While many African countries have faced coups d’etats at different points in their existence,  Botswana is one of the few that has never experienced such. This explains why the presidents of Botswana have led the country through significant economic, social, and political transformations. Also, the country serves as a model of democracy and development in Africa. Their legacies continue to inspire people in Botswana and beyond.

Meet The Presidents of Botswana From Past to Present 

1. Seretse Khama

• Date of Birth:  1 July 1921– 13 July 1980
• Presidential Term: 30 September 1966 – 13 July 1980
• Political party: BDP

He was born Seretse Goitsebeng Maphiri Khama on July 1, 1921. Seretse Khama was the first president of the landlocked country. He assumed office on September 30, 1966, through election. Prior, Khama was elected as the first prime minister of the country in 1965, a position that no one ever held as the country changed its system of government.

He had been involved in politics during the British colonial rule in the country and was recognized as a chieftain of his people, the Bamangwato. However, his position was challenged when he married a White woman named, Ruth Williams in a time when interracial marriages were considered taboo. While many like Julius Nyerere of Tanzania described their love as one of the great love stories of the world, many more opposed it.

On the one hand, there were the tribal elders of Bechuanaland who opposed it because they expected him as a member of the royal family to marry one of their women.

On the other hand was South Africa which had introduced the racial segregation system known as apartheid. Since Britain, the colonial power in Bechuanaland was getting cheap mineral resources from South Africa, the country pushed for Khama’s banishment.

He and his wife were exiled in 1951. They were allowed to return to Bechuanaland as private citizens in 1956 after he renounced his tribal chieftaincy. Needless to say, Khama soon joined local politics and even rose to the position of secretary of the tribal council in the late 60s. In 1961, he founded the Bechuanaland Democratic Party which is now known as Botswana Democratic Party.

He was elected as the country’s first president under the party’s flag. Notably, Khama set the country on the path of development through its mining industry. Unsurprisingly,  Botswana had the fastest-growing economy in the world between 1960 and 80.  He was elected three times in 1969, 1974, and 1979 in a tenure that lasted 13 years. Sadly, he died in his sleep during his last tenure.

2. Quett Masire

• Date of Birth: 23 July 1925– 22 June 2017
• Presidential Term: 18 July 1980 – 31 March 1998
• Political Party: BDP

He started as the vice president during Khama’s tenure and assumed office shortly after his death. Quett Masire assumed office on July 13, 1980. Like his predecessor, Masire worked towards the independence struggle of his country.

He served for three terms from 1980 to 1998 making him the longest serving Botswana president. Masire retired from politics in 1998. Notably, the former president became a strong critic of the BDP claiming that the party had moved from the ideals in which it was formed.

Sadly, He died on June 29, 2017, at the age of 91.

3. Festus Mogae

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• Date of Birth:  21 August 1939
• Presidential Term: 1 April 1998 – 1 April 2008
• Political Party: BDP

He is the third president of Botswana who served two tenures that lasted between 1998 and 2008. Festus Mogae was born on August 21, 1939 in Serowe. He studied Economics in the UK and when he assumed office, he embarked on a campaign to tackle poverty and the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the country.

After his second tenure ended, Mogae left office. Needless to say, he has remained active in pursuing different courses including being a special envoy of the UN Secretary General on Climate Change. He also sits on the advisory board of TeachAids, a US nonprofit.

4. Seretse Khama Ian Khama

• Date of Birth: 27 February 1953
• Presidential Term: 1 April 2008- 1 April 2018
• Political Party: BDP

He served for two terms as the fourth president of the country. Seretse Khama Ian Khama who is also referred to as Ian Khama is the second child of the former resident, Seretse Khama. Aside from sharing a name with his father, Ian also took a career footstep in politics and reached the highest office on April 1, 2008, after Mogae stepped down making him one of few sons of former presidents to achieve this feat. Others include Gnassingbé Eyadema and Faure Eyadema of Togo, Jomo Kenyatta and Uhuru Kenyata of Kenya, and Joseph Kabila

Before this, he was trained at the military academy in Sandhurst, UK, and held positions like commander of the Botswana Defense Force. He retired from military service on March 31, 1998, and went fully into politics the following month when he became the vice president under Festus Mogae.

He eventually became president after Mogae stepped down in 2008. Though he promised continuity in policy, his government was accused of many controversies. These include the killing of John Khalifas, party manipulations, and illegal possession of firearms.

Ian served in office for two five-year tenures that lasted 10 years before leaving office in 2018. He also left the BDP which his father helped to found and joined the Botswana Patriotic Front(BPF). As mentioned earlier, he has faced some controversies including the possession of firearms and this led to the issuance of an arrest in 2022. However, he failed to appear in court leading to a 14-count charge against him

See Also: 10 Presidents That Ruled Africa Longest

5. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi

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• Date of Birth: 21 July 1962
• Presidential Term: 1 April 2018
• Political Party: BDP

Mokgweetsi Masisi is fondly called ‘Sisiboy’ as a play on his surname and he assumed office on April 1, 2018, as the fifth president of the country under the BDP. Before this, he had worked in other political offices such as the vice president. Like Ian Khama, Masisi’s father, Edison Masisi was very active in the politics of Botswana.

In the early years of his career, Masisi worked as an actor and is notable for acting in the lead role in the production of Cry the Beloved Country, based on Alan Paton’s book of the same name.  Also, he took up a teaching career and taught at the secondary school level. He served as the Chancellor of the University of Botswana during Ian Khami’s presidency.

More on his presidency, Masisi reversed some of the policies of his predecessor such as lifting the ban on elephant hunting. This and other issues made Ian Khama regret making Masisi his successor. He went as far back as calling it a mistake.

The post Every President Of Botswana Since Independence appeared first on WeAfrique.

It’s time to set the record straight and debunk the lies that have been spread about Africa.

Here are some of the most common lies told about Africa

1. Africa is a dark continent

This is one of the oldest and most pervasive lies about Africa. The term “dark continent” was coined by Europeans in an attempt to justify their colonial ambitions and to portray Africa as a land of mystery and primitiveness. In reality, Africa is a continent of immense beauty and diversity, with a rich history and culture.

2. Africa is a country, not a continent

This is another misconception that is often perpetuated by the media and in education. Africa is a continent made up of 54 countries, each with its unique culture, history, and traditions.

3. Africa is a desert

While it is true that Africa is home to the Sahara Desert, the largest hot desert in the world, the continent is also home to a wide variety of landscapes, including rainforests, savannas, mountains, and coastlines.

4. All Africans are dark-skinned

This is a gross generalization that ignores the immense diversity of skin tones found across the African continent. Africans come in a wide range of skin colors, from light-skinned to dark-skinned.

5. Africans share only one culture

Africa is a continent of incredible cultural diversity. There are hundreds of different ethnic groups in Africa, each with its own unique language, traditions, and customs.

6. Africans speak African

There is no such thing as an African language. There are over 2,000 languages spoken in Africa,including Swahili, Arabic, French, Hausa, Yoruba, and Oromo.

7. Wild animals roam freely in Africa

While it is true that Africa is home to some of the most iconic wildlife in the world, these animals are not free to roam wherever they please. They are protected in national parks and reserves.

8. All Africans live in houses made of mud and grass

Africans live in a variety of housing types, from traditional mud huts to modern apartments. The type of housing that people live in depends on a variety of factors, such as their location, income, and cultural preferences.

9. African food is not edible

African cuisine is incredibly diverse and flavorful. There is a wide variety of dishes to choose from, reflecting the continent’s rich culinary heritage.

10. African countries are very poor and seek international help

While it is true that some African countries are struggling with poverty, many others are experiencing rapid economic growth and development. Africa is a continent of immense potential, and its future is bright.

11. All Africans speak one language

Of course not!, like African cultures, they also have diverse languages which are unique to a particular ethnic group and not otherwise.

12. There is no electricity in Africa

Africans are long advanced and do not only depend on sunlight for light but also have other sources that are electrically powered.

13. Foreigners who travel to Africa would likely die

Over the years, many foreigners have not only traveled to African countries but also settled in some African countries. Interestingly, they are still alive. So No! Africa is not a battlefield.

14. Africa has no writing system 

Colonialism should be blamed for spreading this misconception. Well, the truth is that Africa has the world’s oldest and largest collections of ancient writing which dates back to prehistorical times including Nsibidi, a form of language with over 500 alphabets

15. The cost of living in Africa is very cheap

The cost of living in Africa varies depending on the country and region. In some places, it can be quite expensive, while in others it is more affordable.

16. Africa is a disease-ridden continent

Since the outbreak of ebola which caused deaths in African countries like Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia, Africa has been termed a disease-ridden country with low hygienic measures. However, this remains a lie as Africa isn’t the only continent with such epidemic outbreaks. In fact, some of the most advanced medical research in the world is being done in Africa.

17. African countries are full of corrupt governments

There is corruption in some African countries, but it is not as widespread as many people believe. In fact, many African countries are making great strides in improving governance and transparency.

18. North Africa is not part of Africa

As falsified as this sounds, many people have bought and spread this lie. This is because a large population of North Africa is light-skinned and the influence of Arabic and Arabs surpasses other African countries.

19. Africans have a boring lifestyle and do not party

Here’s another lie that you may have heard. Well, the truth is Africans are the fun makers of the universe and dance in diverse ways. Africans celebrate at any given chance they get.

20. Most families in Africa live and dwell with wild animals

Similar to the belief that wild animals roam freely in African countries. This is also not true. Africans have pets like cats and dogs but do not live and dine with the wilds.

21. Everything Africans do is worth less

Since Africans have been defined as poor, violent, and ignorant people, it would be abnormal to consider them people of worth. However, this is another lie as Africans have a long record of great deeds. They have made many significant contributions to the world in the fields of art, science, literature, and music.

22. Africa is very hot, dry, and sunny

No, it isn’t always hot all over Africa as all African countries also experience different forms of climate change. Some parts of Africa are indeed hot and dry, but others are more temperate or even cold.

23. Africans do not speak English

Similar to the misconception that we speak a language known as African, saying Africans do not speak English is another fat lie. As you would find, the English language is one of the most spoken languages in African countries.

24. Africans are all illiterate

Literacy rates in Africa have been improving steadily in recent years. While there are still challenges to address, many Africans are literate in both their native languages and in English or French.

25. The history of Africa is boring to study as it depicts poverty, slavery, ignorance, and violence

Even though most African countries have been listed as among the poorest countries in the world but then, it cannot be denied that Africa has natural resources scattered around it.

26. Africans are lazy people

If this were true, Africans would have remained slaves for a very long time. But thanks to to their hardworking and resilient stance, they fought through slavery and also found a means of sustaining their livelihood.

27. Egypt is the oldest civilization 

While Egypt has a long and rich history, it is not the oldest civilization in the world.Mesopotamia, located in modern-day Iraq, is considered to be the oldest civilization in the world, dating back to around 3500 BC. Egypt’s Old Kingdom arose around 2686 BC.

28. The landmass of Africa is very small

For a continent with 54 countries, it is impossible to define its landmass as small. As you would easily find, Africa is the world’s second-largest continent in terms of size and population and covers over 30 million square miles which is about 6% of the world’s surface area.

29. Africans are black because they are exposed to too much sunlight

Ever heard of the word Melanin? well, that is what’s responsible for Africa’s dark skin tone and not sunlight. People of all races have melanin, but the amount and distribution of melanin varies.

The African descent have more melanin than people of other races,which gives them their darker skin color.

