Warlords like Idi Amin, Charles Taylor, and Muammar Qadhafi have been at the forefront of these known notorious leaders who have been aggressive in their dealings with their people and even outsiders. However, there are others that we would be looking at.

Here are Some of Africa’s Most Notorious Warlords

11. Bosco Ntanganda – Rwanda

This Rwandan warlord was nicknamed ‘The Terminator’ and was initially supposed to be a ‘warlord for rent’. He was conscripted to help overthrow the government led by the Hutu. Subsequently, after achieving his goal, he rose to the rank of head of the DRC military and went on to overthrow the government of Congo.

While he was in active service, Bosco was responsible for as many as 80,000 deaths and violated many human rights. When he was finally arrested and convicted, the war crimes charges against him were about 18.

On July 8, 2019, the Rwandan dictator and military head was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment by the International Criminal Court.

10. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo – Congo

Known to be the founder of the Union of Congolese Patriots, Thomas Lubanga Dyilo was the first person to be convicted by the ICC for a lot of atrocities ranging from murder, rape, ethnic massacres, and even child soldier recruits.

Thomas and the rebels who worked for him were responsible for over 60,000 deaths while his terror reign lasted. In addition to those, he was responsible for torturing and mutilating people.

He was arrested in March 2006 and his trial began on January 26, 2009, 3 years later. He was found guilty of the war crime of conscripting and enlisting children under the age of 15 as part of his atrocious activities. Thomas was to serve 30 years in prison.

in March 2020, after serving 14 years jail term, the former warlord was released from prison.

9. Joshua Blahyi – Liberia

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Popularly referred to as ‘General Butt Naked’ this military man began his military career in 1991 and throughout his few active years in service, he perpetuated a good number of atrocities. He is an evangelical preacher who is best known for the part he played during the First Liberian Civil War.

He was born on September 30, 1971, in Monrovia, Liberia, and by 1996  he converted to Christianity but this was after he led soldiers to fight on the side of the rebel group ULIMO.

Joshua is known as General Butt Naked because, in the civil war that broke out in 1989, he and his soldiers fought without clothing and in the process, carried out a lot of despicable acts which included child sacrifice and cannibalism.

Blahyi confessed to killing over 20,000 people during his reign as a warlord. He confessed to this in 2008 at the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission and this got him a lot of attention. However, he had repented at this time after claiming to have received a vision from Jesus.

8. Jean Kambanda – Rwanda

Born on October 19, 1955, Jean Kambanda of Rwanda was a politician, banker, and one-time prime minister. He was born in Huye, Rwanda.

While he served as prime minister, Rwanda witnessed a genocide that began in 1994 known as the Rwandan Genocide.

He has however remained the only head of state to confess and plead guilty to genocide. This confession was retracted but the retraction did not stand in court.

Kambanda was arrested on July 18, 1997, 3 years after the genocide started, in Nairobi. He was accused of several offenses against humanity which ranged from genocide and agreement to commit genocide, to incitement, and failure to prevent the genocide.

Kambanda was sentenced to life imprisonment on September 4, 1998, and has so far served 23 years in the Koulikoro Prison located in Mali.

7. Omar Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir – Sudan

This former Sudanese military officer was the first sitting head of state to be indicted by the ICC for allegedly instigating and directing a massacre, rape, and pillage of the citizens of Darfur.

He has been accused of overseeing the war in Darfur that caused the death of over 10,000 people. His reign as president saw the displacement of over 2.5 million people from Darfur due to guerrilla warfare.

In 2008, he was accused of crimes such as genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. Subsequently, in 2009  and 2010, warrants for his arrest were put out following his alleged crimes against humanity.

During this period, he was at large and resisted arrest.

Eventually, on April 11, 2019, al-Bashir was stripped of his position in the Sudanese Armed Forces and placed on house arrest but a few days later, he was moved to the capital’s Kobar Prison.

By May 13 of the same year, Omar al-Bashir was charged with participating in and inciting the killing of protesters. In the subsequent months, he faced trials for corruption and money laundering charges.

From then to 2020, this former warlord had been tried for many other crimes he committed even before he got into power.

Following fighting between the army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, there was a prison break at the Kobar Prison where he was held. Fears that Omar could be at large again, engulfed the Sudanese people but their fears were allayed by the military. It was revealed by the army that Omar al-Bashir was transferred from the prison to the army hospital. However, they failed to provide proof of this.

6. Gnassigbe Eyadema – Togo

He was the 3rd president of Togo and was born on December 26, 1935. His reign lasted from 1967 to 2005 and he was succeeded by his son Faure Gnassingbe. He held the title of the longest-serving leader in Africa until his death in 2005.

Gnassigbe was the leader of the coup that ousted President Sylvanus Olympio who was killed during the attack. It has been speculated that Eyadema who later ruled the country of Togo till his death, was the one who killed Sylvanus.

He is part of the top warlords Africa has seen given that he remained in leadership from 1967 till his death as no one could overthrow him. Even after his death, his son was installed and continued his legacy.

5. Jean-Bedel Bokassa – Central African Republic

He served as the 2nd president of the Central African Republic and the emperor of its successor state. Jean-Bedel was born on February 22, 1921, and saw World War II and the Indonesian war.

He first tasted power after being part of the coup in 1966. Bokassa was president of the CAE for 11 years and when he became Emperor, he served for 3 years.

He was overthrown in 1979 and went into exile. However, he was tried in absentia and sentenced to death. His crimes bordered on the murder of several political rivals. Upon his return to the CAE on October 24, 1986, Jean-Bedel was arrested and tried on 14 different counts including treason, murder, cannibalism, and embezzlement.

His sentence of death was revoked two years later and then eventually reduced to 20 years. However, after the installation of a democratic government, prisoners were granted pardons and released.

On November 3, 1996, Jean-Bedel Bokassa died of a heart attack in his Bangui home. He was 75 years old at the time of his death.

4. Joseph Rao Kony – Uganda

Joesph Rao Kony is infamous for his nefarious acts as a militant who founded a Christian fundamentalist organization the UN described as a terrorist group.

He led this rebel group insisting that he and his organization were fighting for the 10 Commandments. Believing himself to be a spirit medium, Kony recruited child soldiers and told them that the sign of the cross drawn on their chest with oil would prevent bullet penetration and evil spirits.

Kony and his Lord’s Resistance Army were accused of crimes such as the killing of over 100,000 people, abduction of about 60,000 children, rape of young girls, and abducting young females as s*x slaves.

In October 2006, the ICC stated that there was an arrest warrant for 5 of the LRA members comprising Joseph, his deputy, and other commanders. He and some of his members have been on the run since then.

For over 10 years, Kony and his soldiers were on the run from several governments including that of Uganda, the United States, and even the United Nations. However, following the surrender of Dominic Ongwen who was a key member of the LRA, the movement suffered a huge blow and loss.

