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Courtesy of William Holland
William Holland, a family researcher from Georgia, tours a village in the Oku region of Cameroon.
Over the past year, William Holland's African-American family tale has grown in the telling, thanks to genetic testing and a whole lot of trans-Atlantic travel. The latest twist is a doozy: The Georgia resident has turned his research into a story that goes back to the seventh century.
Holland says he has found links to ancestors who lived in the Cameroonian region of Oku, who were captured by neighboring tribes and taken as slaves in Virginia. His story illustrates how the descendants of slaves can go beyond a painful chapter of American history and find their place in the broader sweep of world history. But the outcome isn't as precise as a paternity test.
"You have to put together the science and the history to make sense of it," he told me after his latest trips to West Africa. "To be honest, this is not an easy thing to do. You have to understand history, you have to understand migration patterns, you also have to understand culture. Most people would say, 'This is too much, because it's too complicated.' I would say this is a master's degree-level task."
Real families, real feelings
And it's not just an academic exercise. We're talking real families here. A year ago, Holland thought the genetic linkages showed a strong tie to royalty in a Cameroonian region known as Mankon. But after additional genetic tests and consultations with historians in Africa — including Samuel N. Wambeng, Nji Oumarou Nchare and Aboubakar Mgbekoum — he has focused on Oku instead. In fact, some of the people living around Mankon just might be the descendants of tribes that were involved in the slave trade.
"In Mankon, there were people who were dealers in trading people," Holland said. "They didn't trade their own people, but they were trading people from outside their community. So now it makes sense that I was not directly related to the palace in Mankon. Did my people come from there? No. Did they pass through there? Yes."
Even though the abduction from Africa happened in the 1770s, that part of the story has sparked bad feelings between Holland and some of the Cameroonians he came to know. "I didn't speak to them for a month," Holland told me. "It's still painful. ... Have you ever had a bad dream about being chained up in the bottom of a ship?"
Solving family mysteries
Unraveling history can leave scars, but it can also solve family mysteries. For example, the historians told Holland something that meshed with his memory of his sister's nickname. "Her name is Delores, but we always call her 'Nene,'" he said. "In Oku, 'Nene' basically means 'Mother.' That name was given to her by my father. These are very old names."
The DNA tests that Holland has taken mark marked the beginning of Holland's story, not the end. Most recently, Holland took a Y-chromosome test from Ancestry.com that looked at 46 genetic markers, and then he plugged the results into a database on the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation website. In some cases, comparisons with African test subjects in the database produced 33 matches out of 36 common markers.
"Normally they'll say, 'We're not related to someone,'" Holland observed. "Now the results show that, guess what, something must have occurred in those days for them to have nearly the same DNA as myself. Thirty-three out of 36 is pretty high."
Holland followed up by contacting the likeliest candidates for his kin.
"Genetics will only get you to the airport, but now where do you go?" he said. "You have to really find all the links. I'm lucky to have the information to find the links to the old names. With the names, people in Africa can say, 'This person was from this kingdom.' It's just like when people decide to go back to Scotland or Ireland, depending on whether your name begins with an 'M-A-C' or an 'M-C.'"
I can relate to that: I took a Y-chromosome test a decade ago in hopes of tracing my genetic roots in Ireland. I still haven't found a match close enough to confirm family ties in the old country, but the historical record provides enough information to make for a good tale about my great-grandfather's escape from western County Clare in 1847, during the Great Famine.
From Arabia to Virginia
Here's Holland's story, based on his visits to Ghana and Cameroon as well as the genetic results and the reports from the historians:
"We left Saudi Arabia around 622 when the time of Prophet Mohammed was implementing Islam. A war ensued, and the Mboum people left and went to Egypt, then to the Sudan, then in the Tigray area of Ethiopia. The city was in a town called Axum. Please note the Tigray province and the current tribal name of Tikar/Tikari. From Ethiopia, the Mboum people went to the valley in Lake Chad in the north of Cameroon and arrived finally in 933 in the Adamawa region. The village that was set up in the Adamawa region was called Ngan-Ha, and Nya Sana was the first Fon [king]. The story told to me was that he (Nya Sana) was the youngest of the leaders that arrived from Ethiopia, but became the king because he retrieved the most powerful idol that fell from the sky. There were a total of four leaders that came from Ethiopia, and all got their hands on one of the idols that fell from the sky. These idols were in Mecca (Makah) in Arabia that flew from there and headed to Egypt then to the Sudan, Ethiopia and finally to Ngan-Ha.