30. Africans were injected with syphilis in the Tuskegee experiment

This is a false and harmful claim. The Tuskegee experiment was a horrific medical study conducted in the United States from 1932 to 1972. The study involved 400 black men, mostly sharecroppers from Alabama,who were infected with syphilis but were not told of their diagnosis or offered treatment.

The purpose of the study was to observe the natural progression of syphilis in an untreated population. The experiment was unethical and caused many of the participants to suffer and die

31. It Doesnt Snow in Africa

There’s nothing so special about snow, however, while Africa is generally associated with warm weather, there are some African countries that experience snowfall. For example, the Atlas Mountains in Morocco and Lesotho, a country entirely enclaved within South Africa, receive regular snowfall during the winter months.

32. Africans are Scammers and Fraudsters

This is a lie that has sadly come to stay. There are scammers and fraudsters in every country in the world, and Africa is no exception. However, to claim that all Africans are scammers is simply not true. The vast majority of Africans are honest and hardworking people.

33. All Africans Know One Another

Africa is a vast and diverse continent with a population of over 1 billion people. It is simply not possible for all Africans to know one another.Africans come from a variety of ethnic groups, cultures, and backgrounds.

34. Egypt isn’t Part of Africa

Egypt is located in the northeastern part of Africa and is considered to be a transcontinental country. This means that its territory straddles two or more continents. However, a major part of Egypt’s landmass is located in Africa, and it is a member of the African Union.

35. There are no talents in Africa

This isn’t even arguable as Africa is blessed with many talents. In fact, someone once said there’s no talent shortage in Africa. Africans have excelled in a variety of fields, including music, art, literature, science, and sports. Some notable African talents include Fela Kuti, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Mohammed Diaby, and Didier Drogba.

36. There’s nothing to see in Africa aside from animals

In addition to the common lie that Africa harbors wild animals on the street, it is also said that there is nothing more to see than animals. The truth is that Africa is home to some of the most breathtaking landscapes on the planet

37. African women are always angry

This is another stereotype that has accompanied the black woman and defines her as angry, hostile, overbearing, illogical, and bitter to the world.

African women are just as diverse as women from any other part of the world.They come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, and they have a wide range of personalities.

38. Africans have no welfare strategy

To claim that all African have bo welfare strategy is simply not true. Many African countries have implemented welfare programs to support their citizens. These programs may include social assistance, food aid, and healthcare subsidies. Even though there are some challenges in implementing and funding welfare programs in Africa, many countries are making progress in this area.

39. Africans belong to a family of apes

Humans and apes are both primates, but we are not descended from apes.

40. Africa is a big animal reserve

Common, not again! we’ve got a lot. Africa is home to a vast array of wildlife, but it is not just an animal reserve. It is home to over 1 billion people, and it is the second-largest continent in the world. The continent also holds great natural beauty including stunning landscapes and diverse ecosystems.

41. Africans are regarded as the black face or an unlucky people

I think racist should be blamed for this claims. Africans are just as diverse as people from any other part of the world. They come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, and they have a wide range of personalities. To claim that all Africans are unlucky is simply not true.

42. Africans do not have a good source of water and hence, drink chocolate water

This is a ridiculous claim. Africans have access to a variety of water sources, including rivers, lakes, and wells. Chocolate water is not a thing that people drink in Africa.

43. Africans have an unsophisticated way of Spirituality

Africans have a long and rich tradition of spirituality, and their beliefs and practices are just as valid as those of any other religion.

44. Wakanda is the capital city of Africa

Really? Wakanda is a fictional country in the Marvel comic books and films. It is not a real place, and it is not the capital city of Africa.

45. Africans were infected with Syphilis in the Tuskegee experiment

46. Africans are torn by political conflicts

While there are some countries in Africa that are experiencing political conflict, this is not true of the entire continent.

47. Ancient cultures and histories were nonexistent in Africa 

Africa has a long and rich history, and there are many ancient cultures and civilizations that have flourished on the continent. Some of the most famous examples include the Ancient Egyptians, the Nubians,and the Swahili people.

48. Africans Below the Sahara Never Sails the Sea

Africans have been sailing the seas for centuries, and there is evidence of African seafaring dating back to at least the 5th century BC. Some of the most famous African sailors include Vasco da Gama, Christopher Columbus, and Ferdinand Magellan.

49. Africans are tribal people who were organized into tribes while Europeans are organized into nations

All societies, including the European ones, have evolved from tribal groups. The concept of the nation-state is a relatively recent invention which isnt just peculiar to the Europeans.

50. Africans eat humans

No, we dont eat humans. There is no evidence to suggest that cannibalism has ever been a widespread practice in Africa.

Read Also: African Proverbs: 100 Best And Their Deep Meanings

51. River Niger was discovered by Mongo Park

The River Niger was known to people living in Africa for centuries before Mongo Park arrived in the 18th century. Park was a Scottish explorer who was the first European to document the course of the Niger River.

52. African hair does not grow

This is another lie that has been sold around the world and sadly most Africans have bought this lie.

Well, African hair can grow just as long as any other type of hair. The misconception that African hair does not grow may stem from the fact that most African people often wear their hair in styles that are short. Also, the texture of the African hair is curly and not straight making which makes its look like its not growing.

53. There’s no Wifi connection in Africa

This is not true. There is internet access in many parts of Africa, and it is becoming increasingly available. In fact, some African countries have some of the fastest internet speeds in the world.

54. Africans sold themselves into slavery

Africans had no hand in their own enslavement. They were enslaved by Europeans through a system of violence, coercion, and deception.

55. Africans are perceived as violent beings and drug addicts

To claim that all Africans are violent or drug addicts is simply not true. We are diverse as people from other part of the world and our lives have been marked by different background and experiences

56. Africans did not contribute to global civilization

Africans have made significant contributions to global civilization in a variety of fields, including science, technology, art, literature, and music. Some notable African contributions include the invention of the zero, the development of complex irrigation systems, the creation of exquisite sculptures and paintings, and the production of rich oral traditions

57. Africans lack a sense of love and cannot feel gratitude

Africans are just as capable of love and gratitude as people from any other part of the world. They have strong family and community ties, and they are known for their hospitality and warmth.

58. Africans are less intelligent

There is no scientific evidence to support the claim that Africans are less intelligent than people from other parts of the world.In fact, there are many African scholars, scientists, and artists who have made significant contributions to their fields.

59. Africa is not for children

Maybe the question should be who is Africa made for?

Like other parts of the world, Africa is a place where children can learn about their heritage, explore different cultures, and experience the natural world.

60.  The African skin is ugly

A wise man once said that there’s no standard of beauty. The African skin is beautiful and it comes in a wide range of shades. It is important to remember that beauty is subjective.

61. There are no entrepreneurs in Africa

As you may have guessed, this is a lie. According to our research, Africa has the highest entrepreneurship rate in the world, and over 22% of working-age Africans have set up new businesses. African entrepreneurs are driving economic growth, creating jobs, and solving challenges in their communities. They are leading the way in agriculture, technology, and other sectors.

62. Africans are viewed as completely savage, barbaric, and bloodthirsty

Africans come from a variety of peaceful and civilized cultures. To claim that all Africans are savage, barbaric, or bloodthirsty is simply not true.

63. Ancient Egyptian Mummies had blond or red hair

This is another lie that is told in history to depict Egyptians as white and not black. Meanwhile, DNA analysis has shown that ancient Egyptians had dark hair and brown eyes. The depictions of ancient Egyptians with blond or red hair are likely due to artistic stylization or the use of dyes.

64. All Africans practice polygamy

Polygamy is not a universal practice in Africa. It is only practiced by a small minority of Africans, and it is not considered to be the norm.

65. Africans lack the sense of time

Africans may have a different concept of time than Westerners, but they are not incapable of managing their time or meeting deadlines.

66. Africa only relies on raw material

It is been said that without Africa’s natural resources, the continent would have been long forgotten however, this remains a lie. Over the years a large number of African countries have been giving their best into innovations as well as technology.

67. White people are hated in Africa

Africans are not racist and do not hate other humans. In fact, many Africans have positive relationships with white people .However, it is important to remember that there is a history of colonialism and racism in Africa, and some Africans may have negative feelings towards white people as a result of this history.

68. Ancient Egyptian Mummies had blond or red hair

This is another lie that is told in history to depict Egyptians as white and not black

69. The primitive lifestyle of Africans doesnt allow innovation

Africans have a rich history of innovation and creativity. They have developed unique solutions to challenges in agriculture,transportation, and communication,often using locally available resources.

From the ingenious irrigation systems of the Nubians to the intricate textiles of the Yoruba, African innovation is as diverse and vibrant as the continent itself.

70. Africans have no literary philosophical or historical traditions 

Africa boasts a wealth of literary, philosophical, and historical traditions that span millennia. The Griots of West Africa, for instance,are renowned oral historians who preserve and transmit their people’s stories and traditions through generations.

The ancient city of Timbuktu in Mali was once a center of Islamic scholarship, with several library housing countless manuscripts.

African literature, from the epic poems of Sundiata Keita to the poignant novels of Chinua Achebe,has enriched the world with its storytelling and insights.

71. Africans are not normal people

To say that all Africans are abnormal is simply racist and ignorant. Like other parts of the world, African’s are diverse and complex. We also have wide range of cultures, beliefs, and traditions which may be viewed as abnormal.

72. African people are always in need and dependent on the white, industrial society

Africa is a continent of many natural resources and abundant potential. While some African countries face challenges, many have made significant strides in economic development and self-sufficiency as entrepreneurs, innovators, and leaders.

73. Africans are helpless, docile and subordinate

Africans have a long history of resistance and resilience. They have fought against colonialism, apartheid,and other forms of oppression. Africans are not passive victims; they are active agents in their own liberation

74. There are no phones in Africa

So how on earth do we communicate? Africa is home to a rapidly growing mobile phone industry. In fact, Africa has more mobile phone subscribers than the United States and Europe combined. Mobile phones have revolutionized communication and commerce across the continent.

75. Enslaved Africans didn’t have money

Africans were not passive participants in the slave trade. They had their own economic systems and currencies. The slave trade disrupted African economies and robbed individuals of their wealth and possessions.

76. African women are oppressed and powerless

African women are strong,independent, and resourceful. They play vital roles in their families,communities, and societies.

They have led movements for social change and hold positions of leadership in government, business, and the arts.

77. Africa has nothing to offer the world

There no truth in this because for centuries, Africa has given the world a number of things including world music, art, literature, and cuisine that have enriched cultures worldwide. They have made significant contributions to science,technology, and medicine.

78. Africans prefer to sleep on trees like monkeys

This is a racist and offensive stereotype. Africans build houses and sleep in beds just like people from any other part of the world.

79. Africans Hate Each Other

While there have been conflicts and tensions between different groups, just as in any other part of the world, Africans share a common humanity and have a strong sense of community. The vast majority of Africans do not hate each other

80. Africa is a dangerous place

Even though Africa has been depicted by the international media as a place of high crime, this isn’t true for all the countries in Africa. While some areas may have higher levels of crime, many African countries are safe and welcoming to visitors. It is important to do your research and take precautions when traveling to any new destination.

The post 80 Quick Lies Told About Africa appeared first on WeAfrique.

Their legacies live on in the many kingdoms and empires that shaped the African continent, from the pyramids of ancient Egypt to the modern cities of Morocco, Nigeria, and Ethiopia. Today, some African countries still have monarchies, although their power is often more symbolic than actual. 

