African History

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The Ndebele of South Africa: Where Walls are turned to Art and Culture Speaks in Color
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September 3, 2026 • 32 views

The Ndebele of South Africa: Where Walls are turned to Art and Culture Speaks in Color

We move out everyday, we see houses, buildings and all but unlike the usual buildings, houses are turned into canvases, languages, family stories and declaration of identities . Among the Ndebele people of South Africa, walls can do all of these things. With bold geometric patterns, beautiful colors, beadwork and unique traditional clothing, the Ndebele have developed one of the most recognizable visual cultures in Southern Africa

By Esther Ojoma Sule Read More →
The Griot: West Africa's Forgotten Living Library
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September 1, 2026 • 43 views

The Griot: West Africa's Forgotten Living Library

A griot is a West African oral historian, storyteller, praise singer, poet, and musician, someone tasked with preserving the genealogies, history, and cultural traditions of an entire community. Long before books existed, and long before anyone imagined artificial intelligence, griots were doing the work of both by storing information and passing it forward with precision. So the real question worth asking is why so few people today know they existed at all, people who kept Africa history in their voices and heads?

By Azeema Aliu Read More →
Djibouti: Meet the People and Story of One of Africa’s Country
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August 18, 2026 • 78 views

Djibouti: Meet the People and Story of One of Africa’s Country

Djibouti is located in the Horn of Africa, in the northeastern part of the continent. The country shares borders with Eritrea to the north, Ethiopia to the west and south, and Somalia to the southeast. The country covers only about 23,200 square kilometers, making it one of Africa's smallest states

By Esther Ojoma Sule Read More →

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Communal Child-Rearing in Traditional African Societies
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Communal Child-Rearing in Traditional African Societies

"What happens when children know their passwords better than their neighbors?" This thought-provoking article explores Africa's age-old tradition of communal child-rearing, where entire communities shared the responsibility of raising every child. Drawing from Yoruba, Igbo, and Kikuyu cultures, it examines the beauty, challenges, and enduring wisdom of this system while contrasting it with today's increasingly isolated parenting. This article is a compelling reflection on Ubuntu, belonging, and the future of African values in a rapidly changing world.

By admin Read More →
THE BABBAN RIGA
arts
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THE BABBAN RIGA

The origin of the Babban Riga stretches back centuries, to a time when Hausa city-states such as Kano, Katsina, and Zaria were major centers of learning and commerce. Through trans-Saharan trade routes, Northern Nigeria became connected to North Africa and the wider Islamic world. Thus, with the need for attires that reflected status and moral authority by scholars, rulers, and traders, the Babban Riga was provided as a solution to their problem. This was through the inspiration of Sahelian and Islamic styles.

By ThePeculiarEsther Read More →
AJAOKUTA STEEL COMPANY: NIGERIA’S UNFINISHED INDUSTRIAL GIANT
historical-sites
• 116 views

AJAOKUTA STEEL COMPANY: NIGERIA’S UNFINISHED INDUSTRIAL GIANT

The Ajaokuta Steel Company in Kogi State is one of Nigeria's most ambitious industrial projects. Established to drive national industrialization, the massive steel complex was expected to power manufacturing and economic growth. Although it never achieved full commercial operation, Ajaokuta remains a powerful symbol of Nigeria's industrial aspirations and untapped economic potential.

By Ikeun Divine Michael Read More →
NIGERIA AIRWAYS: THE RISE AND FALL OF NIGERIA’S NATIONAL CARRIER
historical-sites
• 272 views

NIGERIA AIRWAYS: THE RISE AND FALL OF NIGERIA’S NATIONAL CARRIER

Nigeria Airways, Nigeria's former national carrier, symbolized the country's aviation ambitions from 1958 to 2003. Once connecting Nigeria to major cities across Africa, Europe, and North America, the airline flourished before declining due to financial troubles and mismanagement. Though grounded forever, its legacy remains an important chapter in Nigeria's transportation and aviation history.

By Ikeun Divine Michael Read More →
How did an ancient African tribe know about stars invisible to the human eye?
culture
• 347 views

How did an ancient African tribe know about stars invisible to the human eye?