"Took Gokor ruled from 1186 to 1217, as he was a direct descendant from Nya Sana. Princess Wouten (Wou-Ten or Betaka) ruled around 1201-1246, during which she founded the Tinkala kingdom. So the tribal name change was from Mboum to Tinkala and finally to Tikari/Tikar. The Tikar kingdom was created around 1300. The migration pattern was from Ngan-Ha to Tibati, Ina and finally Bankim or Kimi. Kimi and Bankim are names that are used interchangeably when referring to this ancient area of various tribes in Cameroon. Around 1387, Fon Mbe left Bankim due to chieftancy disputes, and also he did not want to be killed while ruling. Nchare Yen supposedly had the right to become the next Fon, but was passed over by his half brother. Mbe, Ngonnso and Nchare Yen were siblings from the same mother and father. They left in fear, founding the kingdoms of Bankim, Foumban and Banso. Ngonnso founded Banso, while Nchare Yen founded Foumban. Nchare was the youngest of the siblings.
"I believe my common ancestor [linked to the royalty] lived around 1550, during the time when Fon Ngang was on the throne. He ruled from 1540 to 1588. According to the SMGF DNA results, the time period for the common ancestor was about 440 years ago. Also, there is a possibility that it could have been in Foumban. The eighth Fon of Foumban founded Banka, and his name was Ngapna (1590-1629). The familes that are in Banka and Bafang must have descended from the Prince of Ngapna.
"The Wambeng family of Oku descends from the third Fon, who was named Ney. Oku was founded around 1650, so the third Fon would be close to accurate for the 1770s time period. The people of Bali were hired by the coastal slavers, who gave them guns to capture individuals for the Virginia plantation owners. Bali is not too far away from Mankon. I asked the elder about this whole scenario, and he told me the year adds up to when Ney was ruling. Those who were captured, including my ancestor, were guards of the palace.
"The Bali people came with guns and created quite a scene, resulting in the capture of my ancestor. They were taken to the coast, and the rest is history. Meanwhile, in Foumban, the 11th Fon also lost children due to the fighting that was going on at the same time. It's very possible that when all of them arrived in Bimbia, they knew they were the same people, but spoke different languages and could not communicate with each other. I was told that the slavers arranged things intentionally so that you would be separated if you spoke the same language/dialect, to prevent insurrection on the ship.
"Because of Ngonnso, the kingdoms of Oku, Banso (Kumbo) and Mbiame are related, and also Kom would have to be included. There is a good relationship between all of them today, and who knows? Maybe a big party would happen if we all go back to meet the family in Oku."
So now what? Holland is still working on the later chapters of his family's story — the part that includes his slave ancestors in Virginia, including one ancestor who was taken into the Confederate Army for a time. But the chapters that excite Holland the most are the ones that go way back into the past.
"I guess I'll always have a curious gene in there, a gene that makes me want to find out," he told me. "Will I stop after this? Hopefully there's be a different thing to work on. I'd like to go to the east — to Egypt, and Ethiopia."
Earlier chapters in the African-American saga:
- Sept. 8, 2010: DNA points to royal roots in Africa
- Feb. 1, 2011: Family roots get tangled up in Africa
- Feb. 28, 2011: Black history saga comes full circle
- July 3, 2011: Africans visit their American cousins
- African American news from theGrio
Connect with the Cosmic Log community by "liking" the log's Facebook page or following @b0yle on Twitter. You can also add me to your Google+ circle, and check out "The Case for Pluto," my book about the controversial dwarf planet and the search for new worlds.
