This write up is gathered from other sources to help build students and African people’s scope of knowledge on Ancient African personalities and present personalities who had in their diverse ways impacted greatly to build their empires, nations and African as a whole.
By: Mary Ankrah
In the world today, people are made to believe that the great men and women of the world who have or had contributed to development and invention are the western people. For this reason, many African people turn to learn the western history and genius personalities instead of theirs. Therefore, the study of African biographies is intended to help change the issue of the Africa people not knowing the lives of explorers, rulers, warriors and thinkers who had a prominent role in the development of the African continent and the world at large.
GREAT UNIFIERS OF EGYPT
In history, great men and women who qualified as unifiers of Egypt include Narmer, Queen Ahmose Nefetari, King Piankhi and Shabaka.
Narmer was an “Ancient Egyptian striker”[1] and the first king of the first dynasty of Egypt who ruled in the 32nd century BC. Before he came in, the southern and northern Egypt was divided. And as the southern king, he conquered the northern king and united the two kingdoms of the Upper and Lower Egypt.
Apart from that, Queen Ahmose Nefetari was also a remarkable woman who helped unified Egypt and defeated the invaders. During her time, Egypt was known as “the second intermediate period when Lower Egypt was ruled by a group of invaders called Hyksos who were an Asiatic people.”[2]
The ruler of the kingdom of Cush on the Upper Nile, King Piankhi was also known for his great effort in unifying Egypt. During his time, he supervised the refurbishment of some crumbling temples in Lower Egypt and introduced the Egyptian custom of building pyramids. After Piankhi’s death, Shabaka became pharaoh of Egypt and Kush. King Shabaka is said to have united the history of Nubian and Egyptian.
THE WORLD’S GENIUS OF ANCIENT TIMES
In addition, among the world most famous ancient successful multi-geniuses, Imhotep and Ptahhotep are notable example. Imhotep was believed to be a doctor, architect, priest, Scribe and Vizier to King Djoser the second king of Egypt's third dynasty. He was said to be the first master of architect in the world who built the temple of Edfu, as well as Djoser’s Step Pyramid Complex at Saqqara which was recognized as the first monumental stone structure in Egypt.
Aside being an architect, Imhotep was said to be the world's first doctor who described 90 anatomical terms and 48 injuries 2,200 years ago even before the Western Father of Medicine Hippocrate Papyrus.
More so, under the reign of Djedkare Isesi in the fifth Dynasty, the Governor of the city, the vizier Ptahhotep is credited for writing the most ancient literature work called the teachings of Ptahhotep. It is the oldest book in the world and was believed to instruct young men to behave appropriately.
RELIGIOUS REFORMERS
Also, among the Pharaohs of the 18th dynasty of Egypt, Amenhotep IV is considered to be a religious reformer. In the early years of his reign, he discontinued all traditional religion in Egypt and established the Aten as the monotheistic of Egypt.
Amenhotep IV was said to be “traditionally raised by his parents, Amenhotep III and Queen Tiy (1382-1344 B.C) by worshipping Amen, Akhenaten, however, preferred Aten, the sun god that was worshipped in earlier times.”[3]
In order to show his loyalty to the god of Aten, Amenhotep IV also changed his name to Akhenaten (He Who is of service to Aten) and renamed Nefertiti his wife and queen, Nefer-Neferu-Aten (Beautiful is the Beauty of Aten). It was believed that Akhenaten built “some of the most massive temple complexes in ancient Egypt.
In those new temples, Aten was worshipped in the open sunlight, rather than in dark temple enclosures as had been the previous custom”.[4]
GREAT WOMEN LEADERS (ANCIENT)
Furthermore, there had been an impressive series of queens, queen regents and queen mothers in the history of Egypt. Hatshepsut is one of the best known female rulers of Egypt in the 18th dynasty. She ruled with her step-son Thuthmose III as his regent for a couple of years and later declared herself as pharaoh and ruled for about twenty years.
According to history, she organized a trading expedition reaching the land of Punt (now Somalia), constructed several obelisks and built the temple of Phaket at Beni Hasan.
Another great woman leader of ancient Egypt was Queen Tiye. Although she was not of royal blood she became the Great Royal Wife of Amenhotep III and mother of the Amenhotep IV (Akenhaton). During her husband’s reign, it was believed that she used her political influence and intelligence to maintain Egypt’s authority.
Aside that, the Black queen Candaces of Nubia, Queen Amanirenas and Queen Shanakdaheto also played a significant role as great women leaders. According to history, in the time when Egypt was under the control of Rome, Amanirenas designed a battle plan and led her armies into battle and defeated the three Roman cohorts. Shanakdaheto also ruled as a fully independent ruler and reinstated the relics of building projects which she commissioned.
FEMALE MILITARY LEADERS (MODERN)
On the other hand, aside these great women leaders of ancient time, Queen Nzingha of Ndongo (now Angola), Queen Amina of Zaria (Nigeria) and Yaa Asantewaa (Ghana) are all female military leaders of this modern time who are noted for their support in their countries. Queen Nzingha rose to power at the time when the Atlantic trade was steadily growing in Africa. Nzingha was believed to be a military strategist, charismatic and true warrior queen who bravely fought the Portuguese control over her country for several years and defeated them in many battles.
