TEN BLACK ICONS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT; Current, historical, and pre-historical sheroes and heroes

Marcus Garvey, one of our best race leaders would say, “It’s time for the black man to forget heroes of other races and try to create and emulate heroes of his own.” There are great people who have made remarkable contributions to the Pan African movement worldwide, for the benefit of the Africans. Men and women sacrificed their peace, family, and even their lives for black people to be respected in the world. Their goal was that we reclaim our lost glory as a race.

We must honour them. on the contrary, it may not only be a betrayal to the race but yourself. These heroes need to be identified and celebrated all over the world. They include, but are not limited to;

1. ELLEN JOHNSON (1955-TO DATE)

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was born in Monrovia, Liberia. She is known to be ‘’Africa’s iron lady.’’ Ellen studied economics at Harvard University and other institutions abroad. After her return to Liberia, she worked for the government as the Minister of Finance, before the military coup of 1980.

She also worked in the banking industry and at the United Nations. In 2005 Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was elected as Liberia’s 24th president after an unsuccessful trial in 1997. She was then re-elected in 2011.

As the first female president ever to be democratically elected in Africa, she has worked to promote peace, and reconciliation and promoted social and economic development. You must be keen on the word ‘first democratically elected’ because there have been many female presidents and heads of state in Africa only that we have not been taught about them.

Recently, Tanzania got its first female president, Mama Samia Suluhu.

President Ellen Johnson.

2. MIRIAM MAKEBA (1932-2008)

Nicknamed Mama Africa while some call her the first lady of Africa, she was a South African singer, songwriter, actress, United Nations goodwill ambassador, and a civil rights activist. She is associated with musical genres like Afro-pop, Jazz, and World Music.  Makeba was an advocate against apartheid and the white minority government in South Africa. She was born in the Black Township of prospect near Johannesburg.

Her activism role forced her into exile. She returned to South Africa after the colonial government was overthrown. Makeba has received honorary doctorates from both local and international academic institutions. The city of Berkeley proclaimed the 16 June to be Miriam Makeba Day and she has received the highest decoration from Tunisia. In 1999. Nelson Mandela presented her with the Presidential Award.

She was a role model to many, and an ambassador of afro hair. Here are some of her quotes;

“I see other black women imitate my style, which is no style at all but just letting our hair be itself. They call it the Afro Look.”

“I kept my culture. I kept the music of my roots. Through my music, I became this voice and image of Africa and the people without even realizing,” 

A quote from Miriam Makeba written in her biography (2004.) 

Miriam Makeba

3. HARRIET TUBMAN (1821-1913)

She is known as the ''Moses'' of her people. Harriet Tubman was enslaved, escaped, and helped others gain their freedom as a “conductor” of the Underground Railroad. She also served as a scout, spy, guerrilla soldier, and nurse for the American Union Army during the Civil War. The first African American woman to serve in the military.

  

Tubman’s exact birth date is unknown but estimated to be between 1820 and 1822 in Maryland, USA. Born as Araminta Ross, the daughter of Harriet Green and Benjamin Ross, Tubman had eight siblings. 

She showed early signs of resistance to slavery and its abuses at age twelve when intervening to keep her master from beating an enslaved man who tried to escape. She was hit in the head with a two-pound weight, leaving her with a lifetime of severe headaches and narcolepsy.

While freeing enslaved Africans, Tubman was never caught and never lost a “passenger.”

Harriet Tubman

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4. QUEEN NZINGA MBANDI (1583-1663)

Nzinga (Nzinga Mbande), the monarch of the Mbundu people, was a resilient leader who fought against the Portuguese and their expanding slave trade in Central Africa. In 1626 she became Queen of the Mbundu after the death of her brother.

In 1627, after forming alliances with former rival states, she led her army against the Portuguese, initiating a thirty-year war against them. As a military strategist, she exploited European rivalry by forging an alliance with the Dutch who had conquered Luanda in 1641. They defeated a Portuguese army in 1647.

When the Dutch were later defeated by the Portuguese the following year and withdrew from Central Africa, Nzinga continued her struggle against the Portuguese. In her 60s she would still lead troops to battle.

She also started guerilla attacks on the Portuguese which would continue long after her death and inspire the successful armed resistance against the Portuguese that resulted in independent Angola in 1975.

Queen Nzinga Mbandi.

5. KANDAKE AMANIRENAS (60BC-50BC)

Amanirenas was a queen of the ancient African Kingdom of Kush who was best known for skillfully defending her kingdom against the armies of the Roman Empire. She was the second of the eight Kandakes (Kandake or Candace meaning “great woman” of the Kingdom of Kush. The kingdom was located in modern-day Sudan.

Amanirenas' husband, King Teriteqas, died in battle, leaving her with the responsibility to continue the war against the Roman invasion. From her throne in the capital city of Meroe, she led the Kushites north to engage the Romans.

Chancellor Williams writes in his book ‘Destruction of Black Civilization’ that Alexander the Great having learned of the queen’s victory in all her battles including against his roman armies, refused to engage Amanirenas’ army simply because he could not withstand a defeat from a woman.

Kandake Amanirenas of Kush kingdom.

[Numbers 6-10 male icons to be continued on the link below]

TEN BLACK ICONS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT; Current, historical, and pre-historical sheroes and heroes [continuation]

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