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I am Larry Sewer, (Sowah continued Ghana Pronounciation), . I was connected to my family the Sowah's while attending an herbal Conference in Ghana in 2006 and 2008. I knew of my family coming from Ghana and starting the First successful revolution in the Western Hemisphere in 1733. This revolution took place on Sin Jan, Danish West Indies. Forty three years later you had the revolutionary war. My people the Ga also started the 1848 revolution in St. Croix, Danish West Indies.
I am the first of my family to reunite with our family in 300+ years. I speak with my family monthly. My family is from Labadi in Accra. The hero of the 1948 revolution in Ghana is Sergeant Cornelius Frederick Adjetey.
While entering the Accra Air port for the first time (2006), the inspectors called me by name to come forward. Additionally, when signing the hotel registry with my last name Sewer, I was asked why I did so. After explaining, I was told that" They have Bastardised our name. Mean while in our discussion, I pronounced thw Sowah sound. They spelling was the clincher.
Again in 2008, A similar situation occurred. Challenged by an official, another inspector called me by name and asked the situation. As I explained, ( not knowing the person), the response was "Inspector, I live in his family dwelling, please attend to him".
Any questions: Contact me: L2sewer@hotmail.com
"Holland says he has found links to ancestors who lived in the Cameroonian region of Oku, who were captured by neighboring tribes and taken as slaves in Virginia."
What is not commonly known is that most African slaves in America were captured, not by Europeans, but by neighboring tribes and by Arab traders. Traditionally, tribes would war with their neighbors for women and territory, and the males in the losing tribe were killed and the women taken captive to procreate and increase the size of the winning tribe. Slavery, although illegal, continues to this day in some Arab nations.
It wasn't until a market developed for male slaves to work in the Americas that the males were kept alive and sold to slave traders on the West Coast of Africa. It was considered too dangerous by Europeans to go into the interior of Africa, so they preferred to let the Africans and Arabs bring the slaves to them at the coast.
Most of the slaves were sent to Brazil, but the vast majority perished from harsh treatment - basically being worked to death. Only about 5% of the slaves were sent to modern day America, and about 85% of them survived the difficult journey by ship, and they were considered 'Indentured Servants', as were roughly half of the immigrants from Europe. The difference was that European Servants were allowed to work for their freedom, but African slaves were not - until they were finally freed by Abraham Lincoln.
The 14th Amendment was primarily passed, not to give automatic citizenship to new immigrants, but to ensure that all freed African slaves would not be denied citizenship by the southern States after the civil war.
These facts, which are by no means all inclusive, can be easily verified by googling Slavery in Wikipedia.
Genetic testing will allow many people in America to trace their roots, and give many a sense of identity that has previously been denied to them.
Awesome. Never, ever, stop what you are doing. I wish more people would unite to document REAL history, shameful or not to us of other descents. I applaud your tenacity.
I'm impressed with with anyone who has the patience to dig out their family history and that is willing to let the chips fall where they may. Well done!
Mr. Holland, I salute you. For fun, I have tried tracing my ancestry and don't have to go back very far [in America] and my ancestors disappear.
What a wonderful journey. It was fascinating to read. If Mr. Holland were to write a book, it would be one I would buy. Some of my family members have embarked on filling out their family trees, but none have cared enough to really track down the rich history like Mr. Holland is doing. What an amazing man.
As a white guy, I will say that slavery was sooooooo wrong.
Remember ,unless you can't read all man came from africa. So all attempts by those of you
trying to throw racist jabs are only highlighting your own personal stupidity.
What is there to be proud of? You're only white by accident of birth. What nonsense!
Murphy - Radar shouldn't have qualified his statement because slavery is "sooo" wrong as a "white guy". It appears to imply that such sentiment is somehow unusual for a white guy to have. However, when you ask him to be proud of being white because Africans were involved selling other Africans, it appears to minimize the role that white Europeans played in the slave trade. Sure, he should be proud of his ancestry, like any person of any other race, for the positive things that their ancestors may have done. I believe that in his inarticulate way, he is merely recognizing the not so positive things that his ancestors did in the past. I am sure that that every race/ethnic group has done something or the other, at some point in history, that could not be looked back with pride.