By 2017, they stopped posing as a threat to the government of Uganda as their soldiers had reduced drastically.

3. Charles Taylor – Liberia

This former leader of Liberia was born Charles McArthur Taylor on January 28, 1948. He is one of the top African dictators who have a reputation for large numbers of massacred people.

He was the leader of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia which was a rebel group based in Ivory Coast. Under his watch, his group killed as many as 200,000 Liberians during the Liberian Civil War which lasted for about 7 years.

In 1985, he was charged with corrupt practices in the United States of America. However, this did not prevent his continuous desire to be president of Liberia.

At the end of the civil war in 1997, Charles Taylor was made the president of Liberia after he threatened that if he wasn’t made president, he would continue the war.

Another civil war broke out in 2003 and this saw the end of his rule as the leader of the country. He then went into exile but is currently serving time at the HM Prison Frankland after he was eventually caught.

His charges all bordered on crimes against humanity especially the massacre during the civil war.

2. Muammar Qadhafi – Libya

Quadhafi was the leader of Libya from 1969 till 2011 when a civil war that emanated from a protest, forced him to relinquish his power.

While he dominated the country, he possessed chemical weapons, allegedly supported terrorists, and was involved in the bombing of a Berlin dance hall that killed 3 people and injured many.

Accusations labeled against this warlord are quite numerous and he is also responsible for Libya going to war with countries such as Chad, Tanzania, and Egypt.

Muammar was accused of the 1988 Lockerbie bombing that claimed the lives of about 270 people whose plane exploded above Scotland.

He also faced accusations of providing Viagra-like medication to his soldiers. The aim of this was for the troops to rape women. When a revolution started against him, he directed the killings of civilians in order to curb the outreach.

Under Muammar Qadhafi’s dictatorship, Libyans and the world at large lived in great fear. His possession of chemical weapons posed a threat to a lot of countries. Also, he would forever be remembered as one of the most feared dictators to ever walk the earth.

He died on October 20, 2011, and the news of his death was met with different reactions. While former US president, Obama said it meant an end to tyranny in Libya, Prime Minister David Cameron hailed it stating it was a step towards a strong and democratic future for the country.

Read Also: Muammar Gaddafi Children: Who Are They And Where Are They Today?

1. Idi Amin – Uganda

Idi Amin rose to power after seizing it in 1971 and he remained in power for about 8 years. For the period he served as the ruler of Uganda, he earned himself the title ‘The Butcher of Uganda’ because of his brutal nature and acts.

Idi was responsible for the death of over 500,000 people throughout his rulership. Another activity this warlord can be remembered for is the evacuation of the Lango and Acholi people whom he was threatened by.

For years he bragged about defeating the British Empire after they closed their embassy in Uganda following his incessant oppression. With this, he declared himself ‘His Excellency, President forever, Field Marshal Al Hadji, Doctor Idi Amin Dada, VC DSO, MC Lord of All the Beasts of the World, Fishes of the Seas, and Victor of the British Empire in Africa generally and Uganda specifically.

Idi Amin died on August 16, 2003, after being in exile and on life support. His life support was unplugged on that day when his family decided to do so.

The post Most Notorious African Warlords appeared first on WeAfrique.

In plain English, she has a leader who isn’t royalty or from a traditional royal background, that has ruled for the longest period of time.

There are presidents who have served for over 4 decades and are still serving. Their rise to power came democratically although some of them have used many different means to hold on to power and not secede from their positions.

Let us look at some of these African presidents who have held the position for several years both concurrently and at separate times.

10. Paul Kagame – Rwanda (24 years)

Paul was a former military officer turned 4th and current president of Rwanda. He assumed the office of the presidency on April 22, 2000, and so far has ruled for 23 years.

Being born on October 23, 1957, he was 43 years old when he rose to the democratically elected presidential seat of Rwanda.

Rwanda’s Paul Kagame however, eyes another term in the seat as he has indicated an interest in contesting for the presidency once again during the country’s 2024 elections.

The 66-year-old president was preceded by Pasteur Bizimungu and so far has no successor until he loses an election or secedes power to another.

9. Omar al-Bashir – Sudan (26 years)

Omar al Bashir was born in 1944 and became the president of Sudan on October 16, 1993, at the age of 49.

His rule lasted until 2019 which puts his total number of years as president to 26 years, 285 days.

Omar al-Bashir took over power from Ahmed al-Mirghani and after he was disposed of, Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf took over the presidency on April 11, 2019.

8. Isaias Afwerki – Eritrea (31 years)

For as old as Eritrea’s independence from Ethiopia has been, so has Isaias’ presidency. He was born on February 2, 1946, and became the president of Eritrea at the age of 47 on May 19, 1993.

Eritrea known to be a one-party state has only ‘People’s Front for Democracy and Justice’ (PFDJ) as the only political party in the country and is the only party allowed to participate in the country’s politics.

The 76-year-old politician has been described, by scholars and historians, as a dictator as the country has no functioning constitution, elections, legislature, or published budget.

Isaias Afwerki has no predecessor and no successor yet.

7. Idriss Deby – Chad (30 years)

Idris was the president of Chad for a period of 30 years and 139 days. He was born on June 18, 1952, and passed away in 2021. He became the president of the country at the age of 38.

Before his death, he ruled the country known as Chad for a little over 3 decades after taking over power from Hissene Habre.

Following Idriss’ death while in action, his son, Mahamat Deby who was born in 1984, took over the leadership of Chad on October 10, 2022. He is still the reigning president of the country.

6. Robert Mugabe – Zimbabwe (30 years)

He is one of the top-longest-serving presidents of an African country. Mugabe was born on February 21, 1924, and became the president of Zimbabwe on December 31, 1987, at the age of 63.

Robert Mugabe served as the head of this southeastern African country from then to November 21, 2017, making his presidency tenure a month and a few days short of 30 years.

He resigned from his position following a Coup d’etat and was succeeded by Emmerson Mnangagwa who is still the president of Zimbabwe as of 2022.

Two years after Robert Mugabe’s resignation, he died from an illness that was so severe, he was unable to walk.

READ ALSO: Meet All The Presidents of Kenya- Their Deputies, Wives, Achievements

5. Yoweri Museveni – Uganda (38 years)

The president of Uganda as of 2022 is Yoweri Museveni who got into power on January 26, 1986. He was born on September 15, 1944, and first tasted power as president when he was 42 years old.

Yoweri is the 9th president of Uganda after the 8th, Tito Lutwa Okello relinquished power to him and went into exile in Kenya.

He has been in the presidential seat of Uganda for a period of 38 years.

4. Jose Eduardo dos Santos – Angola (38 years)

He was the president of Angola from 1979 to 2017 making his tenure a total of 38 years in office.

Jose Eduardo dos Santos was born on August 28, 1942, and became the president of Angola at the age of 37.

