Pyramid at Saqqara. As a statesman, Imhotep was a highly influential figure in the court of Pharaoh Djoser. He was known for his wisdom and his ability to solve complex problems. Imhotep’s legacy also includes his teachings on medicine and healing. He is credited with writing one of the earliest known medical texts, and his ideas and methods were widely adopted by physicians throughout the ancient world.
Imhotep’s legacy continues to be felt in modern times. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest minds in antiquity, and his contributions to architecture, medicine, and philosophy are still studied and admired today. He is a symbol of African excellence and a source of inspiration for future generations, and his life and work continue to serve as a testament to the power of the human spirit and the boundless potential of the human mind.
African History September: Olaudah Equiano
Olaudah Equiano, also known as Gustavus Vassa, was an enslaved African who later became a prominent abolitionist and writer. He was born in what is now Nigeria and at a very young age captured and transported to the Americas as a slave. Despite the many obstacles he faced, Equiano was able to educate himself, buy his freedom, and became a successful merchant.
He wrote one of the most widely read and influential slave narratives, “The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano.” As a slave, Equiano was forced to work on plantations in the Americas and the West Indies. Despite these harsh conditions, he was able to use his wits and determination to earn his freedom in 1766.
Equiano was a devout Christian and a committed abolitionist, and he used his writing and his public speaking skills to draw attention to the evils of slavery. He was an early advocate for the abolition of the slave trade, and he was a tireless campaigner for the rights of enslaved Africans. Equiano’s work helped to inspire a generation of abolitionists, and it continues to be an important source of inspiration for those who fight for human rights and dignity today.
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