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other: Class Materials
Music 80Q: Survey of African Music
The African World:
A SURVEY OF AFRICAN
KINGDOMS
The
story of humanity may be richer than that we know,
We
must examine all of it to know that this is so.
HAM AND NOAH'S OTHER SONS THEN CREATED ALL HAMITIC
AND SEMITIC LEVELS
THESE
SONS LED AFRICAN & ASIAN CANAANITE TRIBES FROM THE TOWER OF BABEL
THESE
TRIBES WERE CALLED PHOENICIANS BY GREEKS WHO ADORED THEIR PALM TREES
COULD
THIS HAVE ALSO BEEN THE OLD EGYPTIAN BIRD FROM WHOSE ASHES HE OR SHE LEAVES
SOME
SETTLED IN THE LAND OF CANAAN, NAMED AFTER THE YOUNGEST SON OF HAM IN FACT
NOW
IT'S CALLED ISRAEL BUT BIBLICAL LEPROSY LAWS CONFIRM THESE PEOPLE WERE BLACK
Kush (Nubia)
The Kushite kingdom lasted over a thousand years
They
used elephants in combat evoking all kinds of fears.
King
Piankhy was the first Kushite king to rule Egypt we see
He
ruled these people fairly during the twenty-fifth Dynasty.
They
conquered the Egyptian in 730
B.C. remaining for a century,
They
were then defeated by Assyrians with superior iron weaponry.
The
Kushites fled to Nubia moving their capital to Meroe in the south,
Soon
it was the iron capital of Ancient Africa and strong once again.
It
was King Natashien who reigned from 328 B.C. and he was no slouch;
With
his firm rule, Nubian hieroglyphics, alphabet and script began.
Trade
exploits to Arabia, India and China caused their fame to expand.
After
the crucifixion, many Kushites became Christians as times changed;
And
by 320 A.D. King Malequereliar became the last king that reigned.
The
Axum Empire was eventually the new trade center, and after 1200 years,
Christian
Nubia fell to Moslem rule despite all the struggling
and tears.
Goddesses
became gods when the pagan temples were destroyed,
Her
story became his-story as sacerdotal egos became annoyed.
Time
can erase the memory of a soul,
Then
the mind becomes tired and old,
Ancient Ghana
Ancient Ghana should not be confused with today's Ghana at all.
It
was the gold capital of the world, then to the Arabs it did fall.
Koumbi,
its famous capital was divided into two great & powerful African cities
Where
miners found nuggets for the king while placing gold dust into their own kitties
The
king & Soninke tribe lived in one area, Moslems & foreigners in the
other
The
latter group taxed all goods entering into or passing through the city.
A
strong army kept the Trans-Saharan trade routes open & under cover
Until
1054, when Almoravids invaded the region for 14 years, finally conquering
it, what a pity.
How
many mothers, sisters and daughters achieved their arcane aspirations,
Yet
the names of their sons, brothers and fathers are preserved within the nation.
I
know sield an easy way to be,
The
universe is creative if you take the time to see,
WE
KNOW THE SUMERIANS AND HAMURABI'S BABYLONIAN KINGDOM OF CIRCA 2150 B.C.
IT
TAKES MUCH MORE THAN RACIST CANALS TO CHANGE A HISTORY FROM SEA TO SHINING
SEA
MESOPOTAMIA
WAS INHABITED BY ETHIOPIANS AND SOME CANAANITES WERE CARTHAGINIANS
AFRICANS
WERE CERTAINLY AFRICAN FROM NORTH TO SOUTH & SO WERE INDIA’S DRUVIDIANS
JUST
AS ALL MAYAS, AZTECS, INCAS, CHOCTAW, SIOUX, APACHE, AND ESKIMOS ARE ALL MISNAMED
"INDIAN"
Mali (not the Republic of Mali)
Out of the ruins of the Moslem state of Ancient
Ghana around 1230 A.D.
Grew
Niani, the capital of the Mandingo Empire, and strong it was to be.
Sundiata
captured rich salt and gold mining areas then sent his men away,
So
his generals became his governors & counsel was held with local chiefs
each day.
By
1312 King Mansa Musa kept desert raiders away with his 90,000 men,
This
infantry was backed by 10,000 more on camels and Arabian horses.
Soon
peace came & warriors became farmers and didn't have to fight again,
Their
fair king became known as a lover of music, poetry and created new resources.
Mali's empire spread to Tazhaza & the
gold areas Galam & Bure to the south
Numeruos
gold, copper, silver & leather craftsmen put food in every mouth.
Timbuktu
& Djenne became centers knowledge, commerce and culture we hear,
But
in 1324 Mali's economy became inflated and remained
so for 25 years.
