African Origins of African Americans

1. African Origins of AfricanAfrican Origins of African
AmericansAmericans

2. West and Central African OriginsWest and Central African Origins
 Most African Americans are theMost African Americans are the
descendants of enslaved Africansdescendants of enslaved Africans
imported from West and Central Africaimported from West and Central Africa
 All humans are descendants of AfricaAll humans are descendants of Africa
– DiopDiop’’s two-cradle theorys two-cradle theory
 Ancient AfricaAncient Africa
 Contemporary AfricaContemporary Africa

3. The Nile ValleyThe Nile Valley
CivilizationsCivilizations

4. Ancient African EmpiresAncient African Empires
 Kemet (Kmt)Kemet (Kmt)
– Modern day Egypt and upper SudanModern day Egypt and upper Sudan
– Birth place of modern medicine, science, math,Birth place of modern medicine, science, math,
astrology, writing,astrology, writing,
 Kush (people often referred to as Ethiopians)Kush (people often referred to as Ethiopians)
– Modern day Sudan and EthiopiaModern day Sudan and Ethiopia
– Most ancient kingdom (3900 BCE)Most ancient kingdom (3900 BCE)
– 700 BC Kush invaded and conquered Egypt700 BC Kush invaded and conquered Egypt
– Assyrians drove Kushites out of Egypt around 663 BCAssyrians drove Kushites out of Egypt around 663 BC
– See Biblical references to Kush and Kushite (MoseSee Biblical references to Kush and Kushite (Mose’’ss
wife Zipporah was a Kushite; see Numbers 12:1)wife Zipporah was a Kushite; see Numbers 12:1)

6. Kmt – Contributions to WorldKmt – Contributions to World
CivilizationCivilization
 Imotep – (Imotep – (2635 B.C.E.2635 B.C.E.
to 2595 B.C.Eto 2595 B.C.E.).)
– Father of Medicine,Father of Medicine,
philosopher,philosopher,
astronomer, and priestastronomer, and priest
– Builder of the firstBuilder of the first
pyramidpyramid

7. Ramses IIRamses II
 Ramses IIRamses II
– Regarded as EgyptRegarded as Egypt’’ss
greatest pharaoh.greatest pharaoh.
– Son of SetiSon of Seti
– Wife was NefertariWife was Nefertari
– Rained for 66 yearsRained for 66 years

8. Tutankhamun (aka King Tut)Tutankhamun (aka King Tut)

9. Amunoph III (aka Amenhotep II)Amunoph III (aka Amenhotep II)

10. The Book of the DeadThe Book of the Dead
E.A. Wallis Budge (1960)E.A. Wallis Budge (1960)
 The hieroglyphic transcript of the PapyrusThe hieroglyphic transcript of the Papyrus
and ANIand ANI
– Acknowledges Amen-Ra as the one true GodAcknowledges Amen-Ra as the one true God
– Predates the Christian era by 3,000Predates the Christian era by 3,000
– Predicated on belief that the dead body of aPredicated on belief that the dead body of a
man was sacred (cult of Osiris)man was sacred (cult of Osiris)
– Provides a blueprint for living and dyingProvides a blueprint for living and dying
– Instructions for entering afterworldInstructions for entering afterworld

11. The Negative ConfessionsThe Negative Confessions
 I have not committed sinI have not committed sin
 I have not committed robberyI have not committed robbery
 I have not stolenI have not stolen
 I have not slain manI have not slain man
 I have not stolen grainI have not stolen grain
 I have not stolen the property of GodI have not stolen the property of God
 I have not uttered cursesI have not uttered curses
 I have not stolen cultivated landI have not stolen cultivated land
 I have not pried into matttersI have not pried into mattters

12.  King TaharqaKing Taharqa
(Biblical Tirhakah)(Biblical Tirhakah)
led hisled his
Egyptian/NubianEgyptian/Nubian
armiesarmies
against the invadingagainst the invading
AssyriansAssyrians iin defensen defense
of his ally, Israel.of his ally, Israel.
TThis action earnedhis action earned
him a place in thehim a place in the
Bible (Isaias 37:9 &Bible (Isaias 37:9 &
Kings 19:9).Kings 19:9).

