Hey 👋,
The fact that more than 100 of you are reading this is humbling🙏. Just six months ago, this was but a dream.
I hope you are enjoying the stories, and thank you for subscribing. Let's take it to 1000 subscribers by sharing it with friends 💪🏿.
Congratulations to the fastest man in Africa, Ferdinand Omanyala, for breaking Kenya's 100m record for the 5th time by clocking 9.76s. Amazing! Kenya is proud.
The mass Suicide by Igbo Slaves
The Igbo Landing, a historic site at Dunbar Creek on St. Simons Island, Glynn County, Georgia, reminds us of the largest mass suicide of Igbo slaves who chose to die than live a life of slavery.
In May 1803, during the transatlantic slave trade, Igbo captives from modern-day Nigeria, purchased for an average of $100 each by slave merchants John Couper and Thomas Spalding, arrived in Savannah, Georgia, on the slave ship the Wanderer.
They were chained, reloaded and packed under the deck of a coastal vessel, the York, which would take them for reselling at St. Simons. Realizing the harsh reality of the slavery they were about to be subjected to, about 75 Igbo men rose in rebellion, drowning their captors and causing the grounding of the ship in Dunbar Creek.
The black excellence team gives a vivid description of this historical and brave act that showed the courage of the black race in the face of subjection.
African Burial Rites
Funeral rites in Africa are deeply rooted in the beliefs, traditions and indigenous religions of the diverse ethnic groups in the continent.
In my community, Luo, burial is a process, not an event. Some procedures and steps have to be followed depending on who has died. For example, I have always wondered why it is taboo for Migogo (an unmarried woman) to be buried in the main home (Dala). She can only be buried either some distance away from the main compound or along the fence 😞.
Let me know by replying to this email if you know the reason behind this practice.
We also celebrate the life of the departed through the famous Disco Matanga and Tero buru (story on this coming soon).
According to an informative article by Pwani Tribune, in the Pokomo culture, death was confirmed through wailing. The wails would inform those in hearing reach that a death had occurred.
The preparation of the body involved the shaving of the deceased hair using a knife, a tradition that is common among many African communities. The shaved hair was then placed in a bowl half-filled with water and later placed at the head of the grave.
The Pokomo burial rites are similar to the Mijikenda's, maybe because the two communities are neighbours.
Among the Shilluk people, upon the death of the reth (King), the corpse is walled in his royal house, which becomes his temporary tomb. Later his bones are collected for interment.
What are the burial rites in your culture?
Oliver 'Tuku' Mtukudzi the Music Legend
The megastar Oliver Mtukudzi, fondly known to his fanbase as 'Tuku', was born in 1952 in Salisbury (modern-day Harare) in Southern Rhodesia (later called Zimbabwe).
He began his glorious career in the 1970s, singing alongside another renowned Zimbabwean musician Thomas Mapfumo in the Wagon Wheels band. His stint at the band was, however, short-lived. In 1978, he left Wagon Wheels to form a new band called the Black Spirits.
Tuku managed to record around 60 known albums, several of which were very successful. His songs, predominantly done in Shona (an official language in Zimbabwe), talked about social issues and timeless wisdom that resonated with most Zimbabweans and Africans.
Todii from his 1997 album "Tuku Music" was arguably Oliver Mtukudzi's greatest hit. The HIV/AIDS awareness song talks about the havoc the disease was causing in homes. He passionately laments about the threat of AIDS. Here is a list of Tuku's top ten hits explained as ranked by Tuko.
Apart from music, the legend is also remembered for his philanthropic and human rights advocacy in Zimbabwe. In 2012 he was named a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. He also founded Pakare Paye Arts Center in 2003 to provides the youth with an opportunity to develop their talent in music, dance, drama, poetry and storytelling.
Ciokaraine, the brave Meru Diviner
The brave Ciokaraine stood up to the Njuri Ncheke (Meru council of elders), who wanted the people to uproot all edible food from their farms in a bid to prevent the supply of food to the Mau Mau warriors. She passionately urged the residents not to do as ordered. She was even ready to sacrifice her son if that meant the killings of her people would stop.
Special Mentions
📌 Celebrating the history of Kenya's finest daughters through their footprints on the sands of time. - BintiStories
📌 Best of Cartoon Skits from Naija - HouseOfAjebo
📌 Showcase and preserve African content such as politics, entertainment, heritage, culture, traditions and so on - Pocatribe
Do you have a story we should feature? Feel free to reach out.
Fun Fact 🚀
Pula (Botwana's currency) is the fifth-strongest currency in Africa. Pula means rain in the Setswana language. Since the Kalahari desert covers 70% of Botswana's land area, rainfall is a rare event. It is, therefore, considered a blessing.
PROVERB OF THE WEEK
Makaho ya rasa ido, ya ce ido na wari.(Hausa)
Meaning: The blind man who lacks eyes says that eyes stink.
Explanation: Do not condemn the usefulness of something simply because you do not have it.
WORD OF THE WEEK
Lulu (Kigiriama)
Meaning: pearl
Example: Were avala lushanga lushanga lulu
Translation: She was wearing her Pearl necklace
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Special thanks to Stephanie for editing this issue.
I made a playlist of songs by celebrated singer Zahara from South Africa. What a powerful voice! Enjoy.
Thank you for reading. Until next time. - Mike
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