In 2017, he relinquished power to the current president of the country, Joao Lourenco who was chosen by the MPLA to succeed Jose Eduardo.

This former Angolan president was accused of leading one of the most corrupt regimes in Africa. He reportedly only focused on amassing wealth for himself and his family and ignored the deplorable state of the economic and social needs of his people.

3. Denis Sassou Nguesso – Republic of Congo (38 Non-concurrent years)

This Congolese politician is the 5th and 7th president of the Republic of the Congo. He was born on November 23, 1943, and became the president of the republic first in 1979.

Denis’ first term ended in 1992 and he is credited for introducing multiparty politics in the country in 1990.

Denis Sassou Nguesso, through his tenures, had 6 Prime Ministers, was preceded by Jean-Pierre Thystere Tchicaya, and succeeded by Pascal Lissouba.

He was appointed the provisional president of the Republic of Congo on February 8, 1979, and confirmed on March 31, 1979. From that year to 1991, Denis Sassou served 3 presidential terms in the Republic of Congo.

After 6 years of not being president, Sassou Nguesso regained power and the position of the president of the republic. He was sworn in as the President of the Republic of Congo on October 25, 1997. He was also re-elected as the president for a 3rd term in July 2009 after winning the votes with 78.61%.

In 2021, Denis was once again re-elected as the president of the republic making his accumulated years in power to be 36 years.

2. Paul Biya – Cameroon (41 years)

Paul Biya is the 2nd president of Cameroon who took over power from Ahmadou Ahidjo on November 6, 1982. He was born on February 13, 1933, and became the 1st Prime Minister of Cameroon on June 30, 1975.

Paul Biya became the president on November 6, 1982, at the age of 49 and has ruled the country for 41 years.

He is the second-longest-ruling president in Africa and also the oldest head of state in the entire world.

1. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo – Equatorial Guinea (45 years)

Teodoro became the 2nd president of Equatorial Guinea after ousting his uncle Francisco Macias Nguema through a coup in 1979.

When he took over power, he drafted a new constitution that presented him in the light of a less authoritarian leader. However, this did not last for long.

Obiang has ruled Equatorial Guinea since the age of 37 – He was born on June 5, 1942.

As of 2022, Obiang is eyeing re-election to continue serving as the president of his country. However, he is already serving a total of 45 years as the president. In his current tenure, his son, Teodoro Nguema serves as his vice president.

The post 10 Presidents That Ruled Africa Longest appeared first on WeAfrique.

His first wife, Hope, gave birth to his son, Andile. His second child, a daughter named Tulisa, was born to his second wife, Nomazizi Mtshotshisa, who was a businesswoman before her death.

Cyril Ramaphosa’s third, fourth, and fifth children were born to his third wife, Dr. Tshepo Motsepe, the sister of South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe. They are Tumelo, Mashudu, and Keneilwe.

These children, who form South Africa’s first family, include a businessman, a crypto enthusiast, and a fitness buff. Three of the children are daughters, one of whom was born in 1992. The president’s other daughter is an architect based in the United States, while her younger sibling is a student at Cape Town University.

Cyril Ramaphosa’s First Child was Born from his Decade-long Marriage to Hope Ramaphosa

During Cyril’s first marriage to Hope Ramaphosa, which lasted from 1978 to 1989, he welcomed a son. The boy named Andile Ramaphosa was born sometime in 1981 and is about 43 years old now.

Though Cyril and Hope’s marriage ended in divorce, the first wife of S.A.’s president still has his back. According to Hope, she knew her ex-husband for a long time before they married. They also spent more than a decade together, and all those times couldn’t just be thrown away.

As the firstborn son of his father, Andile has been quite outspoken, especially against political rivals of his father. When Julius Malema accused Cyril of physically abusing Hope, his mother, Andile, refuted the accusations.

However, he is more concerned and invested in business than he is in politics. After earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting and statistics from the University of Cape Town, he went on to add two master’s degrees. The first he earned was in economics from Fudan University, and then another from the NYU Stern School of Business.

Andile Ramaphosa, the first of Cyril Ramaphosa’s children, works for Blue Crane Capital in Johannesburg, aside from other business strides that he has taken over the years.

He unfortunately got on the bad side of the press in 2019 when he was involved in a fraud case. According to the reports, he was linked to the Bosasa Corporation incident that involved a transfer of R2 million to him.

He initially denied being part of the fraudulent activity but later confessed that he only made a business mistake.

Andile is a married man who met his wife, the daughter of the Ugandan former Prime Minister. They met in an Asian country where his wife, Bridget Birungi, was studying and he was working. Their marriage, which happened in Uganda in 2018, the same year his father assumed power, was a lavish ceremony that saw very few important guests in attendance.

Yoweri Museveni, the current president of Uganda, was one of the important guests at the wedding.

Tulisa is the Second of Cyril Ramaphosa’s Children

The first daughter of South Africa’s president since 2018 is Tulisa, or Thulisa. She was born from the brief union of Cyril Ramaphosa and the late businesswoman, Nomazizi Mtshotshia.

Nomazizi and Cyril were married from 1991 to 1993, and they had their daughter in 1992. The reason for the end of their brief marriage was not made known, although there were allegations that came up against the president, which suggests it may have led to the divorce.

Tulisa has been quite private and prefers to stay out of the media’s way, considering how important her father is.

Her mother died sometime in 2008 after a long battle with cancer. Before her death, the businesswoman held the position of Chairperson of the Telkom Board. She was the first African woman to have achieved that feat.

Tulisa is the only daughter of the former Midi Chairman.

South Africa’s 5th President, Cyril Ramaphosa, has three More Children with his Present Wife

In 1996, Cyril went on to get married a third time, three years after divorcing his second wife. He got married to a South African physician and businesswoman, Tshepo Motsepe.

If you think the Motsepe name rings a bell, then you must have heard about one of South Africa’s billionaires, Patrice Motsepe. He is a businessman whose wealth grew from exploits in mining and other businesses.

Cyril Ramaphosa’s third wife and the mother of his three last children is also a medical doctor who graduated from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. She has quite an impressive resume, but above all, she is the current first lady of South Africa.

The first of Tshepo and Cyril’s children is Tumelo.

• Tumelo Ramaphosa

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He is the most known of the Ramaphosa siblings, and that is because he is very active on social media. There, this third child of S.A.’s president shares pictures of himself, and being a fitness enthusiast with an enviable physique and great fashion sense, he has a lot of women drooling over his pictures.

But there is more to him.

Aside from his muscular, toned body and other drool-worthy images shared on social media, Tumelo is also a businessman. He is the CEO and founder of StudEX Group, which has a subsidiary company known as StudEX Wildlife. This company’s aim is basically to preserve and protect the lives of endangered animals.

He has shared how passionate he is about animals in a number of posts on Instagram. In some of these posts, he shares pictures of his cows and meat. Tumelo started his business journey as a cattle trader and has since grown into many other things. He even worked at McDonald’s as an assistant store manager back in 2014.