13. African Origins ofAfrican Origins of
Judaism and ChristianityJudaism and Christianity

14. Moses and MonotheismMoses and Monotheism
by Sigmund Freud, 1939by Sigmund Freud, 1939
 Moses was an EgyptianMoses was an Egyptian
 Under Amenhotep IV monotheismUnder Amenhotep IV monotheism
emerged (Amen-Ra banned)emerged (Amen-Ra banned)
 Egyptian hymn – sound familiarEgyptian hymn – sound familiar
– ““O Thou only God, there is no other God thanO Thou only God, there is no other God than
Thou.Thou.””
 Moses, an Egyptian, gave the Jews a newMoses, an Egyptian, gave the Jews a new
religion and the practice of circumcision.religion and the practice of circumcision.

15. Amenhotep III and Queen TiyAmenhotep III and Queen Tiy

16.  Queen Tiy, wife ofQueen Tiy, wife of
Amenhotep IIIAmenhotep III
 Mother of AkenatenMother of Akenaten

17. AkhenatenAkhenaten (aka Amenhotep IV)(aka Amenhotep IV)
1352-1336 B.C.1352-1336 B.C.

The tenth king of the 18th DynastyThe tenth king of the 18th Dynasty
was perhaps the mostwas perhaps the most
controversial because of his breakcontroversial because of his break
with traditional religion. Some saywith traditional religion. Some say
that he was the most remarkablethat he was the most remarkable
king to sit upon Egyptking to sit upon Egypt’’s throne.s throne.
Akhenaten was traditionally raisedAkhenaten was traditionally raised
by his parents, Amenhotep III andby his parents, Amenhotep III and
Queen Tiy (1382-1344 B.C.) byQueen Tiy (1382-1344 B.C.) by
worshippingworshipping AmenAmen. Akhenaten,. Akhenaten,
however, preferredhowever, preferred
Aten, the sun godAten, the sun god that wasthat was
worshipped in earlier times. Earlyworshipped in earlier times. Early
in his reign he changed his namein his reign he changed his name
to Akhenaten, meaningto Akhenaten, meaning ““He WhoHe Who
is of Service to Atenis of Service to Aten”” andand
renamed his queen to Nefer-renamed his queen to Nefer-
Nefru-Aten, which isNefru-Aten, which is ““Beautiful isBeautiful is
the Beauty of Aten.the Beauty of Aten.””

18. Moses and Monotheism (cont)Moses and Monotheism (cont)
 Herodutus (Father of History)Herodutus (Father of History)
– The practice of circumcision has long beenThe practice of circumcision has long been
practiced in Egyptpracticed in Egypt
– Mummies confirm this practiceMummies confirm this practice

19. African Presence in theAfrican Presence in the
BibleBible

20. Song of Solomon 1:5-6Song of Solomon 1:5-6
 "I am black but comely,O ye daughters of"I am black but comely,O ye daughters of
Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as theJerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the
curtains of Solomon, look not upon mecurtains of Solomon, look not upon me
because I am black because the sun hathbecause I am black because the sun hath
scorched me."scorched me."

21. Numbers 12:1Numbers 12:1
 And Miriam and Aaron spake againstAnd Miriam and Aaron spake against
Moses because of the Ethiopian womanMoses because of the Ethiopian woman
whom he had married: for he had marriedwhom he had married: for he had married
an Ethiopian woman.an Ethiopian woman.

22. Merriam-Webster OnlineMerriam-Webster Online
 Main Entry:Main Entry: 1Ethi·o·pi·an1Ethi·o·pi·an
Pronunciation: "E-thE-'O-pE-&nPronunciation: "E-thE-'O-pE-&n
Function:Function: nounnoun
11 :: a member of any of the mythical ora member of any of the mythical or
actual peoples usually described by theactual peoples usually described by the
ancient Greeks as dark-skinned and living farancient Greeks as dark-skinned and living far
to the southto the south
22 archaicarchaic :: a black persona black person
33 :: a native or inhabitant ofa native or inhabitant of EthiopiaEthiopia

