MOSHOESHOE KING OF BASUTOLAND (1815-1868)
Moshoeshoe was a wise and just king who was as
brilliant in diplomacy as he was in battle. He united many diverse groups into a
stable society where law and order prevailed. He knew that peace made prosperity
possible, so he often avoided conflict through skillful negotiations. Moshoeshoe
solidified Basotho defenses at Thaba Bosiu, their impregnable mountain capital.
MUTATO THE GREAT MUTOTA (1440)
The year was 1440. The King was Mutota. In any
other European country he would have been known as Mutota the Great. He and
his council was quick to see that even the most advance states each standing
independently and alone, were doomed to European criminal exploits unless unified
into a single nation with a strong central government. This also should be achieve
through voluntary association if possible. Mutota and the new leaders understood
this very well. Therefore, Mutota, in 1440, began the campaign to carry out
his grand design. This was a great plan aimed at nothing less than uniting Africans
into a vast empire that cut across South Africa below the Limpopo river, and
covered Zimbabwe with an indefinite boundary beyond the Zambezi River in Zambia,
and on over Mozambique to the Indian Ocean, sweeping southward again to re-posses
the entire coastline fronting the New Empire. This area contained the majority
of the world precious metals such as gold, copper, tin and iron held in over
4000 mines. After 30 years of struggle, unity was finally achieve in 1480 into
the Empire of Monomotapa.
NARMER THE FOUNDER OF DYNASTIC KEMET (3200 B.C.)
Narmer or Aha was called Menes by the Greeks. Regarded
as the founder of Dynastic Kemet, he led an army from Upper Kemet in the south
to conquer Lower Kemet in the north around 3200BC. Upon victory Narmer united
Upper and Lower Kemet into one nation after which thirty dynasties would follow.
It was at this time that hieroglyphic writing or any type of writing in the
world for that matter, made its first appearance, in the tombs and treasures
of the pharaohs. One of Narmer's first tasks was to build a city on his newly
conquered lands. Here he was met with a difficult task as the Delta region was
covered by an immense swamp. To remedy this situation, Narmer drained the swamp
by actually diverting the course of the Nile River. Upon this new land he built
a city which he named Men-Nefer:The Good Place. This city served as the capital
of Kemet for several centuries. An Arab traveler writing as late as the Middle
Ages reported the city "stretching a day's journey in every direction." The
Greeks would rename Men-Nefer "Memphis," a name that even today honors an African
king who lived nearly 5,000 years ago.
OSEI TUTU KING OF ASANTE (1680-1717)
Osei Tutu was the founder and first king of the
Asante nation, a great West African kingdom in what is now Ghana. He was able
to unite over six different nations under his leadership. The Golden Stole became
a sacred symbol of the nation's soul, which was especially appropriate since
gold was the prime source of Asante wealth. During Osei Tutu's reign, the geographic
area of Asante tripled in size. The kingdom became a significant power, that
with his millitary and and political prowess as an example, would endure for
two centuries.
SAMORY TOURE King of the Sudan (1830-1900)
The ascendance of Samory Toure began when his native
Bissandugu was attacked and his mother taken captive. After a persuasive appeal,
Samory was allowed to take her place, but later escaped and joined the army
of King Bitike Souane of Torona. Following a quick rise through the ranks of
Bitike's army, Samory returned to Bissandugu where he was soon installed as
king and defied French wicked exploits in Africa by launching a conquest to
unify West Africa into a single state. During the eigthteen year conflict with
France, Samory continully frustrated the Europeans with his military strategy
and tactics. This astute millitary prowess brought him respect world wide.
SENWORSERT I PHARAOH OF THE 12TH DYNASTY
Senwosert I was a Twelfth Dynasty King of Kemet
(1897BC). Also known as Kepre Kare Senwosert I, he was known to the Greeks as
Kekrops and Sesostris. Interestingly enough Herodotus, Greece's Father of History,
reported that Greece had once been conquered by a king named Sesostris. Greek
mythology also indicated that the legendary founder of Athens was an Egyptian
named Kekrops.
SHAKA KING OF THE ZULUS (1818-1828)
A strong leader and military innovator, Shaka is
noted for revolutionizing 19th century Bantu warfare by first grouping regiments
by age, and training his men to use standardized weapons and special tactics.
He developed the "assegai" a short stabbing spear, and marched his regiments
in tight formation, using large shields to fend off the enemies throwing spears.
Over time, Shaka's troops earned such a reputation that many enemies would flee
at the sight of them. He built the Zulus into a nation of over a million strong.
He was also sucessful in uniting all the ethnic groups in South Africa against
the despicable vestiges of colonialism.
TAHARKA KING OF NUBIA (710-664 B. C.)
Taharka is probably one of the most famous rulers
of Napatan Kush. He was 32 when he became king and was heir to a kingdom that
included not only Kush but KMT(Kemet) as well. He is said to have commanded
military campaigns in Western Asia as far away as Palestine and led expeditions
all the way to Spain. Mention of his great campaigns can be found in the Bible
(Isaiah 37:9, 2 Kings 19:9). During his reign, Taharka controlled the largest
empire in Ancient Africa. He was able to initiate a building program throughout
his empire which was overwhelming in scope. The numbers and majesty of his building
projects were legendary, with the greatest being the temple at Gebel Barkal
in the Sudan. The temple was carved from the living rock and decorated with
images of Taharka over 100 feet high.
TENKAMENIN KING OF GHANA (1037-1075)
The country of Ghana reach the height of its greatness
during the reign of Tenkamenin. Through his careful management of the gold trade
across the Sahara desert into West Africa, Tenkamenin's empire flourished economically.
But his greatest strength was in government. Each day he would ride out on horseback
and listen to the problems and concerns of his people. He insisted that no one
be denied an audience and that they be allowed to remain in his presence until
satisfied that justice had been done. His principles of democratic monarchy
and religious tolerance make Tenkamenin's reign one of the great models of African
rule.
THUTMOSE III PHARAOH OF KEMET (1504-1450 B.C.)
Thutmose III was a member of one of the greatest
families in the history of royalty anywhere in the world, the 18th Dynasty of
Kemet (Ancient Egypt). He is credited with strengthened the sovereignty of Kemet
and extended its influence into Western Asia.
TUTANKAMUN BOY PHARAOH OF KEMET
Tutankhaten became pharoah after the death of Smenkhkare,
and became one of history's most famous royalty. Tutankhaten's story has since
come out, and we know more about this boy-king than we do about any other person
in the Kemartic period. Tutankhaten became pharoah at the age of nine . He married
Ankhesenpaaten and ruled from Akhetaten. Four years after he became king, Tutankhaten
moved his capital back to Memphis, and changed his name to Tutankamun, in honor
of the God Amun. Tutankamun, ruled for nine years, until he was 18. The mummy
discovered in the Valley of the Kings has an injury to the skull, and it is
believed that Tutankamun was either the victim of an accident or he was assasinated.
His tomb is one of very few that have been discovered almost untouched by theives.
RAMSES II THE GREAT Ramses II (the Great)
was one of the most prolific builders of ancient
Egypt. Hardly a site exists that he did not initiate, add to, complete, or build
entirely himself. Some of the greatest monuments on any tour of Egypt bear his
stamp: Abu Simbel, Karnak and Luxor Temples, the Ramesseum, and many others.
He also commissioned the largest monolithic statue ever, a seated statue of
himself at the Ramesseum. Now lying in pieces, the giant red-granite statue
inspired many.
|