FH 4 Kingdoms
At N'Kele's lectures students are often surprised to learn about the great kingdoms that are part of the history of sub-Saharan Africa
Since the Middle Ages, camel caravans have navigated north from the fabled city of Timbuktu, in present-day Mali, West Africa, in search of the gold of the Sahara desert...salt. Traveling across the windswept sand dunes, caravans often numbering more than a hundred camels journeyed to the salt mines of Taudenni, 500 miles (800 kilometers) north of Timbuktu. A human necessity and source of commerce, salt has been in high demand in West Africa since the 12th century when it was first found in the sand dunes of the desert...Source National Geographic
Warrior with Pipe
In 1482, Portuguese navigator Diogo Cao was exploring the west coast of Africa when he came to the mouth of Congo River and sailed inland, becoming the first European to visit Kongo. He would return in 1485, and an alliance was formed with the kings of Kongo and Portugal. The two countries exchanged ambassadors, and some royal sons of Kongo were sent to study at the University of Lisbon. This was around or immediately before Columbus sailed to the Americas the first time.
At this time Kongo was a strong nation with a good economy, which may be why Portugal chose to establish an alliance rather conquer or raid the villages. The Bakongo mined and smelted iron ore and worked it into weapons, tools, ornaments and musical instruments. They were knowledgeable in the lost-wax method of molding copper statues, fetishes and jewelry. They wove beautiful fabric from the raffia palm, which the Portuguese at first mistook for velvet and brocade. They also made another type of cloth from tree bark. They used palm fronds to weave baskets and mats and they processed palm fibers to make ropes and fishing and hunting nets. They made pottery, were skilled at wood and ivory carving and used cowry shells as money.
The Bakongo cultivated yams and bananas, gathered wild fruits and kept goats, pigs and cattle. They used baskets, harpoons and nets to fish the rivers of the area. They enjoyed music and dance and were accomplished in both. They did not keep clocks or calendars nor did they have the wheel.
Although an alliance between Kongo and Portugal seemed beneficial to the Africans in the beginning, it ultimately proved otherwise. Wars and the escalation of the slave trade would eventually topple Kongo and most neighboring kingdoms.
Information Source: The River Congo, Peter Forbath, Houghton Mifflin Co. Boston, MA 1977
click on pictures to enlarge
Ghana King
Wire, Aluminum, Found28 x 48 x 12 inches, Portfo #14
The West African kingdom of Ghana was noted for gold. Because of its great wealth it became a major trader with the camel caravans which regularly crossed the Sahara Desert from the Arab countries of North Africa. The Arabs in turn traded gold to other the nations with the result that gold from Ghana made its way into Medieval Europe where it was used to mint coins and make jewelry
Planning for the future without a sense of history is like planting cut flowers...Daniel J. Boorstein
Wire, Aluminum, Window Screen, Found, 2002
H 52" x W 27" x D 60", Portfolio #210
Watusi live in Congo, Rwanda and Burundi. Their territory divided among the Belgians and Germans in colonial times. Once their warriors performed dance rituals to represent feats in battle for their king. Today's dancers (a tradition passed from father to son) simulate historic battles and express joy of the past history of their people. They are the tallest people in the world, extremely graceful as they dance with elongated neck and body. It is a very beautiful dance you will long remember.
Watusi Dancer
H30 W36 D15" 1995 P# 150
Wire, Aluminum, 1998 , 28x13x27 inches at base, Portflio #186
When the Portuguese met the people of Kongo in the 1400s they recorded that the Kongolese raised goats, pigs and cattle, cultivated yams and bananas and gathered other wild fruits. They enjoyed music and dance and were accomplished in both.
Click on images to enlarge
Food Preparation I
We are what we know...said James Burke in The Day the Universe Changed.
When what we know changes we do too.
For more information about historic African kingdoms click on the following link: