Discover the latest stories and insights from historical sites across Africa
Beyond the Benue Valley: The Timeless Mystique and Pride of the Idoma In the lush heart of central Nigeria lives a community whose identity is worn like a badge of honour, woven in fiery red, grounded in deep black, and guarded by an unspoken reverence for their ancestors in Africa.
Cultural beliefs often survive through simple, everyday conversations. A child hears a warning from an older relative, remembers it and may eventually repeat it to someone else. Over time, the words become familiar, even when their original meaning is no longer clear. People may continue such practices because they believe in them, respect their elders or simply feel comfortable following familiar household traditions.
Thirty-nine years ago today, on 15 October 1987, Burkina Faso’s young president, Thomas Sankara, was shot dead during a coup in Ouagadougou. He was 37, and twelve of his comrades died with him. Today the country is led by another young army captain who often invokes his name: Ibrahim Traoré. The question many Africans now ask is whether Traoré is carrying Sankara’s torch or borrowing his image.
Beyond the Benue Valley: The Timeless Mystique and Pride of the Idoma In the lush heart of central Nigeria lives a community whose identity is worn like a badge of honour, woven in fiery red, grounded in deep black, and guarded by an unspoken reverence for their ancestors in Africa.
Cultural beliefs often survive through simple, everyday conversations. A child hears a warning from an older relative, remembers it and may eventually repeat it to someone else. Over time, the words become familiar, even when their original meaning is no longer clear. People may continue such practices because they believe in them, respect their elders or simply feel comfortable following familiar household traditions.
Thirty-nine years ago today, on 15 October 1987, Burkina Faso’s young president, Thomas Sankara, was shot dead during a coup in Ouagadougou. He was 37, and twelve of his comrades died with him. Today the country is led by another young army captain who often invokes his name: Ibrahim Traoré. The question many Africans now ask is whether Traoré is carrying Sankara’s torch or borrowing his image.
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
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
The International Museum of Vodun in Porto-Novo, Benin Republic, is a landmark cultural project dedicated to preserving one of Africa's oldest spiritual traditions. More than a museum, it is a place where history, faith, art, and identity come together, inviting the world to discover the true story of Vodun beyond myths and misconceptions.
Meroë, the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Kush in Sudan, is home to the world's largest concentration of pyramids. With over 200 pyramids standing proudly in the Nubian Desert, this remarkable archaeological site reveals the grandeur of an often-overlooked African civilization, proving that Sudan—not Egypt—has the most pyramids anywhere on Earth.
Along Libya's Mediterranean coast stands Leptis Magna, one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the world. Once a thriving center of trade, politics, and culture, its magnificent ruins reveal the wealth and influence of ancient North Africa. Today, the city remains a timeless reminder of Africa's enduring role in shaping the Roman Empire and world civilization.
Thebes, the ancient capital of Egypt, stands as one of Africa's greatest historical treasures. Renowned for its magnificent temples, royal tombs, and enduring monuments, it served as the spiritual and political heart of the New Kingdom. Today, its remarkable ruins preserve the legacy of pharaohs, inspiring the world with stories of power, faith, architectural brilliance, and timeless civilization.
Hidden within Tanzania's Great Rift Valley lies Olduvai Gorge, one of the world's most important archaeological sites. Often called the "Cradle of Humankind," it has yielded remarkable discoveries of early human fossils and stone tools that transformed our understanding of human evolution. Olduvai Gorge stands today as a timeless bridge between Africa's ancient past and humanity's shared story.
Nigeria is one of the African nations quietly losing its culture, and history is the first casualty. There is a saying that not knowing your history is like a leaf that doesn't know what tree it came from. That leaf can still exist for a while, but it has no idea what fed it, what shaped it, or what it is connected to. That is where a growing number of us find ourselves today. Our history is being erased, not by one single event, but by neglect. The clearest reason is simple: no one is telling it anymore
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.