Let’s Get To Meet The Most Famous Kings of Africa

Amenhotep III

Kingdom: Dynasty of Egypt

Regin: 1391 to 1353 BC or  1388 BC to 351 BC

Position: 9th Pharaoh

Successor: Akhenaten

Shaka Zulu

Kingdom: Zulu kingdom

Regin: 1816 to 1828

Position: 1st Emperor

Successor: Dingane

Dingane

Kingdom: Zulu kingdom

Regin: 1828- 1840

Position: 2nd Emperor

Successor: Mpande

Mpande

Kingdom: Zulu kingdom

Regin: 1840- 1872

Position: 3rd Emperor

Successor: Cetshwayo kaMpande

Cetshwayo kaMpande

Kingdom: Zulu kingdom

Regin: 1872- 1879 and 1883-1884

Position: 4th Emperor

Successor: Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo

Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo

Kingdom: Zulu kingdom

Regin: 1884- 1913

Position: 5th Emperor

Successor: Solomon kaDinuzulu

Solomon kaDinuzulu

Kingdom: Zulu kingdom

Regin: 1913- 1933

Position: 6th Emperor

Successor: Cyprian Bhekuzulu kaSolomon

Cyprian Bhekuzulu kaSolomon

Kingdom: Zulu kingdom

Regin: 1948- 1968

Position: 7th Emperor

Successor: Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu

Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu

Kingdom: Zulu kingdom

Regin: 1968- 2021

Position: 8th Emperor

Successor: Misuzulu Zulu kaZwelithini

Oba Oduduwa

Kingdom: Oyo Empire

Regin: 700A.D

Successor: Omoluabi Odede(Ọranyan)

Oranyan

Kingdom: Oyo Empire

Regin: 1300

Successor: Ajaka

Ewuare 

Kingdom: Benin Empire

Regin: 1440 to 1473

Successor: Ezoti

King Endubis

Kingdom: Axum Kingdom in East Africa

Regin: 270–300 CE

Successor: None

Taharqa

Kingdom: Kingdom of kush

Regin: 690 to 664 BC

Successor: Tantamani

Ezana

Kingdom: Axum Kingdom

Regin: 320s – c. 360 AD

Successor: MHDYS

Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu I

Kingdom: Ashanti Empire

Regin: 1701–c.1717

Position: 1st King

Successor: Opoku Ware Katakyie

Otumfuo Opoku Ware Katakyie

Kingdom: Ashanti Empire

Regin: 1720–1750

Position: 2nd King

Successor:  Kusi Oboadum

Otumfuo Nana Kusi Oboadum

Kingdom: Ashanti Empire

Regin: 1750–1764

Position: 3rd King

Successor: Osei Kwadwo Okoawia

Otumfuo Nana Osei Kwadwo Okoawia

Kingdom: Ashanti Empire

Regin: 1764–1777

Position: 4th King

Successor: Osei Kwame Panyin

Osei Kwame Panyin

Kingdom: Ashanti Empire

Regin: 1777–1803

Position: 5th King

Successor: Nana Opoku Fofie

Otumfuo Opoku Fofie

Kingdom: Ashanti Empire

Regin: 1803–1804

Position: 6th King

Successor: Osei Tutu Kwame Asiba

Osei Tutu Kwame Asiba

Kingdom: Ashanti Empire

Regin: 1804–1824

Position: 7th King

Successor: Osei Yaw Akoto

Otumfuo Nana Osei Yaw Akoto

Kingdom: Ashanti Empire

Regin: 1824 -1834

Position: 8th King

Successor: Kwaku Dua I

Nana Kwaku Dua I

Kingdom: Ashanti Empire

Regin:  1834 – 1867

Position: 9th King

Successor: Nana Kofi Karikari

Otumfuo Nana Kofi Karikari

Kingdom: Ashanti Empire

Regin: 1867 – 1874

Position: 10th King

Successor: Nana Mensa Bonsu

Otumfuo Nana Mensa Bonsu

Kingdom: Ashanti Empire

Regin: 1874–8 March 1883

Position: 11th King

Successor: Nana Kwaku Dua II

Otumfuo Nana Kwaku Dua II

Kingdom: Ashanti Empire

Regin: 1884 –  1884

Position: 12th King

Successor: Nana Prempeh I

Otumfuo Nana Prempeh I

Kingdom: Ashanti Empire

Regin: 1888 –  1931

Position: 13th King

Successor: Osei Tutu Agyeman Prempeh II

Otumfuo Osei Tutu Agyeman Prempeh II

Kingdom: Ashanti Empire

Regin: 1931 – 1970

Position: 14th King

Successor: Nana Opoku Ware II

Otumfuo Nana Opoku Ware II

Kingdom: Ashanti Empire

Regin: 1970 – 26 February 1999

Position: 15th King

Successor: Nana Osei Tutu II

Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II

Kingdom: Ashanti Empire

Regin: 26 April 1999–present

Position: 16th King

Gangnihessou

Kingdom: Dahomey kingdom

Regin: unknown – 1620

Position: 1st king

Successor: Dakodonou

Dakodonou

Kingdom: Dahomey kingdom

Regin: 1620-1645

Position: 2nd king

Successor: Houegbadja

Houegbadja

Kingdom: Dahomey Kingdom Modern-day Benin Kingdom

Regin: 1645-1685

Position: 3rd king

Successor: Akaba

Famous for:

Akaba

Kingdom: Dahomey kingdom

Regin: 1685-1708

Position: 4th king

Successor: Agadja

Agadja

Kingdom: Dahomey kingdom

Regin: 1708-1732

Position: 5th king

Successor: Tegbessou

Tegbessou

Kingdom: Dahomey kingdom

Regin: 1732-1774

Position: 6th king

Successor: Kpengla

Kpengla

Kingdom: Dahomey kingdom

Regin: 1774-1789

Position: 7th king

Successor: Agonglo

Famous for:

Agonglo

Kingdom: Dahomey kingdom

Regin: 1789-1797

Position: 8th king

Successor: Adandozan

Adandozan

Kingdom: Dahomey kingdom

Regin: 1797-1818

Position: 9th king

Successor:  Ghezo (Gakpe)

Ghezo (Gakpe)

Kingdom: Dahomey kingdom

Regin: 1818-1856

Position: 10th King

Successor: Glele

Glele

Kingdom: Dahomey kingdom

Regin: 1856-1889

Position: 11th King

Successor: Behanzin

Behanzin

Kingdom: Dahomey kingdom

Regin: 1818-1856

Position: 12th King

Successor: Agoli-agbo

Agoli-agbo

Kingdom: Dahomey Kingdom

Regin: 1894 – 1900

Position: 13th King

Dunama II Dabbalemi 

Kingdom: Kanem-Bornu Empire

Regin: 1210 – 1224

Position: 15th king

Successor: Kade

Kade

Kingdom: Kanem-Bornu Empire

Regin: 1224- 1242

Position: 16th king

Successor: Kachim Biri

Kachim Biri

Kingdom: Kanem-Bornu Empire

Regin: 1242 – 1262

Position: 17th king

Successor: Djil

Dari

Kingdom: Kanem-Bornu Empire

Regin: 1262 – 1281

Position: 18th king

Successor: Ibrahim I Nikale

Ibrahim I Nikale

Kingdom: Kanem-Bornu Empire

Regin: 1281 – 1301

Position: 19th king

Successor: Abdullah I

Abdullah I

Kingdom: Kanem-Bornu Empire

Regin: 1301 – 1320

Position: 20th king

Successor: Selma

Yekuno Amlak

Kingdom: Ethiopia empire

Regin: 1270-1285

Successor: Yagbe’u Seyon

Yagbe’u Seyon

Kingdom:  Ethiopia empire

Regin: 1285 – 1294

Successor: Senfa Ared IV

Senfa Ared IV

Kingdom: Ethiopia empire

Regin: 1294 – 1295

Successor: Hezba Asgad

Hezba Asgad

Kingdom: Ethiopia empire

Regin: 1295-1296

Successor: Qedma Asgad

Qedma Asgad

Kingdom: Ethiopia empire

Regin: 1296-1297

Successor: Jan Asgad

Jan Asgad

Kingdom: Ethiopia empire

Regin: 1297-1298

Successor: Saba Asgad

Saba Asgad

Kingdom: Ethiopia empire

Regin: 1298-1299

Successor: Wedem Arad

Wedem Arad

Kingdom: Ethiopia empire

Regin: 1299-1314

Successor: Amda Seyon I

Amda Seyon I

Kingdom: Ethiopia empire

Regin: 1314-1344

Successor: Newaya Krestos

Newaya Krestos

Kingdom: Ethiopia empire

Regin: 1344-1372

Successor: Newaya Maryam

Newaya Maryam

Kingdom: Ethiopia empire

Regin: 1372- 1382

Successor: Dawit I

Dawit I

Kingdom: Ethiopia empire

Regin: 1382- 1413

Successor: Tewodros I

Tewodros I

Kingdom: Ethiopia empire

Regin: 1413-1414

Successor: Yeshaq I

Yeshaq I

Kingdom: Ethiopia empire

Regin: 1414- 1429

Successor: Andreyas

Menelik II

Kingdom: Ethiopia empire

Regin:1889 to 1913

Successor: Lij Iyasu

Lij Iyasu

Kingdom: Ethopia empire

Regin:1913- 1916

Successor: Zewditu

Zewditu

Kingdom: Ethiopia empire

Regin:1866 to 1889(Shewa kingdom) and 1889 to 1913

Successor: Empress Zewditu I

Haile Selassie

Kingdom:  Ethiopia empire

Regin:  1930-1974

Successor: Amha Selassie

Piye

Kingdom: Kingdom of Kush

Regin: 744-714 BC

Position: 1st Kushite pharaoh

Successor: Shebitku

Shebitku

Kingdom: Kingdom of Kush

Regin: 714-705 BCE

Position: 2nd Kushite pharaoh

Successor: Shabaka

Shabaka

Kingdom: Kingdom of Kush

Regin: 705–690 BCE

Position: 3rd Kushite pharaoh

Successor: Taharqa

Taharqa

Kingdom: Kingdom of Kush

Regin: 690–664 BCE

Position: 4th Kushite pharaoh

Successor: Tantamani

Tantamani

Kingdom: Kingdom of Kush

Regin: 664–653 BCE

Position: 5th Kushite pharaoh

Successor: Atlanersa

Sundiata Keita 

Kingdom: Mali Kingdom

Regin:1235-1255 CE

Position: 1st emperor

Successor: Uli I

Mansa Uli I

Kingdom: Mali Kingdom

Regin: 1255-1270

Position: 2nd Emperor

Successor: Brother Wati

Mansa Musa

Kingdom: Mali Kingdom

Regin: A.D 1306 and 1332 A.D

Position: 10th emperor

Successor: Maghan I

Maghan I

Kingdom: Mali Kingdom

Regin: 1337-1341

Position: 11th Emperor

Successor: Suleyman

Ahmose I

Kingdom:  18th Dynasty of Egypt

Regin:c. 1539–14 bce

Position: 1st Emperor

Successor: Amenhotep I

Amenhotep I

Kingdom:  18th Dynasty of Egypt

Regin:1526 to 1506 BC

Position: 2ndEmperor

Successor: Thutmose 

See Also: 10 Richest African Kings Today Vs Mansa Musa

Thutmose I

Kingdom:  18th Dynasty of Egypt

Regin:1506–1493 BC

Position: 3rd Emperor

Successor: Thutmose II

Thutmose II

Kingdom:  18th Dynasty of Egypt

Regin:1493 to 1479 BC

Position: 4th Emperor

Successor: Hatshepsut

Amenhotep II 

Kingdom:  18th Dynasty of Egypt

Regin:1427 to 1401 BC.

