Did you know?
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The ancient name of Africa was Alkebulan. Alkebu-lan “mother of mankind” or “garden of Eden”.” Alkebulan is the oldest and the only word of indigenous origin. It was used by the Moors, Nubians, Numidians, Khart-Haddans (Carthagenians), and Ethiopians.
The word Africa came into existence in the late 17th Century, it was used to only refer to the northern part of the continent. Around that time, the Northern continent had been colonized, and the Europeans ruled over its people as slaves.
They influenced the change of identity from Alkebulan to Africa.
But Before the European settled for the word Africa, the continent was called many other names. They include Corphye, Ortegia, Libya, and Ethiopia.
Other names such as the land of Ham (Ham means dark skins), mother of mankind, the garden of Eden, Kingdoms in the sky, and the land of cush or kesh (referring to the Cushites who were ancient Ethiopian) were used.
Why is Africa called Africa?
There exist many theories explaining the origin of the name of this continent. At the time of writing, no one knows the source for sure. However, the theories below shed some light on how this second largest continent got its new name.
Roman theory
Some scholars believe that the word originated from the Romans. Romans discovered a land opposite the Mediterranean and named it after the Berber tribe residing within the Carnage area, presently referred to as Tunisia. The tribe's name was Afri.
Weather theory
Some believe that the name was coiled from the continent's climate. Deriving from aphrike, a Greek word that means a land free from cold and horror. A variation of the Roman word aprica, which means sunny, or even the Phoenician word afar, which means dust.
Geographical theory
There is a suggestion that the name came far afield. It was brought by the Indian traders, who entered the continent through the Horn of Africa. In Hindi, the word apara means comes after. Geographically, this can be interpreted to mean a place to the west.
Africus Theory
This claims that the continent derived its name from Africus. Africus is a Yemenite chieftain who invaded the northern part in the second millennium BC,It is argued that he settled on his conquered land and named it Afrikyah.
Phoenician Theory
Another school of thought suggests that the name is derived from two Phoenician words friqi and pharika. The words mean corns and fruits when translated. Hypothetically, the Phoenician christened the continent as the land of corns and fruits.
There is little or no certainty on the source or meaning Africa. Several scholars have tried to explain the origin of the word, but none is convincingly correct. Arabs Ancient Books also refer Africa as Akebu-lan. However, the original name of Africa was Alkebulan.
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The Kingdom Of Kush: History and Civilization of Ancient Nubia
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African women were never seen as sex objects until foreigners influences.
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In pre-colonial worldview, women were never seen as sex objects. That's why many traditional photographs show women posing half-naked with less care in the world as such has been their life. #Africa
Being ashamed of one's body began with the teachings of Christianity and the colonial school system, life styles, introduction of sex through media, Hollywood and such.
It was ok for women to walk around the village half-naked without arousing men because men's conscience on sexuality was not yet corrupted. There was no shame in publicly viewing body parts. This can also be seen in ancient Kemet where Isis, Akhenaten can be seen half-naked.
"AFRICAN NAIVETY BEGAN IN ANCIENT TIMES"
-Prof. John Henrik Clark
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There was always the error among Africans that other peoples around the world share the same values with them. According to Historian, Prof. John Henrik Clark, "the African would feed a stranger before he thinks of the children's meal..." It was cultural.
"For if you are humane and another human being comes into your house, you invite him to dinner..." You offer him a meal and rest. This was the cultural predisposition that the Portuguese met in African when they arrived in 1485.
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Earth Castles, Togo 🇹🇬
The Batammariba people, whose name means "those who model the earth", live in north-eastern Togo and are known for making remarkable mud tower-houses (Takienta) which have come to be seen as a symbol of Togo. #Africa
Many of the buildings are two storeys high and those with granaries feature an almost spherical form above a cylindrical base. Some of the buildings have flat roofs, others have conical thatched roofs.
They are grouped in villages, which also include ceremonial spaces, springs, rocks and sites reserved for initiation ceremonies.