@mikeo76
I'm sure it was no accident that his ancestors chose to procreate with others of the same race. There are many people of this world who believe they should keep their race pure, people of all races. What is wrong with pride in your race?
Radar, you do not speak for white men - only one white man - if you can call yourself a man. I apologise for nothing, and I have owned no one. Sooner or later people will have to realise that the past is the past, that their brothers sold them unto bondage, and that they have no one to blame for their present condition but themselves.
you are nuts radar slavery it happens with a purpose. if not for slavery negro people cannot be educated and progressive in their own land in africa.. even pw botha once told native african negroes cannot govern themselves, they violent. white afrikaner taught them how to farm just like them but still cannot progress to their own selves and become lazy. they just dont wanna do anything.
I've managed to track my ancestors back to about the 12th century. Most of my ancestors were merchants. Until I stumbled upon a fun fact. My ancestors accidentally found the Island the of Bermuda. Lots of places there with the name "Tucker" in it. (my mothers maiden name)
Being a WHITE guy, I cannot allow myself to get started on this article. EXCEPT for the statement that 90 %
of how we [ whites ] feel about AFRICA. It's a great place for AFRICANS !! LETS SEND THEM ALL BACK THERE
WITH A M U S H — L U M under each arm. The AFRICAN'S have FORCED this thinking on me. Just look
at the crime rate in A N Y country with AFRICANS in it. I rest my case.
What you say has nothing to do with being white, and everything to do with being a creep.
Speak for yourself, Moron.
I'll bet you call yourself a Christian too don't you Bill?
Idiot
you know bill,
I'm a white guy too, and I find your post appalling. First off you are absolutely wrong, 90% of us (whites) do NOT think like you do. Most of us are not low-life, racist, hate-mongers. Second, no one has forced any kind of thinking upon you except maybe your parents. Your opinions are your own, do us all a favor and keep them to yourself. BTW, I'm also a Right Wing, Christian, Conservative. I still think you're an idiot.
i've traced my relatives back to cornwall,england,where they were given estates by edward 1st,longshanks.apparently in the movie braveheart we were the scotts who snatched wallace and our ships transported him to england for his trial and execution.great article
My buddy owns a farm in Cornwall that backs onto Uther Pendragons castle (Tintagel near Newquay) who was King Arther (of the round table) father.
My ancestors were German mercenaries who came to England in 1066 to fight with with Williams the Conquer.
I became a US citizen in 2005 at the age of 55
Whell stay with the facts the blacks are genetically less inelligent than the rest of the population it is a fact that they are 3 lines behind than modern man neandethals were more intelligent than they are even william shockley tried to tell the world that fact butt they ignored them and now we have one them in the whitehouse voted in by the jewishcontrolled media if people dont smarten up soon the us is damded to be doom .........
You really want to go there. When colored people were building pyramids and large monuments in Egypt, white people where scavengers in the forests of Europe and living in caves.
I won't go deeper, because I'm not here to give you an education.
Only a person of no intelligence and NO EDUCATION would say something like that.
Well you certainly displayed your superior intelligence with that well crafted rant. What a clown you are.
Won't josef be surprised if he ever spent the couple of hundred dollars to have a complete DNA analysis of his heritage done.
fail
josef (you do know that's a Hebrew name, right?), your comment just proved the exact opposite of what you claimed in the comment. I read the article and I read your comment...the black man in the article and the black man in the White House both have AT LEAST 100 IQ points on you...AT LEAST! LOL!!
josef, with your totally screwed up post, misspelled words, no punctuation, etc., I wouldn't be running my big mouth if I were you! At best you are an absolutely pathetic, disgraceful example of the white race. The man in this article is so far above you, as is the one in the Whitehouse, you aren't even fit to shine their shoes. As for Mr. Holland, thank you for sharing this absolutely fascinating story! Hope to hear more of your adventures in the future!
the most important thing in this whole story and one that is not accepted by most blacks is that other blacks were the ones primarily responsible for the taking of slaves to be sold overseas.
yes, whites may have steered the ships and owned the plantations; but it was black selling black. if the blacks can accept that part of their history; it should help them to become better citizens in this country today.
let the past stay in africa and the future in the U.S.
This is stupid and not the point of the article at all. Okay, Africans sold other Africans...but in this case we can think of it as the Germans attacking the French. Obviously the same race of people yet they went to war with one another. The problem with people like you is that you attempt to group all black people or all Asians or all of anyone not like you into one group when they are not. Furthermore, the "blacks" that sold other "blacks" are not responsible for racism, are not responsible for how horrendous Western slavery was, and were not responsible for Jim Crow which followed slavery. So before you try to divorce "whites" of any responsibility please acknowledge this. Also, race is a very new concept which meaning across a broad spectrum of people that are not incredibly similar to one another even though you claim that it is. And that those "blacks" that did each other in were no different than the Germans doing in the Jews even though both groups are white savvy? Grouping people by race is stupid because it makes no sense considering the history of the world. I'm 21 and I realize this...
Well said.
Mikzyspitlik
You are 21 and realize what you were programed to realize. Get another 20-30 yrs experience before you think you know it all. Western slavery cannot hold a candle to the conditions that slaves endured in Africa alone. Go back and hit the books, maybe you will learn the rest of the story.
You do, however have some excellent points but the conclusions aren't as simple as you make them sound. Continue to study, but be open minded, as is Mr. Howard. Don't except things on face value, we all hope that things have the happy ever after, but I think you are going to find that many of the people you have been indoctrinated to believe saints were actual the devil in disguise. Study about a little weasel named Edward Kennedy as his wonderful clan. Study about all of the discrimination that has occurred in this country and what lead to Jim Crow, the KKK, the Black Panthers and you will find some very ugly truths and a lot of those very things are manifesting themselves again, now.
Learn baby lean
This is a great story if true. I'm afraid I'm a bit skeptical though. Having done my share of genealogy research your best line of attack is to follow the paper trail. It's easy once you're into it to want to extend the line as far back as possible with old family legends and other dubious sources. I've seen supposed family trees that tie into royalty and even extend back to Adam and Eve - at this point you may want to reexamine your source of information. To trace back over 1000 years with no written sources?
Also, there is no truth to the fact that 'Mac's are from Scotland and 'Mc's are from Ireland so that immediately caught my eye. [Although 'O's are from Ireland.]
I think its getting to be time for another Roots" movie...hope they find actors as outstanding as they did for the first one.
I believe the Muslims still worship this meteorite (Black Stone fallen from the sky) in Mecca....or am I mistaken?
Curious Bob: I, also, connected the posibility of the Black Stone in this tale to the Kaaba Stone. I think you're onto something here.
I once knew a black family which used the word "Nene" in the correct sense, as "Mother." It never occured to me that this word could have been an African word which survived generations of slavery plus generations of poor education in the Deep South. This information is awesome.
If I'm not mistaken the "Nene" is also a Mandarin term for Grandmother.
This is really cool to me. I think African Americans that can should do this kind of thing. It gives you a frame of reference to judge your life by. Also, by the looks of it, people have been moving around for centuries spreading culture and techniques throughout the world which is awesome to me. I'm a Black American and I one day want to do something like this. But, I also want to trace my European history and POSSIBLY my Native American history. I'll admit that I'm skeptical of the Native American part lol. I truthfully want to get some substantive knowledge about the history of my people before slavery. So yeah, I think this is a fascinating story and I'm happy for him.
It has been postulated that up to 80% of African Americans are also of Native American ancestry. If this is part of your family's oral history, there's a good chance it's true! Good luck, cousin. ;-)
Welcome home brothers and sisters...
If everyone can trace their roots back to receiving land from a king or his family was a member of a royal family where were all the po folks? Very very few weathy people came to the US. They were poor people with nowhere else to turn.
In response to Bill-2411597: Well,well,well. Scientist have recently proved that genetically all of the human race is decended from Africa. So pack your bags Bill and please leave with a racist/bigot under each of your arms. If we can rid the United States of all racist/bigots,(of all colors), maybe we can continue to survive and become the great nation we were meant to be.Division weakens us. Bill and others like him need to lose the negetiivity. Become a multiplier.BECOME A HUMAN BEING!
