Oyindamola Depo Oyedokun is an avid reader and lover of knowledge, of most kinds. When she's not reading random stuff on the internet, you'll find her putting pen to paper, or finger to keyboard.
How did improvised trade jargons born from slavery evolve into some of Africa's fastest-growing languages? And how did freed slaves returning to Freetown create Krio, the linguistic foundation that would spread across the entire coast?
Queen Amanirenas, who lost an eye battling Romans, and Queen Amanishakheto, whose face appears on pyramid reliefs, reflect Meroitic values that elevated royal women to genuine power.
When you think of Pharaohs, you probably picture Arab men dressed in regal headgear and garments. However, for nearly a century (circa 747 to 656 BC) the Pharaohs who ruled Egypt were Black, rulers from the nearby Kingdom of Kush in present-day Sudan.
Traditionally, Africans do not choose names just because they are popular or sound cool. Instead, they use names as tools for storytelling by narrating the circumstances around one’s birth, and connecting the individual with their family and destiny.
In the heart of southern Mali, the Bamana (or Bambara) people once practised rituals that went far beyond simple ceremony. These were transformative acts, communal moments of profound significance that bound individuals to their communities and connected the living to the supernatural.
If you’ve ever stood before an African ivory mask or figure displayed at a European museum, you’ve likely encountered Bwami art. To art enthusiasts, these articles are striking
Across much of Ghana today, Adinkra symbols decorate everything from clothing to furniture, official buildings (in the form of logos) and more. Their shapes are immediately recognisable, featuring stylised birds,
Africa is home to quite a number of secret societies, complex institutions that have long shaped social, political and spiritual life across the continent. Among the most studied are the
When many people think of Africa’s past, what often comes to mind are images of warrior kings, sprawling empires, and male-led dynasties. However, the diverse continent has also long
If you ask a Cameroonian today whether they speak French or English, the answer might come with a heavy sigh or a sharp opinion. Because in Cameroon, language isn’t
The ancient Kingdom of Benin in present-day Nigeria was ahead of its time in many ways. The pre-colonial empire was one of the earliest African kingdoms to establish a successful
On 6 July 1967, Nigeria descended into one of Africa’s most brutal post-independence conflicts. What began as a political crisis quickly turned into a humanitarian catastrophe: the Biafran War,