The serial entrepreneur also founded StudEXMeat, a business venture that supplies wagyu steaks and cuts to many countries.

He has a master’s degree from Hult International Business School, San Francisco. The degree is in international business, and this has helped him manage his numerous pursuits.

Thumelo is also an all-around cryptopreneur who was part of a group of organizers responsible for the Unlocking Blockchain Africa Conference back in 2018.

He is also a key member of Chankura Global Crypto Currency Exchange and GAD. Additionally, he works as a block mesh and Alpha Crypto Moo consultant.

Concerning his love life, Cyril Ramaphosa’s third child, nicknamed ‘National Bae, has been romantically linked to Kelebogile Shomang. Some gossips even speculate that, with how smitten they have been about each other, they will be set to walk down the aisle soon.

• Keneilwe Ramaphosa

The second child from Cyril and Tshepo’s union is Keneilwe. She attended Inscappe Design College in 2014 and graduated with an Architectural Drafting Certificate, Architectural Drafting, and Architectural CAD/CADD.

From January 2015 to December 2017, Keneilwe attended the University of Cape Town, where she earned a Bachelor of Architectural Studies degree. She then proceeded to earn a master’s degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation in May 2022.

She has a lot of experience in her field of study and has even worked as a junior architect for companies such as OMA and Curtis + Ginsberg Architects. As of September 2023, she worked as a freelance architect and was open to any new roles in her field.

Keneilwe currently lives in the Netherlands. As for her relationship status, it hasn’t been made public yet.

• Mashudu Ramaphosa

She is the youngest of the Ramaphosa children and is reportedly still at the university. Mashudu, just like her older siblings, was a student at Cape Town University as of 2018.

Her discipline of study is unknown, as she is as private as her older sisters. However, as a member of the first family, it may not take so long to find out some details about her.

Some Quick Facts about Cyril Ramaphosa’s Children

1. They Don’t Seem Interested in Politics

From the information revealed above about the first children, it doesn’t seem like any of them have an interest in politics. Of the five children, four of whom are adults, none have indicated interest in following in Cyril’s footsteps.

According to answersafrica.com, a relative of the family revealed that the South African president taught his children to choose their own paths. He trained them not to dwell on their own achievements but rather to carve out their own success in whatever field they were interested in.

Definitely, the kids would be involved in some affairs of the country, but only in their capacity as first children. An example of such a time is explained above when Andile rose to his father’s defense against abuse claims.

If, in the future, any of the Ramaphosa kids decide to tow the path of politics, Cyril would be the best person to guide them through.

2. Are there More Children in the Cyril Ramaphosa Brood?

There is a lot of confusing information on the web about the particular number of children Cryril has. This confusion stems from the fact that his third wife, Tshepo Motsepe, is said to have birthed four children for him.

These supposed four children consist of two boys and two girls. However, this isn’t accurate because the supposed second son of the couple was named Andile, who is the president’s first child with his first wife.

Sites such as Tshepo Motsepe’s Wikipedia page, briefly.co.za, and many others carry this piece of information.

However, for clarity’s sake, Andile isn’t a product of Cyril’s marriage to his third wife.

Also, there are no more children in the first family other than the ones discussed above.

3. Have they given him Any Grandchildren?

It is known that Andile has been married, and even though his wedding wasn’t a secret, the marriage and what goes on in it seem to be.

The couple has yet to reveal if they have welcomed any children, which would make Cyril a grandfather. It could be that there are already little Ramaphosa grandchildren in the brood, but they have been kept private.

4. They are Very Private

One central feature of the first children is their knack for privacy. Safe for their business ventures, which put them in the limelight, there isn’t much to know about them.

Andile, Tulisa, Tumelo, Neneilwe, and Mashudu all respect their personal lives and choose to keep them private.

Evidently, the most private among them are the first and last daughters, Tulisa and Mashudu. The other three have provided some information about themselves to the public.

READ ALSO: Paul Mashatile: 10 Things To Know About Deputy President Of South Africa

5. Did their Father Physically Abuse any of his 3 Wives?

A parliament meeting held in 2020 over the issue of women’s abuse led to an uproar. What initially started as a back-and-forth between ANC MP Boy Mamabolo and the EFF leader, Julius Malema, soon turned to Ramaphosa.

It seemed like a can of worms was opened after Mamabolo interrupted his talk and alleged that Julius was a wife-beater. Malema, who tried to ignore the accusation, soon blurted out that he had never hit his wife. He further went on to insinuate that President Cyril Ramaphosa was a wife-beater.

According to Julius’s allegation, Cyril used to beat his late wife, Nomazizi Mtshotshia. It was also alleged that this may have caused the sudden end of their marriage back in 1993. Julius further alleged that Nomazizi confided in President Jacob Zuma about the abuse. He insisted that the truth about Ramaphosa’s history of abuse be made public so his late wife would rest in peace.

As he ranted, Julius Malema was asked to leave the room.

In the wake of this, the president’s first son and wife were quick to defend him. Hope Ramaphosa stated that in all her years of knowing Cyril, he never lifted a finger to hit her. Still defending her ex-husband, Andile’s mother said that he wasn’t the type of man who would abuse a woman.

South Africa’s president did not respond to the accusation directly. Instead, he apologized to South Africans for how the proceeding turned out.

In response to the apology the father of five gave, Julius Malema also tendered his own apology to the president. He explained that he was pushed to the wall and acted out of defense.

The post Cyril Ramaphosa Children: Meet All The Kids Of S.A President  appeared first on WeAfrique.

Mashatile grew up in a turbulent time marked by the brutal apartheid regime. He had a strong passion for social justice and action, and he joined the ANC and the anti-apartheid movement in the 1980s. He showed unwavering commitment to the liberation of all South Africans.

Here are 10 Interesting Facts about the South African Deputy President, Paul Mashatile

1. He is a Native of Geraldsville, Pretoria (Tshwane)

Paul Shipokosa Mashatile was born on October 21, 1961, in Gerhardsville, Pretoria (now Tshwane), in the Gauteng province. He is the third of eight children of Bishop Diamond Nyangeni and Mirriam Nomvula Mashatile. He is currently 62 years old.

As for his education, he started off at the Paradise Bend School in Diepsloot, and later at the Bathabile Primary School in Atteridgeville. Thereafter, he continued at Alexandra High School, a Roman Catholic school.

He started a BA in Law with UNISA while in prison, but he could not finish it due to a lack of study materials. He later obtained a Diploma in Economic Principles from the University of London and took other courses.

2. Paul Mashatile Hails From a Humble Background

Mashatile rarely talks about his humble family background, but he has said in some interviews that he grew up in poverty. The family of 10 lived on a farm where his father served as a priest and later graduated to become the Bishop of East Hethlon Church until he passed on in 2011 at the age of 82.