23. Dictionary.comDictionary.com
 E·thi·o·pi·anE·thi·o·pi·an [ee-thee- [ee-thee-ohoh-pee-uh n]-pee-uh n]
– 1.of or pertaining to Ethiopia or to its inhabitants.1.of or pertaining to Ethiopia or to its inhabitants.
– 2.belonging to the part of Africa south of the equator2.belonging to the part of Africa south of the equator
– 3.3.Zoogeography.Zoogeography. belonging to a geographicalbelonging to a geographical
division comprising Africa south of the tropic ofdivision comprising Africa south of the tropic of
Cancer, the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula,Cancer, the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula,
and Madagascar.and Madagascar.
– 4.4.Archaic.Archaic. black African.black African. –noun–noun
– 5.a native of Ethiopia.5.a native of Ethiopia.
– 6.a member of any of various supposedly dark-6.a member of any of various supposedly dark-
skinned peoples regarded by the ancients as comingskinned peoples regarded by the ancients as coming
from a country lying south of Egypt.from a country lying south of Egypt.
– 7.7.Archaic.Archaic. a black African.a black African.

24. Ancient African Empires (cont)Ancient African Empires (cont)
 Ghana (300 C.E. to 1240 C.E.)Ghana (300 C.E. to 1240 C.E.)
– Modern day Sengegambia (unrelated to modern dayModern day Sengegambia (unrelated to modern day
Ghana)Ghana)
– Advanced govnAdvanced govn’’t and economic systemt and economic system
– Oral historyOral history
– Center of trade/commerce – GoldCenter of trade/commerce – Gold
– Constant fighting with neighbors led to declineConstant fighting with neighbors led to decline
 Mali (1230 C.E. to 1400 C.E.)Mali (1230 C.E. to 1400 C.E.)
– As Ghana declined, Mali ascendedAs Ghana declined, Mali ascended
– Populated by the Mandingo ethnic groupPopulated by the Mandingo ethnic group
– Great cultural center of TimbuktuGreat cultural center of Timbuktu

26. Ancient Kingdoms (cont)Ancient Kingdoms (cont)
 Songhai (1468 C.E)Songhai (1468 C.E)
– Farmers and fishermenFarmers and fishermen
– 1464 Sonni Ali came to rule1464 Sonni Ali came to rule
– Captured Timbuktu in 1468Captured Timbuktu in 1468
– University of Timbuktu attracted MuslimUniversity of Timbuktu attracted Muslim
scholars from near and farscholars from near and far
– Declined around 1590Declined around 1590

27. Ancient City of TimbuktuAncient City of Timbuktu

32. Ancient Manuscripts inAncient Manuscripts in
the sciences foundthe sciences found
at Timbuktuat Timbuktu

39. People of TombuctouPeople of Tombuctou

51. Ancient City of DjenneAncient City of Djenne

57. Dogon People of the Mali EmpireDogon People of the Mali Empire

69. Ancient Kingdoms in DeclineAncient Kingdoms in Decline
 Constant warfareConstant warfare
 Change to Nomadic life style and nationChange to Nomadic life style and nation
statesstates
 Arrival of EuropeansArrival of Europeans
 Transatlantic slave trade begins aroundTransatlantic slave trade begins around
1600s1600s
 Hundreds of forts along west coast ofHundreds of forts along west coast of
Africa (e.g., Elimina, Cape Coast, Goree)Africa (e.g., Elimina, Cape Coast, Goree)

70. Transatlantic Slave TradeTransatlantic Slave Trade
 Maafa – great disaster of unspeakableMaafa – great disaster of unspeakable
magnitudemagnitude
 Beginning around 1600Beginning around 1600
– Arabs (began much earlier)Arabs (began much earlier)
– Europeans (Portuguese, Spanish, British, French,Europeans (Portuguese, Spanish, British, French,
Dutch, et al.)Dutch, et al.)
 West and Central AfricaWest and Central Africa
– CaptureCapture
– March to coastMarch to coast
– Slave dungeonsSlave dungeons
– Middle PassageMiddle Passage