What could be the purpose of this unverified scanty information. Everyone in the world who participated in the African slave trade, with the exception of the Jews, have either apologized or acknowledged their rolls in African Slave trade.
Be aware!, especially Blacks, of suspicious timing (in the season of politics) of information tending to question personal doubts about your own knowledge and common exposure relating to American Blacks and the African slave trade.
In response to josef-3050477: Josef the majority of American citizens dont agree with you. The majority of this world does not agree with you. You are in the minority josef! That type of racist ranting weakens this country. It weakens this world. I would advise you to look deep within yourself and find the good in you and each day try to build upon it and magnify it. In no time at all you will become a Human Being. God's speed!
There's always somebody that wants to be a horse's butt and make some smart remark about race or somebody's family. Hogwash. Mr. Holland, sir I stand up and cheer for you. It takes some tenacity to take on a task of this magnitude and have the drive to see it through to the end. Are you to the end yet? If not, please don't give up. You have a legacy that your family can stand up and be extremely proud of. I've done my family's genealogy for about five years now and great, great great grandfather is as far as I've got. I've hit the proverbial "brick wall." Anyway, I salute you and cheer for you for succeeding at this monumental undertaking.
In the annals of history I think we could probably count ourselves as one of the great nations. Have we been perfect? NO! Have we made mistakes? YES! Can we rectify our mistakes? Yes! As history goes we have the opportunity to soar way beyond all who have come before us. We can bog ourselves down with all the negetive crap that has been done or we can move forward and make our mark as the nation that strives to provide all humans with justice and the freedom to pursue all the blessings of life, health, wealth. success, happiness, peace, love. prosperity, and abundance. Recognize our mistakes. Let us learn from our mistakes. Let us not repeat our mistakes. But, let us not dwell on our mistakes. Let us concentrate on ways to better ourselves, our nation, our world. We can do it! Become a Human Being.
A fine family history story but genealogy without documentation is mythology. I would like to read more about the search for ancestors in Virginia. It would be a good idea to join some projects at FamilyTreeDNA.com and GedMatch.org, add your results to YSearch.org and possibly get some additional Y-DNA tests. There are not nearly enough African American males who have had Y-DNA tests.
seeing as how my first ' RANT ' was kicked out-- let me try to tell the T R U T H again-- I 1st agree with
murphy: the first black slaves were sold by { GASP } other blacks !!! If ? 60 to 70 % of African Americans
have been arrested by the time they are 18 years of age, let me ask-- are the AFRICAN'S in other
countries outside of Africa considered CIVILIZED ?? If they in AMERICA don't even know WHO their fathers
are, how can they EVER, EVER,EVER, trace WHO, THEY ARE OR WHERE THEY ARE FROM ?? Modern day
whites did not do this to them. Uncontroled SEX DID IT !! I know this will never see print because it
tells the T R U T H !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
seeing as how my first ' RANT ' was kicked out-- let me try to tell the T R U T H again-- I 1st agree with
murphy: the first black slaves were sold by { GASP } other blacks !!! If ? 60 to 70 % of African Americans
have been arrested by the time they are 18 years of age, let me ask-- are the AFRICAN'S in other
countries outside of Africa considered CIVILIZED ?? If they in AMERICA don't even know WHO their fathers
are, how can they EVER, EVER,EVER, trace WHO, THEY ARE OR WHERE THEY ARE FROM ?? Modern day
whites did not do this to them. Uncontroled SEX DID IT !! I know this will never see print because it
tells the T R U T H !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You are a total clown!
Yeah, Mike, you look like an expert on clowns.
MOST blacks came to slavery after being captured by "neighboring tribes" to quote the story. They were then sold to Europeans at various ports. Can you picture a couple dozen scurvy ridden white sailors landing on the shore of Africa (teeming with millions of well armed natives) and sniping off slaves? Be like Justin Beiber fighting his way through Harlem at 2 in the Morning.