On the other hand, Paul’s mother was a domestic worker who sold vegetables and some other food items.

Growing up, he and his other siblings would go to the market to assist their mother in her small business. Even when the family moved to Attweidgevilla, west of Pretoria, she continued to manage her business until she passed on in 2020 at the age of 82. It’s no surprise that they have also grown to become entrepreneurs. 

3. The South African Deputy President Began his Political Career while he was in School

Paul’s passion for activism and social justice started to flourish during his time as a student. He joined the Congress of South African Students (COSAS), an influential student organization that played a crucial role in the anti-apartheid movement.

His dedication and commitment to the struggle for freedom led to the establishment of the Alexandra Youth Congress (AYCO), which he co-founded in 1983 and also became its first president.

Read Also: 12 Most Iconic And Greatest African Presidents Ever

4. Paul Mashatile Spent Over 4 Years In Prison Under the State of Emergency regulations Declared by then Apartheid State President P.W. Botha 

Over the years, many individuals have shared their experiences following their fight against apartheid and Mashatile also has a history. He was reportedly harassed by the security police who also attempted to assassinate him sometime in the 1980s.

Eventually, he was detained under the State of Emergency regulation without trial from 1985 to 1989 denying him basic right to a fair legal process. Despite this oppressive regime, he remained resilient and continued to advocate for justice. While there, he embarked on an 18-day hunger strike as part of a nationwide protest.

During his detention, he also taught English to Matriculants, instructed other prisoners at the gym, and gave regular lectures on the history of resistance in South Africa, the ANC, and the National Democratic Revolution (NDR).

5. He Was Restricted From Engaging in any Political Activity after His Release from Prison 

After over 4 years in prison, Mashatile finally got his freedom however, he couldn’t participate in any political activity following restrictions from the authorities. He was also placed under house arrest and required to present himself twice a day at the Alexandra Police Station.

In addition to all of these, he was not allowed to leave the Magisterial District of Johannesburg without the permission of the apartheid security police.

6. Mashatile Re-established the Structures of the African National Congress and South African Communist Party

Though several restrictions limited Mashatile’s political pursuits, he continued to secretly work with the UDF Southern Transvaal and was elected Assistant General Secretary during one of their underground meetings. He later became the group’s General Secretary until the unbanning of political parties.

Mashatile was at the forefront of re-establishing political structures like the African National Congress (ANC) and the South African Communist Party (SACP). He served in the Interim Leadership Committee of the ANC and SACP. The former was led by the former Deputy President of the country, Kgalema Motlanthe.

He was later appointed as the General Secretary and Chairperson of the SACP in Gauteng. He also held several leadership positions within the ANC. He served as the Chairperson of the ANC’s Gauteng Province, overseeing the party’s activities in the province.

7. The South African Deputy President Mashatile, Holds a Great Commitment to Arts and Culture

Mashatile has been a strong advocate for South African arts and culture. From 2010 to 2014, he served as the Minister of Arts and Culture, where he played a crucial role in promoting and preserving the country’s rich cultural heritage.

He spearheaded the development of the Mzansi Golden Economy Policy. This created new opportunities for artists, performers, and cultural practitioners. It also fostered an environment conducive to innovation, collaboration, and development of sustainable creative enterprises.

8. He has Several Notable Projects to His Name

Mashatile has been actively involved in driving economic development initiatives in South Africa. He has been instrumental in implementing policies aimed at stimulating investment, creating job opportunities, and fostering economic growth through a range of projects.

Aside from being the leader of the people, some of his employees have described him as a team player who is focused on building strong teams across different departments to work towards a common goal.

Some projects he has done include; the Blue IQ projects, the Newtown Precinct, the 20 Township Projects, and the establishment of the Gauteng Enterprise Propeller (GEP) to support the development of the SMME sector.

9. Paul Mashatile is Currently Married to Humile Mjongile

Paul Mashatile, despite his political obligation, is a family-oriented individual. At present, he is married to Humile Mjongile, the widow of the late former ANC Western Cape secretary Songezo Mjongile who died in 2020. The pair got married in a lavish ceremony in 2023.

However, before tying the knot with Homile, he was previously married to Manzi Ellen Mashatile who is also the mother of his 4 children – Palesa, Thabiso, Tinyiko, Ayanda, Goapele Zenani, and Zondwa Songezo Jnr.

Unfortunately, his wife passed away in November 2020 after a long illness. To honor her memory, her husband Mashatile launched the Manzi Mashatile Foundation to promote educational programs.

10. He Is Concerned With Giving Back to Society

Mashatile has been committed to improving the lives of South African citizens, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. He has been involved in the implementation of social welfare programs aimed at alleviating poverty and providing support to vulnerable communities.

He is the Chairperson of the Vincent Tshabalala Education Trust and also the Patron of the Manzi Mashatile Foundation, which was established in 2020.

The post Paul Mashatile: 10 Things To Know About Deputy President Of South Africa appeared first on WeAfrique.

How Old is Muhoho Kenyatta?

Muhoho Kenyatta was born in 1965 as the younger brother of Uhuru Kenyatta who was born in 1961. His parents are Jomo Kenyatta, the first president of Kenya, and Ngina Kenyatta, the first first lady of the East African country, Kenya.

To gain formal education, Muhohi attended St. Mary’s School, Nairobi before heading to the United States where he graduated with a Bachelors in Political Science from William College in 1985.

His Father Jomo Kenyatta Had 4 Wives

Jomo Kenyata had been married to three women before Muhoho’s mother, Ngina Kenyatta. His first wife was Grace Wahu with the other wives being Edna Clarke and Grace Wanjiku.

As a result of being from a polygamous home, Muhoho has several siblings with his eldest brother being Peter Muigai Kenyatta, a politician, and businessman who was birthed by the oldest Kenyatta’s wife, Grace Wahu who died in 1979.

Other Siblings of Muhoho Kenyatta

Margaret Rose Wambui Kenyatta is the First Female Mayor in Nairobi

She was born in 1928 and died in 2017. She was a politician and according to sources, she was Jomo Kenyatta’s favourite. Margaret was the first and only female mayor in Nairobi, The 3rd African mayor of the capital of Kenya, and the first female ambassador in Kenya.

Peter Magana Kenyatta Worked With BBC

He is the sibling of Muhoho Kenyatta who was born by Jomo Kemyata’s second wife. He was a presenter with BBC who has kept his [privatev life under the wraps.

Christine Wambui Kenyatta is a Humanitarian

She is the first sibling of Muhoho who was born by the same mother and father in 1959. She is also known as Kristina Pratt and has lived many years of her life as a humanitarian who works for the course of disabled children in the country.

Anna Nyokabi Muthama Was Involved in Sh5 Billion Scandal

The 1963 born Muhoho sister became involved in a fraud scandal that involved finances of the Ministry of Health that is worth Sh5 billion. She is a businesswoman, philanthropist, and director of the Kenyatta trust.