Discover the mind-blowing history of the Dogon people of Mali, the ancient African space pioneers who mapped the cosmos centuries before modern science. Long before the invention of advanced telescopes, this remarkable civilization accurately tracked stars invisible to the naked eye, proving that Africa has always been a powerful anchor of global scientific discovery.

By Ajayi Korede Read More →
THE RISE AND SILENCE OF NIGERCEM: Nigeria’s First Indigenous Cement Giant
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• 117 views

THE RISE AND SILENCE OF NIGERCEM: Nigeria’s First Indigenous Cement Giant

Nigerian Cement Company Plc, founded in 1954 at Nkalagu in Ebonyi State, was Nigeria’s first indigenous cement company and a major symbol of industrial ambition. Once thriving with thousands of workers, the factory later declined through neglect and mismanagement. Today, its abandoned structures remain powerful reminders of Nigeria’s lost industrial dreams and the enduring hope for national revival.

By Ikeun Divine Michael Read More →
ANAMBRA MOTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY(ANAMMCO)
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ANAMBRA MOTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY(ANAMMCO)

Anambra Motor Manufacturing Company, popularly known as ANAMMCO, symbolized Nigeria’s industrial ambition after the civil war. Established in 1977 with Mercedes-Benz partnership, the company assembled trucks and buses that dominated Nigerian roads for decades. Though weakened by economic challenges and policy failures, ANAMMCO remains a lasting reminder of Nigeria’s once-bold dream of local manufacturing and technological independence.

By Ikeun Divine Michael Read More →
Where Culture Wears Style: The Fashion Language of Ojude Oba
culture
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Where Culture Wears Style: The Fashion Language of Ojude Oba

The Ojude Oba festival in Ijebu Ode serves as a vibrant, living runway where traditional Yoruba heritage is translated into modern, high-stakes fashion. Through unapologetic color stories, sharp tailoring, and perfectly coordinated group aesthetics, the event elevates clothing into a powerful language of cultural pride and unity. It ultimately proves that African tradition is not a relic of the past, but a bold, evolving force leading contemporary style.

By PJC Read More →
The Red Beauty of Namibia: The Unique Tradition of the Himba Women
culture
• 466 views

The Red Beauty of Namibia: The Unique Tradition of the Himba Women

Have you ever heard of the Himba people of Namibia? Known as the "Red People of Africa," the Himba are famous for covering their skin and hair with a reddish paste made from butterfat and ochre, giving them their unique appearance. Beyond their striking look, they have preserved their traditions, culture, and way of life for generations despite the modern world around them. Discover more history on Talk Africa ng

By Esther Ojoma Sule Read More →
WESTERN NIGERIA TELEVISION (WNTV): The Screen That Awakened Africa.
historical-sites
• 551 views

WESTERN NIGERIA TELEVISION (WNTV): The Screen That Awakened Africa.

Western Nigeria Television, launched in 1959 in Ibadan, became the first television station in Africa. Created under Obafemi Awolowo, the station transformed African broadcasting by promoting education, culture, and indigenous storytelling. WESTERN NIGERIA TELEVISION WNTV symbolized technological progress, cultural pride, and the power of African voices during the years surrounding independence.

By Ikeun Divine Michael Read More →
Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove
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• 81 views

Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove

The Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove is a sacred Yoruba forest in Osogbo dedicated to the river goddess Osun. Rich with shrines, sculptures, and spiritual history, it remains one of Nigeria’s most important cultural heritage sites. Protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the grove symbolizes ancestral memory, spirituality, fertility, and the enduring connection between nature and tradition.

By Ikeun Divine Michael Read More →
Kiriji War: When Yorubaland Burned for 16 Years
african-history
• 155 views

Kiriji War: When Yorubaland Burned for 16 Years

For sixteen brutal years, Yorubaland burned beneath the thunder of Kiriji cannons. The war was more than politics; it was pride against oppression, empire against resistance, brother against brother. Villages vanished, kingdoms bled, and the old Yoruba order cracked open before colonial eyes. Even today, Kiriji survives as a warning that internal division can wound a civilization deeper than foreign invasion.

By Ikeun Divine Michael Read More →

Trending in African History

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THE BABBAN RIGA

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