Chair: Mariusz Drzewiecki
African interconnections
DATE: 30.08.2022
ROOM: Faculty of Political Science and International Studies, room 2
African interconnections
This paper seeks to provide an overview of key West African tumuli sites as a preliminary discussion for future archaeological and anthropological research by scholars in Nubiology, Egyptology, Africana Studies and Africanist research. Archaeological research on both West African and Middle Nile Valley tumuli has been well reported since the early 20th century. Except for Kevin McDonald’s recognition of the affinities between ancient Kerma tumuli and Sahelian tumuli in West Africa there has been minimal research that has studied such tumuli comparatively or viewed them as part of a Sahelian continuum. Nubian archaeology and even Egyptology are silent regarding the Sudanic-Sahelian earthen pyramids and conversely scholars of West African archaeology have excavated savanna tumuli without any mention of ancient Kush or late antique Nubia. The goals of this paper are modest: I seek to reintroduce an arena of scholarship that was proposed a century ago and is now today ripe for transdisciplinary engagement.
Archeological research in Darfur is rather patchy due to many circumstance, the most important of which is the wars between the government and Darfur armed protesters. As a result, the area has rarely seen any new field research, except casual visits, during the last three decades. On the basis of the data collected by previous authors, including the present author, this presentation will analyze stone masonry settlements found on many mountaintops in the region. These settlements are so great in number to the extent that they almost represent a cultural phenomenon in their own right. They are composed of large settlements with different house units, public and industrial areas. Most such structures were built with stone masonries on mountaintops with man made defensive structures encompassing all activity areas. This suggests that the region was under a cumulative defense system including the whole community. An analysis of the layout of these settlements and the types of their components was undertaken to examine for similarities and differences between them to help detect their origin and to reveal the reasons behind their construction in the first millennium AD. It is hoped that the results of this study will provide insights to the identities of the people of the area and their relationship with neighboring zones, namely the Nile and Chadic Basins.
The primary aim of this study is to investigate the principles of cultural contacts between Sudan and Southern Africa. The origins of these principles can be traced back to "Ancient Ethiopia," Napata and Meroe in Ancient Sudan. Ancient Sudan and Southern Africa share many cultural and religious concepts. These concepts stretch from the Cape, throughout Africa south of the Sahara, and beyond. The principles are rooted in an African spiritual cosmology that embodies the African philosophy of origins, identity, culture and traditions, which are resurfacing in various forms. In this study, the origins of these principles are traced back to the Ancient Sudan and Medieval Africa to show the common origins of both, in lessons that may be understandable to modern contacts between Sudan and Southern Africa. It is hoped, therefore, that this study can contribute to a better understanding of the social contacts among many societies of the African continent both in antiquity and modern times.
An association between ancient Egypt and the Oromo nation of Ethiopia has been completely forgotten. Stories of the Oromo nation's might did not survive in the history of its successor kingdoms, possibly because of the influences of Christianity and Islam.
It was not until the early 20th century that the Oromo nation received its place in ancient history with the works of the well-known Egyptologist Flinders Petrie.
A scientific examination of the ancient Oromos reveals that the Oromos were closely related culturally, historically, genealogically, linguistically and in many other ways to the ancient Egyptians who built sphinxes, tombs, stelas and ruled ancient Egypt as pharaohs, queens and higher government officials, predominantly during the 12th, 18th and 25th dynasties. They produced a civilization and philosophy that had many of its own unique attributes and was far more advanced than many other regions of the world at this time.
Ancient Egypt and the Oromo examines the amazing history and legacy of one of the most interesting places in the world. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about an association between ancient Egypt and the Oromo nation, the largest ethnic group in the horn of Africa, with a total population of more than 50 million.
The medieval Nubian kingdoms of Makouria and Alwa are identified as active participants in the Trans-Saharan Trade by travelers such as Benjamin of Tudela, Al-Idrisi and Ibn al-Faqih. Material evidence corroborates the narrative that the medieval Nubian kingdoms engaged in extensive trade not only with the Nile Valley, Near East and Mediterranean regions, but Central and Western African civilizations as well. This trade resulted in a multi-directional exchange of cultural, economic, political and religious influences. This paper will survey evidence for the spread of one specific Nubian influence in Central and West Africa: Christianity. In addition to the witnesses for Christian Nubia’s involvement in trade with Central and West African kingdoms, sources such as Ibn Saʿid, Ibn Hawqal and Ibn al-Dawadari indicate the presence of Christians much further west of Nubia. This paper will survey the sources relevant to this question and evaluate their strength in confirming the spread of Christianity between Nubian, Central and West African civilizations. The role of the Egyptian Church in the spread of Christianity across Africa will also be considered as it is presented in sources such as the Arabic History of the Patriarchs of Alexandria and the Churches and Monasteries of Egypt and Surrounding Countries.