Position: 7th Emperor

Successor: Thutmose IV

Thutmose IV

Kingdom: 18th Dynasty of Egypt

Regin: 14th century BC

Position: 8th Emperor

Successor: Amenhotep III

Thutmose IV

Kingdom: 18th Dynasty of Egypt

Regin: 14th century BC

Position: 8th Emperor

Successor: Amenhotep III

Amenhotep III

Kingdom: 18th Dynasty of Egypt

Regin: 1386 to 1349 BC

Position: 9th Emperor

Successor: Akhenaten

Akhenaten

Kingdom: 18th Dynasty of Egypt

Regin: 1351–1334 BC

Position: 10th Emperor

Successor: Smenkhkare

Opoku Ware II

Kingdom: Ashanti Kingdom

Regin:  1970-1999

Position: 15th king

Successor: Nana Osei Tutu II

Mansa Wati

Kingdom: Mali Empire

Regin: 1270-1274

Position:  3rd emperor

Successor: Kahlifa

Mansa Kahlifa

Kingdom: Mali Empire

Regin: 1274-1275

Position:  4th emperor

Successor: Abu Bakr

Sunni Ali Ber

Kingdom: Songhai Empire

Regin: 1464 to 1492(28years)

Position: 1st emperor

Successor: Sunni Baru

Sonni Bāru

Kingdom: Songhai Empire

Regin:1492 to 1493

Successor: Askia Muhammad I

Askia Muhammad I

Kingdom:  Songhai Empire

Regin: 1493 to 1528

Successor: Askia Monzo Mūsā

Askia Monzo Mūsā

Kingdom:  Songhai Empire

Regin: 1529–1531

Successor: Askia Mohammad Benkan

Askia Mohammad Benkan

Kingdom: Askia dynasty of the Songhai Empire

Regin: 1531–1537

Successor: Askia Muhammad I

Askia Isma’il

Kingdom:  Songhai Empire

Regin: 1538–1539

Successor: Askia Ishaq I

Askia Ishaq I

Kingdom:  Songhai Empire

Regin: 1539–1549

Successor: Askia Daoud

Askia Daoud

Kingdom:  Songhai Empire

Regin: 1549–1582

Successor: Askia Muhammad II (al-Hajj)

Askia Muhammad II (al-Hajj)

Kingdom:  Songhai Empire

Regin: 1582–1586

Successor: Muhammad Bani

Muhammad Bani

Kingdom:  Songhai Empire

Regin: 1586–1588

Successor: Askia Ishaq II

Askia Ishaq II

Kingdom:  Songhai Empire

Regin: 1588–1591

Successor: Muhammad Gao

The post 100 Famous African Kings That Have Ruled In Ancient Times appeared first on WeAfrique.

N’gola, as it was known before the change of name, has been led by visionary presidents. The country’s first leader was Agostinho Neto. He served as the first president of Angola from 1975 to 1979, having led the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) in the war for independence.

He was succeeded by an interim president, Lucio Lara, who ruled for only nine days. Jose Eduardo dos Santos took over as president and served from 1979 to 2017. Joao Lourenco has been president since 2018

Meet The Presidents Of Angola From Independence To Date 

Agostinho Neto

Born: 1922

Died: 1979 (from pancreatic cancer and hepatitis, aged 56)

Presidential term: 11 November 1975 – 10 September 1979

Neto was born at Ícolo e Bengo, in Bengo Province, Angola, in 1922 to his parents who were both school teachers and Methodist preachers.

After finishing high school, Neto began working in colonial health services before enrolling in medical schools in Coimbra and Lisbon. He mixed his scholastic pursuits with revolutionary politics when he was still in school, which at times put him in danger of arrest and detention.

On the day he received his college degree, he got married to Maria Eugénia da Silva, a 23-year-old Trás-os-Montes-born Portuguese woman before returning to Angola in 1959.

When Angola gained independence in 1975 he became president and held the position until his death in 1979.

According to his sons, President Neto never assigned business or privileges to them, suggesting that despite a controversial presidency he never forgot his humble origins. Moreover, Neto is praised for his several poetic works that have become national anthems in Angola.

Lara Lúcio

Date of Birth: April 9, 1929

Died: February 27, 2016 (aged 86)

Presidential term: Acting president 11 September- 20 September

Born as Lúcio Rodrigo Leite Barreto de Lara on 9 April 1929, Lúcio was a physicist-mathematician, politician, professor, anti-colonial ideologist, and one of the founding members of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA).

He studied for a degree in mathematics at the University of Lisbon and during this period he became a resident of the House of Students of the Empire, a student body that served as a center for anti-colonial discussions in Lisbon, Portugal. It was in this discussion center that he became friends with António Agostinho Neto who would later become the the president of Angola.

While participating in political party activities in Lisbon, he met Ruth Pflüger, a young Lisbon-born Portuguese Jew of German ancestry whom he married in 1955. They have 3 biological children, Paulo, Wanda, and Bruno.

Lara was chosen as the Constituent Assembly’s president on the day Angola gained its independence. He enacted the Constitution of Angola on November 10, 1975. In addition, he organized the first official presidential election in Angola, which brought in Agostinho Neto. Lara presided over the legislature until 1977.

Between the passing of Agostinho Neto and the inauguration of José Eduardo dos Santos, he served as interim president of Angola for ten days, from September 10 to September 20, 1979.

Lara faded from public view in 1992 and passed away on February 27, 2016, in the capital of Angola.

José Eduardo dos Santos 

Date of Birth: 1922–1979

Presidential term: 21 September- 27 August 1992  and 27 August- 25 September 2017

In what is now Luanda’s Sambizanga district, José Eduardo dos Santos was born on August 28, 1942. His father was a construction worker, while his mother worked as a maid.

He went to primary school in Luanda and finished his secondary education at what is now known as Mutu ya Kevela, formerly known as the Liceu Salvador Correia. Dos Santos began his political career when he joined the MPLA while still a student.

In 1969 he earned degrees in petroleum engineering and radar communications from the Azerbaijan Oil and Chemistry Institute in Baku Azerbaijan, which was the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic.

Dos Santos made his way back to Angola in 1970, while it was still an overseas province of Portugal. He worked as a radio transmitter in Cabinda Province’s second political-military district during his three years of service in the MPLA’s EPLA guerrilla force, subsequently known as the People’s Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola (FAPLA), the MPLA’s military wing.

He was elected president of the MPLA on 20 September 1979, and he took office as President of Angola and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces on 21 September. On 9 November 1980, he was also elected President of the People’s Assembly.

Depending on the source, José Eduardo dos Santos had at least two marriages and perhaps as many as four. Also, he had at least 6 children.

Meanwhile, Dos Santos has been accused of running one of the most corrupt governments in Africa with approximately 70% of the population in Angola living on less than $2 per day in his regime.

He is further alleged to have ignored the country’s economic and social necessities in favor of collecting fortune for his family and stifling opposition.

But despite being heavily criticized, he is also praised for the significant part he played in favor of the nation’s independence and his dedication to the promotion of peace and democracy in the nation through negotiations with opposition forces intended to end the civil war.

He died on 8 July 2022, at Teknon Medical Centre in Barcelona, at the age of 79.

See Also: 12 Most Iconic And Greatest African Presidents Ever

João Lourenço

Date of Birth: 5 March 1954

Presidential term: 26th September  2017

João Lourenço was born in 1954 in Luanda, Portuguese Angola.

He studied at the Industrial Institute of Luanda and also joined the MPLA soldiers who were among the first to cross into Angolan territory via Miconage, heading toward the city of Cabinda, in August 1974, as part of the liberation struggle in Ponta Negra.

João Lourenço began his military career fighting against the Portuguese in the Angolan War of Independence and fought as a member of the MPLA in the Angolan Civil War.

His early politics were primarily focused on the MPLA, where he served as an officer charged with maintaining the morale of the guerrilla force. He progressed up the governing party’s ranks after being named Governor of the Moxico Province in 1984. Additionally, he held the positions of first secretary of the MPLA, provincial commissioner of Benguela Province, president of the regional military council of the third military-political region, and provincial commissioner of Moxico Province for the MPLA.

Lourenço was named as the MPLA’s top contender for the 2017 legislative election in December 2016. He was chosen as Angola’s third president on August 23, 2017, and he took office on September 26, making him the nation’s third president overall.

He is married to Ana Afonso Dias Lourenço, and they have six children.

The post Every President Of Angola Since Independence appeared first on WeAfrique.

Among them is Sonni Ali Ber of the Songhai Empire, who is known for a series of conquests. Ranavalona I resisted Western imperialism, and the list goes on. Sit back as we take you on an interesting ride through the lives of these men and women who demonstrated courage, bravery, and exceptional leadership skills.

10. Sonni Ali Ber

Sonni Ali Ber, a great African king who ruled the Songhai Empire from 1464 to 1492, transformed the empire through a series of conquests. He was the first king of the empire to defeat the Mali Empire, making it part of his own. He also defeated and captured the fortified cities of Timbuktu and Djenne, as well as the Mossi, Dogon, and Tuareg peoples.

This African monarch is remembered as a great magician. Instead of following the Islamic religion of the Mali Empire, he allowed the practice of both Islam and African traditional religion in his empire. However, Islamic chroniclers portrayed Sonni as a tyrant.

During his reign, the Songhai Empire experienced a great increase in power and wealth, surpassing the great Mali Empire. Sonni Ali Ber died on November 6, 1492, after drowning while crossing the Niger River. Other sources report that he was killed by his nephew, Askia Muhammad Toure. He was succeeded by his son, Sunni Baru.

9. Ranavalona I 

This African queen, also known as the Mad Queen of Madagascar, was born in 1788 as Ramavo into a very humble background. Her father heard of a plot to kill the future king, Radama, and reported it to him. In return, the king adopted Ramavo and arranged for her to marry his son, the future king.

She became the first of his 12 wives. However, the couple did not give birth to any children by the time Radama died, so there was no heir to the throne.

The throne of Madagascar was then designed to be handed over to Radama’s nephew, Prince Rakotobe. However, tradition stated that any child Ranavalona bore, whether for him or not, would be considered his and would automatically become the heir. To retain his throne, Rakotobe plotted to kill Ranavalona, but she found out and decided to act swiftly.

Before Radama’s death, he had been open to Western influence by allowing Christian missionaries to set up schools and even sending some of his children to these schools. Ranavalona then aligned herself with religious and traditional leaders. She mobilized a group of military men from her hometown and occupied the palace. The kingmakers were given a choice to either accept Ranavalona as queen or suffer the consequences. She was declared queen on August 1, 1828.

During her reign, she undid most of her husband’s reforms and terminated trade agreements with the French and English. Those who resisted her rule were fed a poisonous nut called Tangena that was used to test a person’s loyalty. Sometimes, these rebels were tortured and mutilated.

Other tribes apart from hers also suffered under her rule. She abolished Christianity in her kingdom and killed all those who disobeyed her order. This queen is said to have killed between 30 and 50 percent of the entire population during her reign.

She became very rich and was considered the ruler favored by the gods. Although she was known for cruelty, tyranny, and xenophobia, she protected her people from European encroachment. She is also known as “Ranavalona the Cruel.”

8. Askia Muhammad I

Muhammad Toure also known as Askia the Great is the most renowned ruler of the Songhai Empire. He was the chief minister to Sonni Ali. Askia deposed Sonni Baru, Sonni Ali’s son who succeeded him after his death. He violated the succession mode of the empire because he was not from a royal lineage.