Uhuru Kenyatta is The President of Kenya

 

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He was born on October 26, 1961, and is the current and 4th president of Kenya who began his tenure in 2013. This came after he served as the deputy prime minister of Kenya from 2008 to 2013 and minister of finance from 2009 to 2012 among other political offices.

He is One of The Reasons Why The Kenyatta Empire Grows

He may have had his bachelor’s in political science, Muhoho is greatly known for his greatness in the business sphere that includes handling or contributing to many of the Kenyatta businesses in many sectors such as agriculture, real estate, hospitality, and more.

At present, he has been licensed to import sugar – a move that brought about controversies when the license first came in. Subsequently, he was accused of importing contraband sugar into Kenya.

Muhoho Kenyatta also serves at Brookside Dairy Limited, a Kenyatta company as the executive chairman and CEO. He also contributes to other family businesses that include Heritage Holdings, Green Park Investments, and Protech Company.

See Also: Meet All The Presidents of Kenya- Their Deputies, Wives, Achievements

He Plays A Vital Role In The Life of His Older Brother And Kenya’s President, Uhuru Kenyatta

Uhuru Kenyatta is not only the older brother of Muhoro, but the two men share trust as well as see towards the successes of each other. This is evident in the life and politics of Uhuru whose works and that of the mother, Ngina Kenyatta was a major force in his becoming Kenya’s president.

Also, when Uhuru had to come face to face with the International Criminal Court for trials on crimes against humanity which was committed during the post-election violence in Kenya, Muhoho was there and his presence was felt. Nonetheless, the 5-count charges were later closed since there was no sustainable evidence.

Wife and Children of Muhoho Kenyatta

As a result of his choosing to live a quiet life over getting the attention of media pages and cameras, there is little known about the wife and children of the younger brother of Uhuru Kenyatta. However, his children are said to be important in his business where he lets them learn the work firsthand from him.

According to sources, his children join in the farm as well as the dairy company business where they extract milk, boil, and process it

The post Muhoho Kenyatta Is Jomo Kenyatta’s Son: Everything To Know About Him appeared first on WeAfrique.

Paula has earned herself quite a reputation and has gradually climbed her way through South Africa’s political ladder. Through thick and thin, we watched how Nomvula Mokonyane has been able to juggle family life and career as well as wiggle her way out of numerous scandals and rumors of scandals here and there. Below are some interesting facts about one of South Africa’s most determined female politicians, Nomvula Mokonyane.

All Important Facts To Know About Nomvula Mokonyane

1. She is the baby of the house

The seasoned politician was born on 28 June 1963 in Kagiso, Krugersdorp, South Africa. Currently 61 years old, she was birthed and brought up in a very large family with 12 siblings. The politician happens to be the youngest of the kids, making her the baby of the house.

Because of this, one would be tempted to assume that she probably had a lot of pampering and would probably grow up to be a spoilt brat but considering how much she has achieved in her education and political career, we know that Nomvula has done well for herself.

2. She is well-educated

A strong member of the Catholic Church, Mokonyane is a well-educated individual. She god educated from different parts of the world including Sweden where she trained in Local Government, Planning Management, and Community Development.

More so, she attended Wharton Business School in the United States, where she got a certificate in Emerging Economics. She studied Economics and Finance and got another certificate in the field at the Harvard Business School and also a Certificate in Project Planning. Finally, she got a Leadership and Governance certificate from the same university.

Before she attained all the aforementioned academic heights, she went to Mosupatsela High School, Kagiso from where she matriculated.

3. Nomvula Mokonyane is the first female Premier in Gauteng

Based on the South African general election, she is Gauteng’s first female Premier. She was sworn in as Premier on the 6th of May 2009 and she remained in office until 2014. NP as she is also referred to, was preceeded by Paul Mashatile and succeeded by David Makhura.

4. She enjoyed a successful marriage

The politician was happily married to Serge Mokonyane until his demise in April 2019. Even though there were rumors that the couple had separated at some point in their married life, Nomvula denied the allegations. The couple had children: a daughter and two sons- Retlabusa, Katlego, and Afrika.

5. It was politics that first broiught her and her husband

Her late husband, even before they got married had also always been involved in politics. They met in a political rally back in 1984 and Nomvula once shared a cute story on how they met while participating in a public protest. They were being chased by the police and when she tripped and fell, Serge helped her up and in her own words, he has never stopped lifting her up ever since then.

6. Nomvula Mokonyane has served prison time

Because of her involvement in political activities, right from young age, Nomvula was harassed and detained by apartheid police on numerous occasions. In later years, during the early years of their marriage, she was detained along with her husband where they both spent several months in jail.

7. She gave birth to her first child in prison

Sources have it that Nomvula got detained just two months after she conceived. She had her first child in prison and her husband did not have the privilege to meet his first child until the child was over 1 year old.

8. Mokonyane has had her fair share of controversies

Like most public figures, Nomvula has had her fair share of scandals as she was once accused of having a secret love affair with Jimmy Tau and a host of other younger men, Ben 10. Some of the allegations were made by Julius Malema.

She didn’t allow the allegations to bring her down as she saw them as a means for her opponents to score cheap political points. Some of these allegations came from her political opponents and she was also accused of misappropriation of funds and giving tenders to her young lovers.

She was also accused of recieving a monthly bribe of R50,000 from Bosasa from 2002 until 2016. According to the company’s former Operation’s head, the company did not get any benefit from the deal except for political protection. The former Minister of Environmental Affairs insisted there was no truth to the allegations against her. She claimed the allegations were made as a result of the hatred for her.

See Also: Cheikh Anta Diop- The Life and Death of the Senegalese Politician

9. She lost her first son

Sometime in November 2010, Nomvula’s son, Retlabusa was believed to have committed suicide in an apartment which he shared with his girlfriend. The young man was 23 years old at the time of his demise and was the first child of Nomvula whom she bore while in detention for political activism.

There were a lot of insinuations that Retlabusa had gotten into trouble with the police on several occasions and there were also reports revealing that he was convicted of car theft and possession of stolen goods.

10. Recognitions and offices held

She holds an honorary presidential position in SA-China people’s Friendship Association. She has served under 2 South African Presidents. She served as minister, Department of Water and Sanitation during the time of President Jacob Zuma in May 2014, and also as Minister of Environmental Affairs during the time of President Cyril Ramphosa.

The post Nomvula Mokonyane – 10 Interesting Facts About Former Gauteng Premier appeared first on WeAfrique.

Her father became the fourth president of Rwanda in 2000. He is not just a politician but also a former military leader.

Kagame is known to be a philanthropist. She has been involved in quite a number of humanitarian activities like women’s empowerment, child education, vaccination campaigns, and even poverty eradication.

Biography

Ange Kagame was born on September 8, 1993, in Brussels Belgium. Her mother, Jeannette Nyiramongi is the First Lady of Rwanda.

