The African continent has a comprehensive history that people need and should study carefully to get knowledge. One of the ways or places in which people get to know Africa’s history is through learning it in schools. However, most history teachers do not take their time teaching African history, thus ignoring some corners of African civilization.
This work will highlight some of the things that our African learning institutions should and must teach the upcoming generations. Through this, people will appreciate the African continent more and delete some of the wrong perceptions concerning the continent.
Schools Should Know Africa is not a Country
Teachers should clarify to the children that Africa is a continent with different people living in it and not a state or country. The young generation would learn about African diversity and make distinctions between various ethnic groups in Africa throughout history.
Through learning, children are equipped with a better understanding of their country. They learn to appreciate and embrace their culture, especially as there is so much influence ongoing with the coming of modernization. By spreading information, many people become aware of the continent and appreciate it.
Even though African diversity is a good thing, it is one reason why the African continent fell to foreign invasions. This is because no pan-African identity existed back then.
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Discovery and Development of Iron in Africa
Africa has a long history with Iron that the young people in schools need to learn. According to the account, the continent seemed to have skipped the Bronze Age to the Iron Age. The topic of early iron metallurgy in sub-Saharan Africa includes studies of the tech and archaeology of local iron production.
Historical evidence suggests that the Nok Culture may have done iron smelting around 1000 BC. There is also proof for early iron metallurgy in Cameroon, Nigeria, and the Central part of Africa around 2000 BC. The Djenne-Djenno culture reveals evidence of iron production from 250 BC. The Bantu expansion spread the tech to Southern and Eastern Africa from 500 BC to 400 AD.
The Ngwenya Mine is the oldest iron mining site on the planet. It is in Africa’s southern region in the modern state of Eswatini (formerly called Swaziland).
Classical African Civilizations in Olden Times
Schools need to touch on some of Africa’s civilizations in ancient times, such as ancient Ghana, the ancient city of Meroe, and the Empire of Aksum. Ghana kingdom was an Empire located in the Western region of Africa. Meroe’s ancient city was the capital of the Empire of Kush from 590 BC until its decline in the 4th century CE. The Kingdom of Aksum was an old Empire located in the northern part of Ethiopia. The Axumite kings styled themselves as the King of kings. The Kingdom was in existence from 80 BC to 825 AD.
Axum was a principal player in a commercial way between the Roman Empire and Ancient India. The Aksumite kings eased trade by making their Aksumite currency.
Classical Oral Literature of Africa
There is so much one can offer when it comes to the oral literature of Africa. The stories of Gassire’s Lute and the Epic of Sundiata are a great place to begin when one wants to teach the young generation about Africa’s oral literature. Gassire’s Lute is a classic lyrical narrative that narrates a prince’s story that became a griot.
The Sundiata Epic is a classic poem of the Malinke people that narrates Sundiata Keita, the Mali Kingdom originator.
Art Amongst the Yoruba People at Ile-Ife
Schools should prioritize teaching children and young adults about the concept of art in the continent. In the era around 1300 CE, the artists at Ife created a refined and naturalistic sculptural custom in stone, terracotta, and bronze.
History of African Seafaring
Most people reserve the idea or concept for discovery for Europe. They even claim that Columbus was the one who found the Americas or the new world before everyone else. However, there were people, the African explorers, who set out on sea voyages to the new world long before Columbus.
Some of Africa’s greatest explorers that our schools need to teach the young generation are Estavanico, Juan Garrido (Angolan), and Mansa Abubakar Keita. Abubakar Keita the second was a Mali ruler or King before Mansa Musa.
African Architecture
African architecture is very diverse and fascinating. We see this with the construction of the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Great Walls of Benin.
The Pyramids of Giza are an architectural site the ancient Egyptians established on the border between Giza and Cairo. Of all the seven wonders of the world, it is the largest and most intact. The construction of the pyramids lasted for about 20 years.
Egyptians believe that the pyramid was built to act as a tomb for the fourth pharaoh during those times. The craftsmanship behind the pyramid is quite unique and artistic.
The Benin Walls comprise of a series of banks and ditches surrounding Benin City. However, in 1897, the British destroyed the walls. Ethnomathematician Ron Eglash stated that the reason the colonials destroyed the structure is that they considered it disorganized.
“When Europeans first came to Africa, they considered the architecture very disorganized and thus primitive. It never occurred to them that the Africans might have been using a form of mathematics that they hadn’t even discovered yet.”
Moreover, the over 450 stone settlements in Dhar Tichitt shows us how sophisticated African architecture has been over time.
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Cities in African History
The upcoming generation should learn about some of the great ancient cities in African history. An example of such a city is Timbuktu. Timbuktu was an important trading post back then, and the main export out of the city was books.
Timbuktu is found in the southern part of the Sahara and 15 kilometers to the north of River Niger. Timbuktu used to be a regional trading center for west African merchants during ancient times. Traders met to exchange salt from the Sahara desert with gold, ivory, and slaves.
The population of Timbuktu’s inhabitants escalated in the 16th century from 10000 to 50000 following the establishment of the University of Timbuktu. Muslims dominated this institution.
Meanwhile, around the 14th century, Timbuktu became part of the Mali Empire. As such, it was an active trade center since Mali was also famous for trading activities. However, during the 15th century, the Tuaregs became in charge of the city. However, they did not last long since it was just a short period of time before the Songhai Empire took control.
Nonetheless, in 1951, the Songhai Empire had an encounter with the Moroccan army. After putting up a spirited fight, the Moroccans became the winners. As they now had full control, they made Timbuktu their capital.
Another one is the Gedi or Gede Ruins of East Africa. This site is explicitly located in Malindi, near the Indian Ocean Coast. Gede is among the many medieval towns the Swahili settlers from Southern Somalia, Vumba Kuu, Kenya, and Tanzania established. Since its discovery, Gedi became a famous site that today is flooded with researchers. Both archeologists and zoologists, and botanists all keep visiting this site to get information.
Gedi ruins comprise of a brick wall surrounding the entire town. Inside this town, there are ruins of numerous houses, a palace, and mosques, which are all made of stone. The city also has stone pillar tombs, which are a sign of Swahili architecture.
Like Timbuktu, Gedi was also a trade center within the eastern coast as it was at the center. Traders from China, India, Mombasa, etc., all traded in the Gedi market during those times.
The occupants of Gedi designed their artwork with beads, coins, and porcelain they received during the trade. This is proof that Gedi was a rising city. To date, it is one of the leading tourist attraction sites in Kenya. The Kenyan government is responsible for preserving and restoring the culture of the Swahili inhabitants. Therefore no one can attempt to destroy the place. In case one tries to encroach the ruins, they face punishment from the government.
In conclusion, schools should try and teach people about the encounter of Queen Amanirenas with Rome, where a final battle never occurred.