Under his rule, the Songhai Empire expanded rapidly. It incorporated modern-day Kano state in Nigeria. He made all former territories of the Mali Empire pay tributes to Songhai. Askia the Great also introduced policies that increased the empire’s trade with Europe and Asia. He established standardized trade measures and regulations and initiated the policing of trade routes and an organized tax system.

He expanded Islam in his territories, created Islamic schools, made it an integral part of the empire, and replaced Songhai administrators with Arab Muslims. The period of his reign was marked by a love for war and respect for Islam, which is why Islamic scholars consider him the greatest king of the empire.

He was deposed by his son Askia Musa in 1528 and died in 1538 at the age of 96.

7. Hatshepsut

This African queen is known to be the most powerful female pharaoh in Egypt’s history. She was born around 1504BC, to Pharaoh Thutmose I, who died without a son. She then married her half-brother Thutmose II and helped him become pharaoh. After his death, her stepson, Thutmose III who was just 3 years old at the time, became king.

Hatshepsut ruled Egypt in his name. By the time he was 8, she took the throne and named herself his co-ruler. This was said to be due to brewing plots to overthrow the young pharaoh. The both of them would rule together for the next 22 years.

This African queen brought great wealth and prosperity to Egypt. She sponsored one of the empire’s most successful trading expeditions, bringing back gold, ebony, and incense from Punt.

Some of her legacies including 100-foot-tall obelisks in the great temple complex at Karnak are still standing in Egypt to this day. She also built the mortuary temple of Deir el Bahri, where she was buried after she died in 1458 BC.

Although early depictions of her were feminine, they began to take a masculine feel along the line. She was sometimes depicted in the traditional garment of the male ruler of Egypt. By the end of her reign, she had dropped all feminine titles and picked up the masculine version of her name, Hatshepu. However, she was referenced by historians as a woman with the title “Daughter of Re” or “His Majesty Herself”.

6. Idris Alooma

Idris Ali, posthumously named Idris Alooma was the greatest ruler of the Kanem-Bornu Empire of West Africa. He was an outstanding statesman and during his reign as Mai, the empire reached the zenith of its power. Idris Alooma built his palace in Gambaru against the capital city of Ngazargamu.

He was a skilled military man, who fought and conquered his adversaries which included the Hausa to the west, Tuareg and Toubou to the north, and the Bulala to the east. He was said to have won 330 wars and more than a thousand battles.

Mai Idris Alooma expanded the empire’s military. He introduced the iron-helmeted musketeers who were trained by the Ottoman military. This African king had strong diplomacy with different kingdoms. He signed the first recorded treaty in the empire’s history.

The Mai introduced a wide range of legal and institutional reforms. He funded the building of several mosques, made a pilgrimage to Mecca, and arranged for the establishment of a hostel to be used by the pilgrims from his empire. He introduced Islamic learning in the empire and improved the navigation of the Yobe River.

The ruler also introduced a larger number of camels for transportation. The capital city of his Empire became one of the largest cities in Africa during his reign.

5. Queen Moremi

Moremi, a legendary Yoruba queen and folk heroine, was born in the 12th century in a village called Offa, in present-day Kwara State, Nigeria. She was the wife of Oranmiyan, the son of Oduduwa, the founder of the Yoruba people of West Africa.

At the time, the Yoruba people were at war with an adjoining tribe known as the Ugbo. The people of Ile-Ife were furious about the Ugbo’s attacks, but they did not know what to do about it because they believed the invaders were not human.

To deal with the problem, Moremi pledged a huge sacrifice to the spirit of the river, Esimirin, if it gave her strength and wisdom on how to help her people. Esimirin agreed, and Moremi then offered herself to be captured by the Ugbo people and was taken to their land.

With Esimirin’s help, Moremi found favor in the sight of the Ugbo king and eventually became his wife. During her stay there, she familiarized herself with the secrets of the Ugbo army. When she had learned enough, she fled back to Ile-Ife and revealed the secrets to her people.

This helped the people of Ile-Ife to defeat the Ugbo people in battle. After the war was over, Moremi returned to her husband, Oranmiyan, who reinstated her as queen.

To fulfill her promise to Esimirin, Moremi sacrificed her son, Oluorogbo. This was a difficult decision, but Moremi knew that it was necessary to protect her people.

Today, Moremi is revered by the Yoruba people for her bravery and selflessness. They celebrate the Edi Festival in her honor, and a statue of her was erected in 2017 by Oba Ogunwusi. It is the tallest statue in Nigeria and the fourth tallest in Africa.

4. Behanzin Bowelle

King Behanzin was the last independent ruler of the Kingdom of Dahomey. He was the son of Glele, the 10th king of Dahomey, and became the 11th king of the empire in 1890, after his father’s death. Kondo then changed his name to Behanzin.

Behanzin was a strong and courageous leader. He fought the Europeans when they started encroaching on his empire, which was one of the most powerful kingdoms of West Africa. During his reign, Dahomey had one of the strongest armies in the area, comprising both men and women. He skillfully led his troop of 15,000 men and 5,000 women to war.

In 1882, France declared Porto Novo, a neighboring city, a French protectorate without consulting its people. Behanzin saw this as disrespectful, and his people refused to tolerate it. After he became king in 1890, he attacked the French with rifles provided to them by the Germans, on both military and economic fronts.

Behanzin subsequently declared that the treaty signed by his father was null and void and then declared war on the French. Despite losing the war, Behanzin refused to sign a treaty making Dahomey a French colony. He was then tricked into exile in Martinique, where he died in 1906.

3. Ahebi Ugbabe

This African leader is known for being the only female king in colonial Nigeria. She was born in Enugu-Ezike as the only daughter of a farmer and palm wine tapper and his trader wife. After her father consulted a spiritualist over the series of mishaps that occurred in their family, he was told that he had offended a god and the only way out was to offer his daughter as a wife to the goddess. Ahebi fled to Igala without any handwork or education. To fend for herself, she resorted to sex work, which helped her to meet different people from different places. She learned to speak different languages including Nupe, Igala, and Pidgin English.

From the proceeds of her business, she began to trade in palm oil and horses. She became one of the most influential traders in the area, and her ability to speak different languages gave her an edge over the local traders who could only speak Igala. She also got access to British colonials.

After the colonialists invaded Enugu, with her help, she was able to court their alliance and returned home in 1918. Ahebi was made the village headman under the supervision of the Divisional Officer. She rose to a warrant chief and subsequently went back to Igala where she was crowned king.

During her reign as king, she held court cases in the palace while making money from the services she offered. She offered her palace to women who had abusive husbands and became their husbands. Ahebi married wives for herself, looked for men who had sex with these wives, and claimed paternity. She hosted a Catholic school in her palace as well.

Ahebi died in 1948; however, she had performed her funeral rites two years earlier because of fear that she might not be given a befitting burial.

2. Ewuare the Great

One of the greatest kings in Africa is Oba Ewuare, son of Oba Ohen of Benin. He was given the name Ogun at birth and took up the name Ewaure after he became king of Benin in 1440. Ewuare was crowned king after he overthrew his brother Uwaifokun, who betrayed him after being sent into exile.

As king of the empire, he brought about many reforms. He transformed it politically, socially, religiously, and economically, and the kingdom of Benin experienced prosperity. He rebuilt the kingdom, reformed its political structure, and adopted the firstborn succession system.

During his reign, he won over two hundred battles and expanded his kingdom to different towns. He facilitated trade between his kingdom and the Portuguese.

Similarly, he expanded the arts sector of the kingdom and introduced coral beads for which the Benin people are famous. He introduced several festivities to the area.

Ewuare the Great died in 1473 and was succeeded by his son Ezoti.

See Also: 10 Shocking Beauty Practices Across Africa

1. Nzinga Mbande

Also known as Nzinga of Ndongo and Matamba, this African queen ruled her kingdom between 1583 and 1663. She was born into the royal Ndongo family.

Her father, Ngola Kiluanji, allowed Nzinga and her brother, Ngola Mbandi, to witness his governance. As a result, they had an understanding of the implications of Portuguese colonialism and slavery.

Subsequently, after her brother became king, he sent Nzinga as his emissary to Luanda. There she created an impression on the governor when she refused to sit on the floor and instead called her servant to kneel on all fours and sat on him as a human chair. She converted to Christianity and was baptized. While he was away, her brother, the king, died under unknown circumstances.

Nzinga returned and claimed the throne as ruler of the kingdom after her nephew, the rightful heir, was killed, presumably by Nzinga.

During her reign as queen, Nzinga led the Mbundu army to war against the Portuguese which ended in 1647 after 30 years. She fought against the Portuguese and their expansion of slave trade in her territory.

The queen kept both male and female concubines, married multiple husbands, and insisted on being addressed as a king while wearing male clothes. Nzinga died on December 17, 1663, and was succeeded by her sister Barbara.

The post Queens And Kings In Africa appeared first on WeAfrique.

Here are the greatest and most powerful militaries in ancient Africa, their fighting techniques, the wars they fought, and how long they lasted.

Most Powerful Military In Ancient Times in Africa

1. Aksumite Military

The Aksumite military was one of the most powerful militaries in the ancient world, not only in Africa. It was compared to the Roman soldiers of its time and was also one of the four great powers of the 3rd century, alongside Rome, China, and Persia.

The Aksumite military belonged to the Kingdom of Aksum, also known as the Axum Kingdom, which was located in present-day northern Ethiopia, Eritrea, northern Djibouti, eastern Sudan, and Yemen.

The kingdom’s military was divided into Sarawit groups, each of which was controlled by a general called a Nagast. The lowest army at the time was about 3,000 soldiers.

The Aksumite military fought many battles and made great use of animals such as donkeys to transport items to the battlefields, and camels in desert warfare. They also reportedly used elephants in battle.

One of the major territories that the Aksumite military conquered was the powerful Kingdom of Kush in 350 CE. Despite the victories that the kingdom enjoyed for many years, the military was weakened and the Kingdom of Aksum fell around 960 CE when it was defeated by a Jewish queen named Yodit, also known as Judith.

2. Military of Ancient Nubia

The Nubian military was responsible for the wars of Nubia, a region in southern Egypt, and was the seat of African kingdoms such as Kerma, Kush, Nobatia, Makuria, and Alodia.

It was famous for using anciently sophisticated bronze weapons such as swords, axes, spears, armor, and archery. The army also made extensive use of war elephants and siege engines, which contributed to their conquering nations and kingdoms.

The military had a large cavalry, and archers formed the major part of its army.

In the Nubian Kingdom, the Kerma Kingdom or Kerma culture was so strong that its soldiers were sometimes employed by other kingdoms. The military also became instrumental in making the Egyptian state a military power.

By 1000 BC, about 500 years after the end of Kerma, another kingdom called Kush started in Nubia. The Kushite army was one of the strongest and most tactical. It conquered Egypt and formed the 25th dynasty from 744 to 656 BC.

The army was responsible for fighting some major wars with Rome. Some of its most successful fights included defeating three Roman cohorts. Some of the most notable warriors and leaders of the kingdom are King Taharqa and Queen Amanirenas, who became the first African ruler to defeat the legendary Caesar Augustus.

3. The Carthaginian Military

It was one of the largest militaries in the ancient world, consisting of a strong army and navy. The Carthaginian military was active from 550 BC, when Mago I of Carthage became ruler.

In its earliest days, the army comprised about 24,000 infantry, 4,000 cavalry, and 300 war elephants, which were mostly used alongside siege engines, skirmishers, heavy cavalry, and chariots during wars.