Kagame has three brothers: Ivan Cyomoro, Ian, and Brian. She is the only daughter of her parents.

Due to security reasons, the children of the Rwandan president were not exposed to the public throughout their childhood. Ange Kagame attended Dana Hall School Wellesley, Massachusetts, United States.

She earned a degree in Political Science at Smith College. She also has a master’s degree in International Affairs from Columbia University. She speaks English, Kinyarwanda, and also French.

Husband

Ange Kagame married Bertrand Ndengeyingoma on July 6, 2018. The couple met in 2016 during Kagame Day in San Francisco, Los Angeles. After dating for almost a year, Ndengeyingoma proposed to Kagame while she was studying at Columbia University.

They got married at a grand reception in Rwanda in December 2018. The couple welcomed their first child and daughter Ava Ndengeyingoma in July 2020 at King Faisal Hospital Kigali.

Read Also: Bim Adewunmi- Here Are 10 Things About The British Writer

Family

The first family is headed by Paul Kagame who was previously the commander of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF). He met his wife through his relatives who suggested and recommended that he marries Nyiramongi. The latter was a Tutsi exile living in Nairobi, Kenya at that time.

Her mother is the founder and chairman of the Imbuti Foundation. The foundation is a non-profit organization with the aim of supporting the development of a healthy, educated, and prosperous society.

The first lady is widely recognized for her fight against HIV/AIDS and poverty. She was the first to host the first African First Ladies’ Summit on children and HIV/AIDS prevention in May 2011 in Kigali, Rwanda.

Her older brother, Ivan Cyomoro Kagame has been described as an ardent consumer of the economist. He was appointed as a board member of the Rwanda Developed Board in 2020.

Here are 7 facts about Ange Kagame

1. Ange Kagame once accompany her father for a dinner in the White House

In 2014, Ange Kagame accompanied her father to the white house for a dinner hosted by the then president of America, Barack Obama. The dinner was held in August 2014 as part of the three days long United States leaders’ summit.

2. Ange Kagame is a football fan

The Kagame family seems to be an athletic one. While Paul Kagame likes tennis and football, Ange Kagame is a basketball and football fan. She revealed that she follows the Boston Celtics and Arsenal.

3. Her father has been linked with murders and disappearances of his political opponents

Kagame’s father’s tenure as both president and vice president has been linked with murders and disappearances of many political opponents. A South African court found out that the Rwandan government has plotted to assassinate its critics overseas. This report was gathered in 2017.

A report released in 2014 documents 10 cases that involved attacks and threats against critics outside Rwanda since the 1990s citing the victims’ criticism of the Rwandan government or Paul Kagame himself.

In 2015, a former military officer testified before the US Congress that he had been offered $1 million by the Rwandan government to assassinate the former intelligence chief Patrick Karegeya in South Africa on 31 December 2013. The military officer later faced several threats in Belgium soon after his testimony against the Rwandan Government.

4. Her father has served as the Chairperson of the African Union

The Rwandan president became the chairperson of the African Union from 28 January 2018 to 10 February 2019. During his tenure as the chairperson, he promoted the single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) and also the African Continental Free trade area. He also pushed through a reform of African union structures with the aim of improving their effectiveness and make them financially sustainable.

Read Also: Hendrix Hart Is Kevin Hart’s Son- Does He Have The Wit Of His Father? 7 Facts

5. Height and weight

Ange Kagame is indeed a tall woman. She is said to be taller than her father. She stands 6 feet 3 inches tall. Little wonder she has an interest in basketball.

6. How old is Ange Kagame?

Ange Kagame is currently 30 years old. Her father is 66 years old. He has been the president of Rwanda for almost 21 years.

7. Net worth

Ange Kagame spends most of her income on charity. She might have multiple incomes and but that has not been revealed yet. Her net worth is still under review but she might be enjoying her father’s wealth as the president. Paul Kagame currently has a net worth of $500 million. As the president of Rwanda, his salary is $85, 000 USD annually.

The FinancialTimes released a report in 2012 which asserted that the president and his family members control the majority of the Rwandan economy through a company called Crystal Ventures.

Complete profile of Ange Kagame 

The post Ange Kagame Is Paul Kagame’s Daughter- Bio, Husband, Family, 7 Facts appeared first on WeAfrique.

Philosophically, Herman is known to be a libertarian and capitalist crusader who preaches and considers his most priced cause to be attaining ‘individual freedom’ for all South Africans.

Herman Mashaba is currently the President of a South African Political Party which was established to reset South Africa and free her citizens from the bondage of failed political systems while building a better, functional, and non-racial environment for South African. The Political Party is called ActionSA.

Biography Of Herman Mashaba

Herman Mashaba was born on the 26^th of August 1959 in Garamoste, Hammanskraal, Gauteng. He was mostly under the supervision of his sisters as his mother who worked as a domestic staff was away most of the time trying to earn enough to fend for the family.

Herman grew up in abject poverty. He and his siblings were some of the poorest children in their neighborhood as things were quite tough for them. He watched his elder brother who dropped out of school at the age of 15 moves from one meager paying job to another and it was at this point that Herman realized that education and finishing up with school was very important and so he struggled to keep himself in school and finish up his education.

However, this wasn’t a very easy task as Herman could only afford to finish up his secondary school education and wasn’t able to complete his tertiary education at the University of Pretoria due to political unrest and when normalcy was restored, he had no more zeal for school.

He did not let this deter him from accomplishing his goals in life, though. As a great strategist, Herman kept on pushing in life and had a life-changing experience which he so loves to share about how he bought himself a car and drove out of the car dealers without knowing how to drive nor having a driver’s license.

His self-confidence contributed a great deal to his success in life as he moved from one opportunity to a better one starting off with his job as a sales rep and moving up the ladder to becoming the company’s top sales personnel. This feat earned him a great name.

While at his job at ‘SuperKurl’ where he was the top seller, he realized that not only was he good at making sales but he also had a knack for the products he sold and this birthed a new idea and zeal in his heart which he pursued. This idea was to own a hair brand in South Africa and he fought the government really hard to see this through. Now the brand is one of the biggest hair brands in South Africa and it is named ‘Black Like Me’.

Soon, Herman realized that he didn’t have a thing for just business and sales, he found out that he had a huge interest in politics. This interest grew from the fact that he went through quite a lot in the hands of apartheid-filled government to birth his ideas and see his dreams come through and it was a motivating factor for him to try to better the lives of South Africans and do right for and by his people.

He ventured into politics and as the go-getter he is, in 2012, he succeeded and became the chairman of the Free Market Foundation, a position he held for two years.  He stepped down as the chairman of the FMF and became a member of the Democratic Alliance. He announced he would be contesting for the mayoral position of Johannesburg in December 2015 as he planned on accepting the nomination to stand as the Democratic Alliance’ candidate.

