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1: African Origins – History and Culture

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    • 1.1: Introduction
      This page explores West African histories and cultures from antiquity to the 19th century, focusing on the migration to the Americas and countering European myths of African primitiveness by highlighting advanced civilizations. It aims to deepen understanding of African American history, emphasizing racial slavery and the development of African American culture.
    • 1.2: Africans before Captivity
      This page discusses the origins of most Africans in North America, highlighting their roots in West and West Central Africa. It describes the region's diverse geography, isolation until the 15th century, and limited knowledge prior to 800 A.D. Archaeological sites suggest advanced agricultural societies and trade. Oral histories and writings reveal the cultural heritage of Ancient Mali and Songhai.
    • 1.3: Medieval West Africa
      This page explores the historical progression of West African civilizations, highlighting Ancient Ghana (500-1250 AD), the prosperous Mali Empire under Mansa Musa, and the expanding Songhai Empire initiated by Sunni Ali around 1375. It emphasizes Mali's wealth and governance, the cultural impact of the Mande people, and the continuation of educational advancements, particularly through the establishment of Sankore University by Shi Mohamed Askia I, following in Mansa Musa’s footsteps.
    • 1.4: West Africa, 1300 – 1800AD
      This page discusses the emergence of political states along the African coast from the 14th to 18th centuries, such as the Volta Kingdoms and the Asante Empire, known for their governance and trade. Yoruba city-states like Ife and Oyo had unique kingship systems and trade routes, while Dahomey rose alongside the Asante. The Ibo from Biafra became prominent in the transatlantic slave trade, despite fewer Yoruba and Fon being enslaved in North America.
    • 1.5: West Central Africa, 14th – 18th Centuries
      This page discusses the Kingdom of Kongo, founded by Ne Lukeni Kia Nzinga, which thrived until its downfall by the Portuguese in 1665. The Bakongo people, from modern-day Congo and Angola, were deeply impacted by the slave trade, which disrupted their traditional kinship and social systems. The Kongo's cosmology and matrilineal structure have influenced African American cultural practices. The page highlights the demographic shifts in the Americas resulting from these historical events.

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