The military, which comprised light and heavy infantry, faced defeats in its earliest days, but it quickly reformed and recruited more mercenaries, including Spartan captain Xanthippus, who helped to introduce new skills and more advanced military techniques.

The Carthaginian army was responsible for destroying a number of great Roman armies, including those of the Romans themselves.

Some of their notable fights include their battles with the Greeks for control of the island of Sicily. One of their major fighting skills, the rectangular mass military formation known as the phalanx, was adopted from the Greeks.

Although many commanders rose through the ranks of the military, Hannibal was its most famous military ruler, in 146 BC, while Hamilcar was another notable commander.

See Also: 7 Female Warriors Who Led African Empires and Armies

4. Songhai Military

Songhai had one of the largest and strongest African soldiers of ancient times. The soldiers were of the Songhai empire which is found in West Africa in present-day Niger, Mali, Mauritania, Senegal, Nigeria, Guinea, Gambia, southern Algeria, Burkina-Faso, and Ivory Coast.

The Songhai military had 12,500 cavalry of mounted knights and about 30,000 infantry soldiers, which included freemen and captives. It became the largest military in Africa after the fall of the Mali Empire.

The military became the largest in Africa after the fall of the Mali Empire. It was also known for using armor such as chain mail and helmets similar to those of medieval European armies. Other arsenals used by the ancient military include swords, arrows, and copper or leather shields.

The army was responsible for a major war victory over Timbuktu, which later became the second most important city in Songhai. It also defeated the Dogon and Fulani in the hills of Bandiagara.

Songhai’s military prowess began to decline in the late 16th century. By 1583, the empire had split in two, and the military was further weakened when the Moroccan army invaded Songhai with modern weapons, including guns.

5. Mandakalu Military

The military of the great Mali Empire contributed to how vast the Mali Empire gained ground in Africa. Mali was one of the greatest Empires in Africa and it spread across many parts of West Africa in modern-day Mali, Senegal, southern Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Ivory Coast, the Gambia, northern Burkina Faso, and Ghana.

Mali’s military was capable of 100,000 regular armies.

The Mali Empire’s military adopted a great part of the Mandinka culture such as blacksmithing which contributed to their having great iron weapons such as lances, sabers, long chains and swords; and iron helmets. They also adopted the use of poisonous spears against their opponents.

The army which had Farima-Soura and Sankaran-Zouma as leaders and operated from 1230 to 1610 fought opponents such as Songhai, Jolof, Mossi, Tuareg, and Fula.

It is mostly remembered for its role in the Battle of Kirina which is also known as the Battle of Krina or Siege of Karina. The war dates as far back as 1235 and it was between the Sosso Empire king Sumanguru Kante and Mandinka prince Sundiata Keita.

The fight became a national epic for Mali as well as its military. It also marked the beginning of the Mali Empire. At the time of Mansa Abubakari I, conquered the ancient state of Tekrour before it enjoyed great peace and wealth in the next century before it was met by violence that started to reduce the strength of the army.

In its last days, it struggled in the fight against the Portuguese and was later largely defeated. According to a number of accounts, Mali may have had good native weapons but were crumbled for lack of gunpowder.

The military and empire received their last defeat in the 17th century and the empire was destroyed by the Bambara.

6. Dahomey Amazon

Also known as Dahomey Mino, Agojie, Agoji, or Minon, these African warriors were an all-female military regiment of the Dahomey Kingdom in present-day Benin in West Africa.

They existed from the 1600s to the late 1800s and are among the few documented female armies in history.

The women soldiers started their existence when the kingdom suffered several attacks and their male soldiers were highly injured while others were killed.

These women soldiers who called themselves “ahosi” which means the king’s wives had to go through rigorous training and in their early days were between 1,000 and 6,000.

Dahomey Amazon had different regiments ranging from huntresses to riflewomen, reapers, archers, and gunners.

They fought using hand-to-hand technique and conquered several lands until their glory started to diminish after they were heavily defeated by Abeokuta warriors.

Subsequently, they engaged in the First Franco-Dahomean War in the 19th century with France when their territory was invaded by the French. Although it has been recorded that their hand-to-hand fight was remarkable, the French had more weapons and the Amazon faced defeat with many of them killed.

Also in the second Franco-Dahomean War, the Dahomey Amazon faced a more brutal defeat, and by 1894, they disbanded and Dahomey became a French protectorate.

In the present time, the African warriors, Dahomey Amazon have been depicted in many literary works. One of the most popular is a Hollywood film, The Woman King, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood and featuring Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, and John Boyega.

7. Zulu Military

The Zulu military remains one of the most recorded and great militaries in Africa’s history. They were the soldiers of the Zulu Kingdom in southern Africa and the most popular in the region.

The kingdom started as a very small one until a warrior named Shaka became a ruler. He then led the small kingdom to many fights and mostly came out victorious.

With many of the Zulu military victories, their kingdom expanded and more warriors were recruited. The military was known for its strong fighting spirit and was divided into regiments starting from young boys at the early age of 6 to commanders.

The soldiers were said to have received rigorous training and may be killed whenever they failed at wars, objected to some of Shaka’s rulings, or even lost sound. This contributed to how fierce the Zulu military became.

The military was famous for using heavy-bladed and short-shafted stabbing bears while many tribes at the time used long spindly throwing spears. They also used heavier cowhide shields called isihlangu.

Their most used fighting method was hand-to-hand combat while stabbing their enemies with a stabbing spear called ikiwa. They also attack their enemies using a long spear as well as a hardwood known as iwisa which was used for beating enemies.

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This article will look at some of the greatest lies that have been told about Africa and Africans by the Europeans.

5 Greatest Lies Told About Africa

1. Africans Sold Their Own During Slave Trade

This is a common misconception about Africans. Although Africans share the same skin color, they do not identify themselves with that, instead, they identify with people with whom they share the same language or culture. That is what this means when it is argued that Africans never sold their own.

Africans never sold people they shared the same language or culture with. Most slaves sold by Africans into slavery were prisoners of war or kidnapped people from neighboring cities or political enemies.

Before the emergence of the trans-Atlantic slave trade, Africans were already buying and selling slaves and these slaves were used on farms and in their homes. The trade grew at the time when Africans were constantly at war with each other, taking prisoners and exchanging them for weapons.

The pawnshop was a common practice in West Africa before the coming of the Europeans. This is also known as debt or bondage slavery. It involved the use of people as collateral for a debt. After the introduction of the slave trade into the continent, these pawns were then sold to the Europeans.

The people who did the exchange did not know the level of brutality and inhumanity of the treatment these slaves got from their slave masters across the Atlantic. If they did, the trade wouldn’t have lasted as long as it did.

See Also: 10 African Slaves Who Became Legendary

2. Africa is a Dark Continent

The term “Dark Continent” was coined by Welsh explorer, Henry Morton Stanley after he named his book about his exploration of Africa, “Through the Dark Continent”. Over time, many people used the term to describe the continent.

Although there are different ways the above statement can be translated, while some see it as talking about skin color, we will be seeing it from the angle of Africa having no notable history before the coming of the white people.

Interestingly, anthropologists and modern science have confirmed that Africans are the oldest race in the world, it has also been proven that Africa had functioning systems before the coming of the Europeans. These ancient civilizations spread across the Maghreb and the Sahel. Some of these precolonial states include Kemet, Ajuran Empire, Bachwezi Empire, Buganda Kingdom, and Dagbon Kingdom.

The existence of these civilizations has been backed by findings of archeologists and anthropologists which prove they existed even before the Europeans came, which dismisses the lie that Africa had no history before the coming of the white people.

Today the continent can be referred to as the cradle of civilization and humanity.

3. Egypt is the Oldest Civilization in Africa

While it is an early and one of the oldest civilizations in Africa, Egypt is not the oldest civilization in Africa. The oldest civilization in Africa is the Nubian Kingdom of Ta-seti. It existed before Ancient Egypt.

This Nubian kingdom was known as the “Land of the Bow” which was their weapon. Ta-seti became the most powerful kingdom in the Nile region during the Naqada Period of Egyptian History.

Findings suggest that the Nubians already had their Dynasty, while Egypt was unified by Narmer. This further proves that this kingdom existed before the Egyptian civilization and that it was the model for it.

Its monarchy was established before 3800 BCE, providing the template for Egyptian royalty after Upper and Lower Egypt became united under one dynasty, also known as Kemet.

Unfortunately, this kingdom was given little to no attention. Readings have been discovered beneath the sand by archeologists which include bases of pyramids, burial mounds, and tombs, which were unique to Nubia.

4. Africa Had no Military Tactics Before the Coming of the Europeans

The above statement is not only false but a total drift from actuality. Africa has one of the oldest militaries in the world. One of these was the Ancient Egyptian and Nubian armies and the Aksumite army. These armies were compared to the Roman army and other world powers during those times.

Although they did not have sophisticated weapons like the world powers, they had quite a reputation when it came to archery. It was said that they could target the eye of an opponent during a battle.

Weapons of these ancient armies ranged from simple bows and arrows to daggers, spears, and axes. The tactics of these ancient militaries include building fortresses and digging deep ditches around these ditches.

The Egyptian army was famous for its use of horse-drawn chariots in warfare, and subsequently, fighting off the invasion of Babylonians, Assyrians, and Persians.

Other armies like the Umayyads, Abbasids, Fatimids, Mamluks, and Ottomans consolidated the strength of North Africa. Similarly, Ethiopian soldiers defeated the Italians at the Battle of Adwa, during the first Italo-Ethiopian wars without having weapons as sophisticated as that of their enemies.

Similarly, the Zulu army was known for its extremely good warriors, who performed with utmost determination in whatever kind of war and with whomever. They were also famous for using a spy system, where they had a working system for obtaining and transmitting intelligence reports from their places of posting. Their abilities in battle were recognized by the Europeans who referred to them as the “Horns and the Bulls”.

So the next time someone tells you Africa had no military tactics, ask them to read about some of the early wars fought on the continent.

5. Africans Never Sailed the Sea

It has been recorded that before the trans-Atlantic slave trade, Africans attempted to sail the Atlantic Ocean. Mansa Musa, the revered king of the Mali Empire revealed that his predecessor, Mansa Abu Bakr II, led a fleet in an attempt to sail across the Atlantic Ocean.

In 1312, Mansa Abu Bakr II equipped 2000 ships and filled them with skilled men, gold, water, and food to last for several years, but they never returned.

Mansa Musa told his story in 1324, when he was traveling to Mecca for Hajj, and stayed briefly in Cairo.

Historians state that this hypothesis could mean that Africans beat the Europeans to the Americas. Ivan Van Sertima’s thesis titled “They Came Before Columbus” cited stories told by oral historians called Griots, who claimed that Mansa Abu Bakr II passed the throne to Mansa Mousa, before setting sail across the Atlantic.

Historians who support this theory state that the expedition was not spoken about because the Griots found the abandonment of his throne dishonorable. They believed that he might have reached the Americas. Others think that Abu Bakr II settled and established a colony in Brazil, which he named Bourne Bambouk. It was said to have been located near present-day Recife, in Pernambuco, Brazil.

The post 5 Greatest Lies Told About Africa appeared first on WeAfrique.

In this article, we will take a look at the Most Evil Men In Africa’s History. These people committed many atrocities against the human race and have been considered some of the evilest people Africa has ever seen.

1. Idi Amin Dada

Also known as the Butcher of Uganda, Kijambiya, or Black Hitler, Idi Amin Dada Oumee was a Ugandan dictator and warlord who served as the country’s third president. Due to the fact that he did not authorize the writing of an official account of his life, his date of birth is not known. However, he was said to have been born between 1923 to 1928.