DNA may or may not be able to trace the origins of a genetic line. 10 more years will probably bring a lot more accuracy. However, it may be easier to trace that than current parentage....of anyone. So, Bill, you are comparing apples to hammers. Someone else seems all excited by the fact that "all human life originated in Africa". This is like saying everyone in the world is black. Fun supposition, but not supportable with facts. Every year brings new evidence on the origins of humans, pre-humans, hominids and other monkeys. More accurate to say we all originated in the ocean.
Royalty in africa? Unless we are talking about the Egytians or the "middle eastern" areas of Africa and Asia...there is no evidence of "kingdoms" or Royalty in Africa. It's a fun dream, but for the most part there are no archeological evidence of "kingdoms" in Africa. If there were, where did they go? All other kingdoms that weren't destroyed by natural phenomena like volcanoes and earthquakes or sustained warfare by technologically advanced invaders (south and central America) have survived and evolved. 150 inbred natives with one leader who has his own private rock to perch on does not make a Kingdom. A kingdom presupposes a system of laws, an economy and a record of accomplishments. There is no evidence of anything like that in any areas where slaves originated. Nor have there been any since. Was Idi Amin a "King"? Somalia a "Kingdom"? Only in their own minds.
"but for the most part there are no archeological evidence of "kingdoms" in Africa."
Actually, there is. People may argue about the exact definitions, but there were certainly large, advanced civiliations with central power structures. You call it a fantasy, but one might equally wonder why it is so important to you that there were NOT such kingdoms?
"...or sustained warfare by technologically advanced invaders."
Um, have you read anything about Africa around 1900?
" all excited by the fact that "all human life originated in Africa". This is like saying everyone in the world is black. Fun supposition, but not supportable with facts."
I'm not sure what particular axe you have to grind here, but it is pretty clear that human life originated in Africa, and most likely those ancestors were what we would categorize today as "black."
" They were then sold to Europeans at various ports."
So the Europeans encouraged warfare betweenthe tribes by providing a market for the spoils. I hope you are not suggesting this absolves them in any way?
Bill, if you had such a comment deleted it was probably because of the clearly racist biases you seem so proud of. Your emphasis that you think your wild generalizatiuons must be the "T R U T H" only shows how deeply ingrained and important these biases are to you.
Jocko, it's not important. Whether it were important or not, it is not the fact. If there were, there were. Why is so important to you to imagine the vast king doms of Africa?
As of recently, the oldest living hominid discovered was found in Indonesia. Previously it was Africa. It is apparent that some equatorial environment spawned the earliest humans. I have no problem with that. That the rest of the world used Africa as a punching bag for the rest of history is sad.
I have read 1900 history, and there is no historical record of "kingdoms" being over-run by Europeans. By 1900 Africa had been brought under colonial control to the extent that anything resembling a kingdom may not be totally African. Disorganized Feudal gangs and warlike tribes is more like it. Half the black Americans I know claim some sort of royal background. I imagine myself to be the decendant of Vikings. It doesn't really matter, but history doesn't support either.
Slave owners are not absolved, whatever color. Neither are the original enslavers. Most of the history of the world includes slavery. Only (relatively) recently is it falling out of favor in the "western" countries. It is just historical record that the bulk of the slaves were captured by other Africans. Your assertion that "Europeans encouraged warfare between the tribes" is totally without historical example. B.S.
Final word: Where on earth in 2011 is slavery still thriving? Africa. Africans enslaving Africans.
"Where on earth in 2011 is slavery still thriving?"
Everywhere. That's what makes it curious that you emphasize Africa.
"As of recently, the oldest living hominid discovered was found in Indonesia. Previously it was Africa"
I'm curious what you are thinking of here. If we were going to simplify it that much I might have said it the other way around. "Java man" was discovered before the Africa finds, but that was H. erectus, which also came from Africa. Now we have hominid species in Africa from long before to long after that.
Not that I think it makes Africa special because we came from there. It just happens to be the spot of land where it happened. But since it is fairly obvious, I'm always curious why some people try to argue otherwise.