On the 22^nd of August 2016, after the elections, Herman was sworn in as the city councilor of Johannesburg, and later that same day, he was ultimately sworn in as the Mayor of Johannesburg.

Herman Mashaba fought ‘tooth and nail’ to lift his family from the restraint of poverty. He and his family had to go through the struggles of making sacrifices just to see that they were all fine and could at least eat. Nothing much is known about his dad but his mum, elder brother, and sister were the most important people to him and he struggled with them to make sure all was well and this motivated him to do all he did and became who he had to become to change his story from what it was growing up in poverty to being a millionaire now.

Herman Mashaba’s Age

Herman Mashaba was born on the 26 of August 1959 and this puts his present age to be 64 years.

Herman Mashaba’s Net Worth

Johannesburg and indeed one of SA’s millionaire, top business mogul, and politician, Herman Mashaba has a net worth that amounts to the sum of $100 million. We can attribute this great sum to the fact that Herman Mashaba due to his great strategies has made himself indispensable to businesses. He has held and still holds several top positions in various companies and organizations.

Here Are Five Facts About Herman You Didn’t Know

1. Herman Mashaba Makes It To History Books

Herman Mashaba is the first Mayor of Johannesburg to win the position outside the party of the African National Congress (ANC). He won the position with the Democratic Alliance Party.

2. Mashaba’s Marital Status

He is married and has two children. His wife’s name is Connie Mashaba and his kids are named Khensansi Mashaba and Rhulani Mashaba.

SEE ALSO: Dee Koala- Biography, Net Worth, 10 Facts About The South African Rapper

3. Herman Mashaba Is An Author

He is a pianist and author who has written three books. The first book titled ‘Capital Crusader: Fighting Poverty Through Economic Growth’ was published in 2015, The second book he wrote is an autobiography released in 2017 titled ‘Black Like You’, and the third book which is his most recent publication is a memoir themed ‘Accidental Mayor’.

4. His Views On Foreigners Are Unorthodox.

Herman Mashaba has made a number of public statements which indicate traces of xenophobia although he tried justifying these statements with explanations of what he meant. These statements and even some views have been considered to be strongly xenophobic and have been linked to incidences where he said South Africa has nothing to apologize for in reference to the xenophobic attacks. He insists that the president should focus on the high rising cases of sex trafficking and unemployment in the country.

5. Herman Mashaba Is Running For Mayor Again

He has indicated an interest in running for the mayoral position in Johannesburg once again. Since resigning from his position at the Democratic Alliance and invariably giving up his position in 2019, he set up his own political party called the ActionSA where he would be contesting for the mayor of Johannesburg as the candidate elect.

The election is slated to hold in October of 2021.

Complete profile of Herman Mashaba 

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He studied the human race’s origins and also pre-colonial African culture. Some of his works are said to have posed questions concerning cultural bias in scientific research. The works were criticised and labelled as revisionist and pseudohistorical.

Cheikh Anta Diop wrote so many books which were published in French. They were all dedicated to African self-empowerment. One of his greatest achievement was organising the first Pan-African student congress while he was studying in Paris.

Diop committed himself to discover and enlightening others about the richness of the African culture and history.

Cheikh Anta Diop’s Biography

Cheikh Anta Diop was born in Thieytou Diourbel Senegal on December 23, 1923. He was raised in a Muslim Wolof family. His parents were part of the peasant class and also the African Mouride Islamic sect, the only independent Muslim fraternity in Africa at that time.

He attended both Koranic and French colonial schools. Diop obtained the colonial equivalent of the metropolitan Baccalaureat in Senegal before he travelled to Paris to earn his degree.

Diop initially travelled to Paris to study higher Mathematics but he switched to Philosophy instead. He gained his first degree in Philosophy in 1948 at the age of 25. He went further to enrol in the faculty of sciences and earned two diplomas in Chemistry at the age of 27.

Throughout his stay in Paris, he studied History, Egyptology, Physics, Linguistics, Anthropology, Economics and Sociology.

Cheikh Anta Diop’s Involvement in Politics

Cheikh Anta Diop became actively involved in politics since he arrived in Paris. He was part of an African nationalist organisation, in the Rassemblement Démocratique Africain (RDA), led by Felix Houphouet-Boigny.

Diop was the general secretary of the RDA students in Paris from 1950-1953. In 1951, the first post-war pan African student congress was organized under his leadership.

The movement played an important role in restoring the African national consciousness concerning slavery and colonialism.

That same year, Cheikh Anta Diop did not relent on his effort to learn more about the African culture so he did his PhD dissertation on ancient Egyptian history and also its influence on European culture.

Even though the work was rejected his work received so much attention. Diop later returned to Senegal in 1960 after the country gained its independence.

See Also: 12 Famous African Gods and Goddesses With Unbelievable Capabilities

His Views and Ideas on the African Culture and Unity

After Cheikh Anta Diop returned to Senegal, he continued his research and later became the Director of the Radiocarbon Laboratory in Dakar at the Fundamental Institute of Black African at the University of Dakar.

He was known as one of the leading and influential historians, linguist and anthropologists in Africa at large.

He travelled all over the world, lectured in different places and was cited and quoted by even other scholars. He was honoured in 1966 during the first world black festival of arts and culture in Dakar.

He was recognised as of the few scholars who made great contributions to African thought in the twentieth century.

In 1974, Diop and Theophile Obenga talked about the African origin of pharaonic Egyptian civilization at a UNESCO sponsored symposium in Cairo, Egypt.

His final work was published in 1981 titled Civilization or Barbarism: An Authentic Anthropology.

Critique of Cheikh Anta Diop’s Works

Cheikh Anta Diop works received criticism from quite a number of scholars. A notable one is Robert O. Collins and James M. Burns.

They both referred to Diop’s work as ‘revisionist’. On the other hand, Toyin Falola described the historian’s works as “passionate, combative and revisionist”.

See Also: Khopesh Sword- Here Are 12 Things You Don’t Know About The Ancient Egyptian Sword

He was not allowed to lecture at the University of Dakar

Despite his great works and achievements, Cheikh Anta Diop was never permitted to lecture at the University of Dakar while he was alive.

All the political parties which he set up were also banned. He was also arrested and imprisoned several times. According to him, he was focused on preserving Africa for the future.

The scholar died in his sleep

The renowned scholar unfortunately did not live to achieve all his dreams for his country and the black nation. Cheikh Anta Diop died in his sleep on February 7, 1986, in Dakar at the age of 63.

Cheikh Anta Diop’s wife and children

The Senegalese scholar was married to Louise Marie Diop Maes. They had two sons together. After he passed, his wife never remarried because she believed that would be committing treason to her late husband. She later passed in Paris after a long illness at the age of 90.

His Posthumous Recognition

Cheikh Anta Diop was given posthumous national recognition. The University of Dakar was named after him.

In 2015, he was also awarded the Grand Prix de la Memoire of the GPLA 2015.

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