He overthrew the Ugandan president, Milton Obote via a military coup in 1971, while he was attending a commonwealth summit in Singapore. During his reign as president of Uganda, Idi Amin earned the nickname “Butcher of Uganda” due to his brutality. It is believed that no fewer than 300,000 people including political rivals, farmers, religious leaders, and even children,  lost their lives at the time.

Additionally, this Ugandan president was accused of cannibalism. It was said that he kept the bodies of his victims in a refrigerator, from which he feasted. Similarly, he had an underground prison with a torture chamber where he ousted his victims.

This Ugandan president woke up one morning and decided he didn’t want any Asians in his country anymore, so he gave them an ultimatum of 90 days to leave the country or face his wrath. Out of fear, these Asians left everything they had, which his men then took.

Idi Amin was also known for his mood swings, he killed a lot of people, especially employees. It was said that one of his employees found out about his death on the radio after his principal had decided to kill him.

Even his wives were not exempted from his killing spree. He killed his fourth wife one year after their divorce for being disloyal to him. She was mutilated while he was four months pregnant with another man’s child.

As president, his official title was

“His Excellency, President for Life, Field Marshall, Alhaji Doctor Idi Amin Dada, VC, DSO, MC, Lord of All the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Sea and Conqueror of  the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular”

Idi Amin had 6 wives and over 40 children. he was ousted in 1978, and he fled to Saudi Arabia, where he died of multiple organ failures in 2003.

2. Jean-Bedel Bokassa

Born on 22 February 1921, this evil African leader was nicknamed “the butcher of Bangui”. He became the president of the Central African Republic on January 1, 1966. His regime was supported by the French military and economic aid.

Bokassa declared himself president for life in 1972 and began to kill anyone who opposed him. This African leader went on to declare his country an Empire and renamed it as Central African Empire. His office became the office of the Emperor and himself, Emperor Bokassa I.

His rein in CAR was characterized by brutality. He ordered that all schoolchildren purchase uniforms that were only made by the factory his wife owned. This led to protests by the schoolchildren, and in return, Bokassa ordered the arrest, imprisonment, and killing of the protesters. Over 100 children were killed.

This evil leader was also a cannibal who ate the bodies of victims of his brutality. Bodies were discovered in his freezers shortly after he was overthrown as Emperor. Some of the bodies including that of children were disemboweled and mutilated.

Bokassa ordered that thieves should lose an ear after the first two offenses, and a har for the third. He also supervised the torture of his victims and fed them to lions and crocodiles

He was overthrown in 1979 and went into exile in France. Subsequently, in the 1980s his children were arrested for shoplifting food. The overthrown president returned to the Central  African Republic in 1986 where he was tried and convicted of murder, cannibalism, assault, and treason, among other crimes. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in solitary confinement. His sentence was then reduced to 20 years, from which he was pardoned in 1993. Bokassa died at the age of 75, from a heart attack in 1996.

3. Jean Kambanda

The Rwandan genocide is infamous for the deaths of over 800,000 people, but what many do not know is who took responsibility for these deaths. Jean Kambanda is the only Rwandan leader to plead guilty for the massacre that lasted between April to July 1994.

He was born on October 19, 1955, in Huye, Rwanda. Jean became the Prime minister of Rwanda in 1994 and it was during his tenure that the infamous Rwandan genocide occurred.

The Rwandan prime minister was arrested and charged to the International Criminal Tribunal, where he was sentenced to life imprisonment for genocide, agreement to commit genocide, incitement to genocide, aiding and abetting genocide, failing to prevent genocide, and two counts of crimes against humanity.

In an appeal, he said though he confessed to being responsible, he was not guilty, and his confession was an error due to poor counsel. He was sentenced to life imprisonment  in 1998

4. Muammar Ghaddafi

This Libyan revolutionary, politician, and former president was born in 1942. He ruled Libya between 1969 to 2011. During this time, the Libyan economy blossomed. He demanded that the oil companies in Libya pay a bigger share of the revenue to the country. Gadaffi is famous for having female bodyguards.

Despite the increase, he brought to this country, he was a brutal leader, which earned him the nickname “Mad Dog of the Middle East”. He was accused of being the brain behind the bombing of the West Berlin dance clubs that killed a lot of people.

The former Libyan leader was also accused of sex crimes. It was said that he raped hundreds of teenagers in sex dungeons that were built specifically for that purpose. These sex dungeons were equipped with medical gadgets for examination for sexually transmitted diseases.

He was charged with two counts of crimes against humanity but was terminated in November 2011, after he was shot and killed by a rebel group.

See Also: 10 Shocking Beauty Practices Across Africa

5. Charles Taylor

Taylor was born in a small town near Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, on January 28, 1948. He became the president of Liberia in 1997, until his resignation in 2003.

He became one of the most powerful warlords in Africa’s history after the first Liberian civil war. Subsequently, he was in charge of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia, a revolting group that killed more than 200,000 Liberians.

Charles Taylor was accused of aiding the Revolutionary United Front with weapon sales in exchange for blood diamonds, which led to the death of over 50,000 people. Other crimes committed by this African leader included murder, mutilation, rape, and the conscription of children into the army.

Due to a lot of pressure from the international community, Charles Taylor was sentenced to 50 years in prison for different crimes, including war crimes, he committed while he was president.

6. Ahmed Sekou Toure

This African leader was born on January 9, 1922, in French Guinea. He became the first president of the independent republic of Guinea in October 1958, after serving in many unions in the country.

His tenure was characterized by human rights oppression and brutality. The fear of his wrath led a lot of indigenes of the country to flee for fear of being arrested and kept in prison camps. He executed anyone who dared oppose his government.

In 1958, he ordered the execution of 58 people for their involvement in an unsuccessful coup against his government. Toure died in March 1984, in Cleveland while undergoing treatment for cardiac issues.

7. Francisco Macias Nguema

Born on January 1, 1924, Francisco Nguema is considered one of the most brutal and evil dictators in Africa’s history. He came to office as the president of Equatorial Guinea in 1968. Nguema was the first president of the country following its independence.

He consolidated power by establishing an extreme cult system. He held anti-European speeches and killed whoever he perceived was against him, including his cabinet members and senior officials.

Nguema once ordered the killing of 186 suspected dissidents in a national stadium, while playing Mary Hopkins’ song, Those were the days. 150 of them were shot and hanged, while the remaining 36 were made to dig their graves, buried up to their necks, and eaten alive by red ants.

Nguema was rumored to have had a mental illness which was partly responsible for his action. Additionally, he was said to be an abuser of drugs and other illicit substances.

This evil leader once ordered the killing of an entire village, because of one person he thought was opposing his government. Male prisoners were beaten to death with wooden clubs, while females were subjected to sexual abuse, sometimes, in the presence of their husbands.

Nguema was executed by hired firing squad in September 1979, after his nephew Teodoro Nguema came to power via a coup. The Equatoguinean soldiers refused to shoot him after he promised that his ghost would come back and take revenge on those who killed him.

8. Joseph Rao Kony

It seems as though Uganda has had its share of evil leaders in the past. This Ugandan leader is one of the evilest men in history. He was born in 1961 and rose to become the founder and leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army, a religious group that has been designated a terrorist group by the United Nations Peacekeepers and the European Union among other international organizations.

Through his organization, Kony has been involved with the conscription of minors into the army and has been responsible for the deaths of over 100,00 and the abduction of at least 60,000 children. Other crimes committed by this evil man include sexual abuse and other crimes against humanity. He is also responsible for the displacement of over 2 million people.

Kony describes himself as a freedom fighter, fighting for the Christian faith in Uganda, but his actions seem far from it. He is currently one of the most wanted African militants and one of the most notorious warlords. He is said to have up to 60 wives and 42 children.

9. Joshua Miltton Blahyi

This African warlord is also called “General Butt Naked”. He was famous for going into battle naked wearing nothing except shoes and magic charms. But what was the logic behind that? it was revealed that at the age of 11, he was initiated as a high priest after being handed over to the elders at the age of 7.

Blahyi believed that going to battle naked made him immune to bullets. During wars, the warlord and his troops perpetrated all kinds of atrocities, including cannibalism and human sacrifices.

He claimed that he received a vision from the devil who told him he would become a great warrior and that by committing these atrocities, his powers would increase. General Butt Naked revealed that sometimes he would enter the water where children were playing, grab one and break his/her neck, other times he would cause accidents or just slaughter them, just in a bid to be more powerful. He would kill children, pluck out the heart, and eat it.

In 1996, Blahyi claimed he saw Jesus Christ who asked him to stop being a slave. With that, he converted to Christianity and became a preacher of the gospel. He confessed to the murders of at least 20,000 people after his conversion, at the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

10. Bosco Ntaganda

This Rwandan warlord and the criminal was a former military chief of staff. He was born on November 5, 1973. He joined the Patriotic Forces for the Liberation of Congo, the military wing of the Union of Congolese Patriots, where he became its chief of military operations.

Ntaganda was involved in countless massacres, conscripting minors into the military, and other crimes against humanity Ntaganda told the underaged soldiers

When you’re a solider, you get a woman for free. Everything is free.

In 2006, he was charged with war crimes of enlisting children below the age of 15 and using them to participate in hostilities between 2002 and 2003. A warrant for his arrest was issued. However, the court ruled that circumstances had changed and unsealed the warrant.

In March, the Rwandan warlord handed himself to the US embassy in Rwanda and requested that his case should be transferred to the International Criminal Court in the Hague. He pleaded not guilty to the 18-count charge leveled against him including rape, murder, and sexual slavery.

Subsequently, he was convicted of all crimes and sentenced to 30 years imprisonment in 2019. The longest prison sentence by the ICC. It was also ruled that his victims should be compensated with $ 30 million, the highest amount ever awarded.

The post 10 Most Evil Men In Africa’s History appeared first on WeAfrique.

Some of these wars led to the birth of new nations while others brought liberatio. Even though many centuries have passed since these major wars and stories of these horrors have been told from one generation to another, conflict still remains Africa’s biggest challenge.

Here are the 10 Deadliest African Wars

1. The Second Congo War

Also called the Great War of Africa the second Congo War officially began in 1998 about 15 months after the first Congo war ended. What started as a dispute between then-President Laurent Kabila and countries like Angola, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi which enabled him to overthrow the former president Mobutu Sese Seko turned out to be a disaster that lasted until 2003.

History reveals that President Kabila ended his relationship with his allies upon his victory and dismissed them from their official duties. Some of them who had settled in Congo were asked to leave the country. Consequently, this escalated into a civil war between the armies of 5 countries such as Zimbabwe, Namibia, Angola, Chad, and Sudan who were for Kabila, and 4 troops from Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi who were against him.

This recorded the massive destruction of lives and properties, it also saw mass rapes and the extraction of natural resources from the Republic of Congo. For the worst, at least 3 million people were killed consisting of mostly civilians. This became the highest war death rate after World War II. Some of these deaths were also linked to disease and malnutrition from the war.

2. Rwanda Genocide

This remains the only genocide recorded in the history of Africa. The two main force of the fight was the major ethnic group of Rwanda – Hutus and the minor ethnic group – Tutsis.

The deliberate attack by the Hutu escalated after the death of the Hutu president Habyarimana whose plane was shot down by suspected Tutsis’. However, this was denied by the latter who claimed that the Hutu extremist killed their president in order to launch their long-planned attack against them.

