It’s a terrible thing that Black History Month so often focuses on the period of slavery onward, as if there was nothing of note happening in Africa during this time or indeed throughout the course of history before colonization.
I know when I was in school we learned about ancient Egypt, but that was about all the African history we learned. Of course there is so much more to know and so many historical figures from all over Africa that we should all spend more time learning about.
African Icons: Ten People Who Shaped History by Tracey Baptiste introduces young readers (and perhaps their teachers/parents) to 10 important Africans they might not have heard of before.
The list includes:
- Menes, the first pharaoh of a united Egypt
- Merneith, who led the country after her brother’s death and was nearly erased from history
- Imhotep, the son of an architect who became a doctor and chief advisor to a pharaoh, and venerated as a god after his death
- Aesop, the famous fable writer, who was likely Ethiopian and whose moralistic tales have been passed down for centuries
- Hannibal Barca, the general and military strategist who waged war with Rome
- Terence, a north African playwright enslaved in Rome, who was freed and educated by a Roman senator who saw what a good storyteller he was
- Amanirenas, queen of Kush who battled Rome after they conquered Egypt
- Tin Hinan, a leader of a nomadic group who led her people who establish a permanent community in the Sahara Desert (and whose story was considered a legend until her grave was found in 1925)
- Mansa Musa, a ruler of Mali who expanded the wealth and size of his nation and is considered the richest person ever to have lived
- Queen Idia, who ruled beside her husband in Benin, then raised an army to ensure her favored son would become king after his father’s death
Woven around these stories are essays about the history of Africa more generally, the importance of storytellers and books, and the history and culture that was lost through colonization and enslavement.
These stories would be great to share in a middle school/junior high classroom (they’re all pretty quick reads) as you learn more about African history, or to read at home as a family. These stories are the heritage of Black people everywhere and it’s important for all of us to know more about it.
About the book: 176 pages, paperback. Published 2021 (paperback edition 2024) by Algonquin Young Readers. Suggested retail price $9.99 paper/$14.99 hardcover
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