Dnp Anna :
Amadou Hampâté Bâ famously wrote: "In Africa, when an old man dies, a library burns down."African elders narrate oral history to families, tribes, and communities. In West Africa a griot who is a historian, storyteller, praise singer, poet, and musician preserves oral traditions and family genealogies. They memorize and pass down the history, laws, and stories of a village or empire from generation to generation. They use traditional instruments like the 21-string kora, the ngoni, or the balafon while singing or reciting history. They also act as diplomats, mediators for local disputes, and counselors to leaders and kings. The role is traditionally passed down within specific families. They serve as the memory of the community, blending news, music, and social commentary. Here are some African history books written by African authors. I inherited a couple from my dad, and I enjoy reading them from time to time, and I often discover new gems that I have not noticed before. Here are some books, if anybody is interested: Ali Mazrui: The Africans: A Triple Heritage (1986).
Towards a Pax Africana: A Study of Ideology and Ambition (1967). Cultural Engineering and Nation-Building in East Africa (1972). Bethwell Allan Ogot: History of the Southern Luo: Volume 1, Migration and Settlement (1967). Zamani: A Survey of East African History (1968, Co-edited with J.A. Kieran). War and Society in Africa (1972). L'Afrique Noire Précoloniale (1960) / Precolonial Black Africa by Cheikh Anta Diop (French / English). Nations nègres et culture (1954) / The African Origin of Civilization by Cheikh Anta Diop (Language: French / Translated to English). Abantu Abamnyama Lapa Bavela Ngakona (1922) / The Black People and Whence They Came by Magema Fuze (Language: isiZulu / Translated to English). Facing Mount Kenya (1938) by Jomo Kenyatta (Language: English).
2026-07-24 20:15:56