African history

Benkos Biohó: The Runaway Slave Who Established the First Free African Town in the Americas in 1599

Domingo Biohó Also known as Domingo Biohó, was born in the 16th century into a royal family that ruled Bioho one of the Bissagos Islands off the coast of what is today Guinea-Bissau. He was kidnapped by the Portuguese...

Breffu: The African Woman Who Successfully Led a Slave Revolt in St. John Island in 1733

Breffu was a courageous African woman who defied the chains of oppression and led a triumphant slave revolt on the Caribbean island of St. John in 1733.

How Enslaved Africans Were Castrated by Arab Slavers During the Arabian Slave Trade

Among the most horrifying practices during this era was the castration of some male slaves, often young boys, which not only inflicted severe physical and emotional pain but also claimed the lives of many victims.

The Battle of Salt River: The First Encounter Between Europeans and Indigenous People in South Africa

The Battle of Salt River stands as a significant historical event, marking the first military encounter between Europeans and the indigenous ǃUriǁʼaekua in what would later become South Africa. The battle resulted in a massacre of Portuguese forces and a victory for the Khoikhoi clan.

The Brutal Sack of Sansanné Haoussa by French Colonial Forces in Niger in 1899

The Sack of Sansanné-Haoussa was a military expedition that took place in the village of Sansanné Haoussa, located in present-day Niger. This haunting military campaign unleashed a wave of destruction, resulting in the tragic loss of one hundred and one lives.

Shark Island Concentration Camp: The Horrors of Germany’s First Death Camp in Namibia

During the Herero and Namaqua genocide of 1904–1908, the infamous Shark Island Concentration Camp served as a grim tool of the German Empire. The camp bore witness to the tragic demise of thousands of Herero and Namaqua men, women, and children.

Maria de Fonseca: The African Queen Who Was Beheaded for Betraying her King to the Belgians

Maria de Fonseca was the queen of Katanga and the favorite wife of Msiri, the warrior-king of Katanga, who met a tragic end for allegedly betraying her king, Msiri, to the Belgians.

How Africans Were Lured into Slave Ships by European Slave Traders

During the transatlantic slave trade, European slave traders employed various cunning tactics to lure Africans onto their ships, capitalizing on their vulnerability and ignorance. This article explores the deceptive methods employed by European slavers and the heart-wrenching stories of Africans who were lured into the treacherous journey across the Atlantic.

John Hawkins: The Father of the English Slave Trade and His Infamous Slave Ship, the Jesus of Lübeck

John Hawkins was an English naval commander and merchant who played a significant role in the early development of English involvement in the transatlantic slave trade during the 16th century.

Queen Anne’s Bounty: The Church of England’s Link to the Atlantic Slave Trade

In the 18th century, while the Church preached to Africans about a God in whose image they were made, it funded a company that carted them away from Africa in ten of thousands.
- Advertisement -

Latest News

Margaret Douglass: The White Woman Imprisoned in Virginia for Teaching Black Children to Read

Margaret Crittendon Douglass was a white woman and former slaveholder, who was convicted and jailed in Norfolk, Virginia, for...