A
devout Moslems that led a pilgrimage to Mecca took 60,000 men and such,
And
although they forced no one to convert the gold they left there was too much
Good
king Mansa Musa died in 1337, but his empire improved continually until its
time was through;
Many
Greek, Roman and Indian scholars came to study
there in Sankore at University in Timbuktu.
So
the great queen Isis is dethroned from the trinity,
And
once great folk become indentured for eternity.
The
weak, not the meek then inherit the earth . . . for a while,
But
insecurity and insanity can be measured in the absence of a smile.
It is the largest Ancient African kingdoms we've
examined thus far,
Its
people came from the region of Dendi on the Niger River bar.
This
occurred before the 9th century and by the 11th century or so,
Songhay expanded quickly well beyond the bend (at Niger) to Gao. Before long this capital city became the
Moslem center of learning & trade
So
when Sunni Ali came to power prosperity had already been made.
That
was 1464, then beginning in 1468, this warrior king attacked Timbuktu,
Defeating
the Tuaregs and Djenne (in the south), subjugating the whole
slew.
The
war took 7 years, later King Askia Mohammed continued the proliferation of
this plight . . .
The
empire now created farmers, merchants and miners (who were traditionally out
of sight).
Soon
every member of the community held roles such as keepers of cattle, miners,
& fishmen.
Until
the Portugese took over the rich African trade and brought things
to
a bitter end.
But
how does the Queen of Sheba fit into his-story?
Can
Queen Nefertiti find her place in all this masculine glory?
Time
can erase the memory of a soul,
Then
the mind becomes tired, the mind becomes old,
So
the great queen Isis is dethroned from the trinity,
And
once great folk become indentured for eternity.
THEN
CAME INVASIONS; INDO GERMANIC AND GERMANIC INVASIONS OF ASIA
GREEK
INVASIONS OF THE MIDDLE EAST; ROMAN INVASIONS OF THE MIDDLE EAST & NORTHERN
AFRICA; JEWS AND ARABS BECAME INVOLVED IN THE "WHITE" SLAVE TRADE
. . . THE WORLD WAS BECOMING MORE COMPLEX AND SO WERE ITS COMPLEXIONS.
ALTHOUGH
THESE EARLIER SOCIETIES HAD AMPLE PREJUDICES,
THEY
WEREN'T BASED STRICTLY ON COLOR - READING HERODOTUS PROVES THE POINT - YET
WE'RE ASTONISHED TO REALIZE THAT SOCRATES WAS A BROTHER
BEFORE
TRUTH OF MOSES, ABRAHAM, CLEOPATRA, AESOP, HANNIBAL AND OTHERS WAS TOLD
OUR
WESTERN HISTORY SEPARATED THE LAND FROM ITS PEOPLE; WAS THAT DUMB OR BOLD?
AN
EGYPTIAN WAS AN EGYPTIAN; A GREEK A GREEK; A HOTTENTOT WAS A HOTTENTOT
THE
LAND OF THE FREE; HOME OF THE BRAVE - ARE WE MOVING
BACKWARDS
OR WHAT?
Kanem - Bornu
These twin kingdoms lasted over a thousand years;
Idris Alomia was its greatest king.
The
dominions were located on either side of Lake Chad; its mighty military controlled everything.
It
traded nuts, leather, ivory, and ostrich feathers for salt and European goods.
Their
warriors were famed for horsemanship so the Lake Chad Region was free of robbing hoods.
Thus
the trade and commerce was usually not impeded; consequently, its economy
could not help but flourish.
To
sustain both Kanem & Bornu for so many centuries most certainly took strength,
wisdom and courage.
How
many mothers, sisters and daughters achieved their arcane aspirations,
Yet
it's the names of sons, brothers and fathers that remain preserved within
the nation.
I
know destructive force yield an easy way to be,
Yet
the universe remains creative if you have the eyes to see,
The
trading center for large sections of West Africa, and a culture rich in communal
commitment from people harboring pride within every heart . . .
Was
the forest kingdom of Benin in what is now Southern Nigeria from whence wood and bronze artifacts sprang forth as African
art.
These
dignified people used Manillas (or metal rings) & cowrie shells as money,
while making daily shopping & bartering a casual affair;
The
Oba or chiefs allowed various officials to manage the kingdom, while a few
miles away the "Queen Mother" groomed the king's heir.
Ewuare
the Great (who ruled from 1440 to 1473), a somewhat eccentric chief, was known
as a magician, doctor, warrior and wise man;
The
city had long, broad, and straight streets with many houses, complex temples,
and law-abiding citizens (you must understand).
At
first the Portugese tried to steal Benin's many riches, but they changed their
approach after being forcefully and repeatedly driven away.
Then
they and other Europeans trade partners learned that dealing with shrewd African merchants
took 8 to 10 entire days.
Before
making important decisions the custom was to eat, drink and be festive for
a significant period of time.
After
all, the people of Benin reserved a day each month for celebrating -
as
diametrically opposed to plotting crime.