There is so much to be known about Africa’s past. So much has come down to us in strange, distorted ways that it takes a real effort to find out what Africa was really like before ‘things fell apart’ to paraphrase Chinua Achebe, the author and Africa started to break down and to be broken down.
Africa as a continent from Cairo to Cape is reconstructing, reviewing, fighting, and re-assessing what it is to be African, African and Arab or African and of mixed parentage.
Everyone wants to be respected and part of the reason Africa’s part in the world is so misunderstood is because so much of its real history is hidden or only partially known. From Egypt to South Africa there have been Kingdoms and Empires. Some of the Kingdoms were large and some were small but they all have their story to tell. A tribe is a Kingdom. Each chiefdom has a chief, even the tribes said to have only been ruled by the tallest or the aged had chiefs or Kings and Queens.
The image of Africa in most people’s minds is usually not one that is very positive or knowledgeable. I would love to see a fair, accurate, balanced history of Africa that is much publicised so no one is left in the dark about such a great continent.
Some books have been written but there is so much to be done. There are written records alongside oral histories to be further published and better understood.
I am interested in everyone’s history but I feel strongly about the lack of promotion of real African history even when it is available.
Just forest, savannah, weird customs, human sacrifice and no civilisation? That’s what some history books teach. The truth is far more fascinating and helpful.
May there be more African history made known .