Without further investigations, the Hutus began a 100-day open genocide which resulted in the death of 80000 people that were mostly of the Titus community.  It is stated this period saw neighbors fight against neighbors and couples against each other until the intervention of the Rwanda Patriotic Front and Uganda army who visited Kigali – the capital city of Rwanda and defeated the Hutus.

3. The Somali Civil War

This became one of the deadliest wars in Africa as it even stood against the efforts made by the United States. The war sparked after the removal of Mohammed Siad Barre from his presidential rule over the Somali Democratic Republic.

Consequently, the country was divided into two opposing parties who were both fighting for power and authority. On one hand, was the Somali National Movement in the North, and on the other was the United Somali Congress in the South.

Following the frustration to control of both parties, the United Nations and the United States intervened with military efforts and humanitarian aid albeit, they withdrew in 1994 as both parties were not willing to surrender or retreat.

The conflict between the parties saw the deaths of over 3 million civilians and at least a million displaced people.

Read Also: 7 Female Warriors Who Led African Empires and Armies

4. Nigerian Civil War

Many Nigerians may not recall the heat of 1967 however, the Igbo of the southern part of Nigeria would never forget a time like that and have passed the waves of this conflict from one generation to another.

From the story, the Igbo people formed an independent state called Biafran as they feared that the oppressive military government of Nigeria would deprive them of development. The group was officially declared independent in 1967 by its leader Officer Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.

As expected, this was perceived as an act of treason by the Federal Military Government of Nigeria which deployed several means of keeping them under control but things went south as war broke out between the Nigerian military and Biafra forces.

A few months into the war, Biafrans were outnumbered and lost their capital city Enugu. In 1968, they lost their oil-generating revenues in Port Harcourt.

More than the bullets and bombs from the Nigerian Militaries, hunger spread like wildfire and killed over a million Biafrans.

Nonetheless, they continued to send out armies from their hideouts until their second capital state  Owerri was defeated leading to the escape of their leader Ojukwu to the Ivory Coast in 1970 as well as their surrender 4 days later.

5. The Second Sudanese War

In the history of Africa, the Second Sudanese War remains the longest civil war to be recorded spanning over 2 decades from 1983 to 2005. It is thought to be the continuation of the first Sudanese Civil War which started in 1955 and saw its end in 1972.

However, with the start of the second war between the Sudanese Government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, it’s obvious that the first war never ended.

Following the war, the lives of about 2 million people were claimed and some deaths were linked to starvation and disease. Millions of people were left displaced and over 500 fled to neighboring countries to find refuge.

Though the war left many Sudanese in pain, it also gave birth to hope when South Sudan gained her independence six years later.

6. Eritrean-Ethiopian Border War

This war is also known as the Badme War. The violent conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea started on May 6, 1998, following disputes over the border town known as Badme. The neighboring countries fought for this course for about two years which saw over 80 thousand people lose their lives and the displacement of communities.

Two years later in 2000, they signed a peace agreement and established a border commission to resolve the issue. However, this only lasted for a few months before conflict sparked again and sustained for two decades.

7. Mozambique Civil War

The civil war between the ruling Mozambique government and the Mozambique Resistance Movement (RENAMO) began in 1977 two years after Mozambique gained her independence from Portugal.

The rebel group was reportedly founded and financed by foreign nations such as Rhodesia and South Africa and was aimed at establishing a socialist one-party state against the opinions of the Mozambique government.

The fierceness of the war was the death of about 1 million people and 500 others from starvation in their hideouts. From the records, at least 5 million civilians were left displaced as their economy was decimated.

The Mozambique war ended in 1992 and two years later, the country held its first multiparty election with RENAMO as a political party.

8. The Sierra Leone Civil War

From 1991 until 2002, the government of Sierra Leone recorded an intense battle with the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) which was greatly supported by special forces of Charles Taylor’s National Patriotic Front of Liberia.

The war was an attempt to overthrow the Joseph Momoh government and control the diamond mines which reportedly crippled the economy and triggered the war.

This war lasted for 11 years until the British government military intervened and suppressed the rebel group. Prior to this, the lives of over 300 thousand people were claimed and over a million people were displaced.

9. The Lord’s Resistance Army Insurgence

This war was led by one of history’s brutal warlords Joseph Kony. He was also the leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army which waged war against the people of northern Uganda and neighboring countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Central African Republic (CAR), and Southern Sudan.

The rebel group was first initiated against Yoweri Museveni’s government after he seized power from the northern president Tito Okello in 1986. The group soon went to become a threat to humanity and the entire nation of Uganda. The group was driven by their aim of establishing a new government based on the Ten Commandments.

The violence created by the group resulted in millions of deaths and displacements of about 2 million people. It’s recorded that they also forced young children to serve in armies and others as sex slaves.

Despite efforts made by the Uganda government to end the hostilities through peace talks and even enforcement of military powers, they are still been terrorized by the group.

10. Central African Republic War

Since 2012, waves of conflicts between the Central African Republic and the Seleka rebel group have been recurring leading to massive deaths and destruction. To a large extent, many have fled to neighboring countries while others have been left displaced with no access to food and health care units. According to reports, water sources such as dams and rivers have been contaminated by dead bodies and are not usable.

The war started after the ruling government was accused by the rebels of not upholding peace agreements and forcibly seized power from then-president Francois Bozize.

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There are many interesting facts about Zimbabwe that make it stand out like its beautiful scenery, natural resources, and culture, and as the Guinness record breaker for having the most official languages in 2013.

Did You Know These Intriguing Facts About Zimbabwe?

1. It Forms the Four Corners of Africa-Kazungula Quadripoint

This rare occurrence is the description of the point where the four countries of Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, and Namibia meet. This rare occurrence which is the only one in the world is also known as an international quadripoint.

Like its neighboring countries, they all meet on the Zambezi River.

2. It Broke the Guinness World Record for Having the Most Official languages in  2013

While most countries in Africa adopted the languages of their former colonial masters as official languages to be used in communication and speech, Zimbabwe chose English and 15 of its indigenous languages.

Aside from English, other official languages include Chewa, Shona, Ndebele, Chibarwa, Kalanga, Koi-san, Ndau, Sotho, Tswana, Venda, Nambya, Shangani, Tonga, Xhosa, and sign language. Out of these languages, more than 70% speak Shona. Also, due to the large coverage that these languages enjoyed, Zimbabwe broke the Guinness Record for most official languages in 2013 ahead of countries like South Africa, India, and Bolivia.

However, this record was broken by Bolivia with its 37 official languages in 2022. Regardless of this, Zimbabweans still enjoy using many official languages.

Moreso, there are many other Guinness world records held by Zimbabweans including Marimba dancing and the issuing of highest denomination notes.

3. Zimbabwe is Home to 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites

This landlocked southern African country is truly a ‘land of beauty’ not only for its natural resources but also for its rich cultural heritage. It has five UNESCO sites and these are Great Zimbabwe National Monuments, Khami Ruins, Matobo Hills, Victoria Falls, and Mana Pools.

Aside from being a heritage site, they are national monuments that tell the stories of people who lived in the area. Sites like Great Zimbabwe which the country takes its name from one of Africa’s architectural wonders done by the Shona people. It was made a cultural site in 1986 due to the role it played in the area and the world at large. The other two cultural sites are the Matobo Hills and the Khami Ruins. Like Great Zimbabwe, the Khami Ruins is a stone complex that was once the center of the Butua state.

The imposing Matobo Hills is not only a heritage site but it is also a place of religious significance as many see it as an ancestral shrine. Locals believe that they can get requests such as rain, marriage, and children after visiting. Another attraction to the site is to visit the resting place of Cecil Rhodes, a former colonialist, and De Beers founder. Aside from this, the rock art found on the hills dates back thousands of years.

The other two sites, Victoria Falls and Mana Pools have been described as gifts of nature due to their magnificence and value.

4. The Zimbabwean 100 Trillion Dollars Note is One of the Highest Denominations Ever Printed

At independence in 1980, Zimbabwe adopted the Zimbabwean dollar to replace the Rhodesian dollar. However, the years following that saw the redenomination or changing of the currencies’ values in 2005, 2008, and 2009 due to inflation and poor monetary policy.

Notably, the 2008 redenomination introduced 100 trillion Zimbabwean dollars, one of the highest denomination notes in the world. While such a high denomination may allow one to buy a lot of commodities in other stable economies, the 100 trillion Zimbabwean dollars led to more problems such that one could only buy two loaves of bread and a few pieces of egg. Also, the effect led to the abandonment of the Zimbabwean dollar in 2009.

As you would easily find, the country still has an unstable currency and this has led to the adoption of other international currencies such as the  South African rand and the US dollar. Interestingly, the worthless denomination is now valuable to currency collectors.

5. A Must-Visit Destination for a Safari Trip

As home to 11 national parks, Zimbabwe is one of the tourist destinations for an unforgettable safari trip. Of these numbers, Hwange is the largest and most famous. Other safari destinations in the country include the Matobo, Mana Pools, and Matusadona National Parks.

Notably, the big 5 animals, lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, and buffalo are found in these parks. In fact, outside Botswana, the next biggest population of elephants is found in Zimbabwe. While the government protects 12% of the surface land most of which is covered by the national parks, there are other fascinating spots like Victoria Falls that are a must-visit.

6. The Two-toed Vadoma People are Found in Zimbabwe

Also known as the Ostrich people, the Vadoma people only have two toes. The absence of three middle toes makes them have unique two toes. Such an enormous toe which makes them stand out is caused by ectrodactyly or the lobster syndrome.

Much scientific explanation points to a mutation in chromosome number 7. and is known to be found in other parts of the world. Nonetheless, that of the Vadoma people has not been fully explained by scientists and it continues to be passed from generation to generation. This has led to limitations in how they relate with other groups. It is said that they are not allowed to marry outside their tribe to prevent the spread of the condition.

Despite the inability of science to explain the high occurrence among the Ostrich people, the Vadoma explain it according to local myth. It is said that they are descendants of ancestors that lived in Boabab trees and their relationship with earthly women affected their DNA.

7. Zimbabwe Has One of The Most Literate Populations in Africa

When it comes to education, Zimbabwe is one country that is serious about having a literate human capital. According to statistics, the literacy rate in the country is above 80% which means many people over the age of 15 can read and write. While there are other countries like Seychelles with literacy rates of over 90%, the Southern African nation is among the top ten on the continent.

8. It is Said to Be The Biblical Location of Ophir

The foundations of this modern African country may be traced to British colonializations, yet, there are speculations of its being the location of Ophir, an ancient land where King Solomon got precious items like gold and ivory.

While this may be mere speculation, the country has a History of trading with other parts of the world such as Portugal, Asia, and Africa.

9. Lake Kariba is Home to the River god, Nyami Nyami

Aside from being the largest man-made lake in the world, Lake Kariba is a source of power generation. Aside from this, the lake which is owned by Zambia and Zimbabwe holds a spiritual significance to the Tonga people that lived on its shores for many years.

According to local myths, the river god, Nyami Nyami now lives in the water waiting for his wife, who is said to have been separated from him during the construction of the dam. Based on local myths, the separation made the river god so angry that he decided to avenge her by the flooding of the dam in 1958.

See Also: South Africa Has The Second Highest Official Language in Africa: 10 Fascinating Facts About The Country

10. Zimbabwe is the Leading Tobacco Producer in the Africa

The country is among the top ten tobacco producers in the world and grows about 25% of tobacco leaves on the continent. However,  only about 20% of Zimbabweans smoke tobacco, what then happens to the large produce gotten? It turns out most of it is shipped to other parts of the world.

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