She is described as the first Black Nationalist in transcending ethnic divisions “By opening her territory to anyone escaping slavery, she transcended all the various ethnic and cultural differences of the people in the Angolan region.”[5]
Queen Amina is no exception for her military exploits in Zaria where she extended the borders of Zazzau and made her conquered cities to be under her jurisdiction. Equally, Yaa Asantewaa the Queen Mother of Ejisu is celebrated for the courage she showed to gather the Asante male warriors to fight the British to recover the Golden stool. In 1900, she led the Ashanti-British war against British colonialism known as the “War of the Golden Stool”[6].
EMPIRE BUILDERS AND WARRIORS
Many African empire builders and warriors are remembered for their diverse contributions towards building their nation and empire. One of these empire builder and warrior include Shaka zulu who was said a native of South African from Kwazulu.
As a military innovator, it was believed that he changed the face of warfare in South Africa by making his warriors to train and fight barefoot to make them tough. According to history, he introduced the shorter stabbing spear (iklwa) and made the shield heavier and his military tactics was his warriors run to the enemy and stab him rather than to throw the spear from a distance. According to readings, “Shaka's methods reached their high point during the Zulu victory at Isandhlwana.
It was believed that Shaka won many battles like the one against the Buthelezi tribe and most of the southeast Africa and Natal in 1820.
Also, Osei Tutu I is recognized in history as an empire builder and military leader of the Asante of the Gold Coast (Now Ghana) who was the first Asantehene of the Asante kingdom. He strengthened the Asante military organization to be effective and efficient fighting unit and embarked on wars.
In warfare, it was said that he conquered and “incorporated the neighbouring states of Tafo, Amakom, and Ofinso into the empire then between 1699 and 1701 he defeated the overbearing Empire of Denkyira, reducing her and her allies to tributaries of Asante.”[7]
Opuku Ware I who succeeded Osei Tutu I was also noted as a great warrior ruler who expanded Asante Empire by conquering Denkyira, Akwapim, Akim, Sefwi, Bono-Tekyiman,Akwamu, the Ga-Adangbe states and Accra, Gonja and Dagomba.
In the legend of Empire builders in the 14th century, Sundiata Keita, the founder and first ruler of the Mali Empire is remembered for his great contribution as he expanded his territory across boundaries alongside the Mali surroundings.
It was indicated that he unified Ghana Empire and other states under his jurisdiction and made other chiefs for those provinces, making it a federation of states. According to readings, “The Mali Empire grew and prospered by monopolizing the gold trade and developing the agricultural resources along the Niger River.”[8]
REFERENCES
Crystalinks.com. Narmer. (Online) Avaliable http://www.crystalinks.com/narmer.html, April 4, 2011
CMHypno.Queen-Ahmose-Nefertari.(Online) available http://www.hubpages.com/hub/Queen-Ahmose-Nefertari-Mother-of-the-Eighteenth-Dynasty-of-Ancient-Egypt, April 4, 2011
Touregypt.net. AmenhotepIV.(Online) Available http://touregypt.net/18dyn10.htm, Aril 7, 2011
Wikipedia. Akhenaten. (Online) Avaliable http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akhenaten, Aril 7, 2011
Know your Black History. Queen Nzingha of Angola (1583 -1663). [Online] Available http://www.knowyourblackhistory.com/queen-nzingha-of-angola/, May 22, 2011.
Wikipedia. Yaa Asantewaa. (Online) Available http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaa_Asantewaa, May 22, 2011
Sherrif Garba. Foundation and Rise of the Asante Empire. [Online] Available http://www.suite101.com/content/foundation-and-rise-of-the-asante-empire-a327613#ixzz1L6InKOO6, May 19, 2011.
Felmuasa Public Affair Committee. The story of Sundiata Keita – The Lion King. [ Online] Available http://www.felmausa.org/felmuasa93.htm, June 7, 2011
[1][1] Crystalinks.com. Narmer. (Online) Avaliable http://www.crystalinks.com/narmer.html, April 4, 2011
[2][2] CMHypno.Queen-Ahmose-Nefertari.(Online) available http://www.hubpages.com/hub/Queen-Ahmose-Nefertari-Mother-of-the-Eighteenth-Dynasty-of-Ancient-Egypt, April 4, 2011
[4][4] Wikipedia. Akhenaten. (Online) Avaliable http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akhenaten, Aril 7, 2011
[5][5] Know your Black History. Queen Nzingha of Angola (1583 -1663). [Online] Available http://www.knowyourblackhistory.com/queen-nzingha-of-angola/, May 22, 2011.
[6][6] Wikipedia. Yaa Asantewaa. (Online) Available http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaa_Asantewaa, May 22, 2011
[7][7] Sherrif Garba. Foundation and Rise of the Asante Empire. [Online] Available http://www.suite101.com/content/foundation-and-rise-of-the-asante-empire-a327613#ixzz1L6InKOO6, May 19, 2011.
[8][8] Felmuasa Public Affair Committee. The story of Sundiata Keita – The Lion King. [ Online] Available http://www.felmausa.org/felmuasa93.htm, June 7, 2011
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