04/15/23 Codewit Global Network - Evolving Excellence 1

Establish functional literate communities in Africa to bridge the gap between

poverty and prosperity

Tracing your RootAfrica's Road Map to Freedom

Anthony Claret

04/15/23 Codewit Global Network - Evolving Excellence 2

Tracing Your Root

A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots. Marcus Garvey

Africa's Road Map to Freedom

04/15/23 Codewit Global Network - Evolving Excellence 3

Table of Content

1. Africa Overview2. Africa before Colonization3. Superior Race Propaganda 4. African Slavery 5. Africa after Colonization6. Grave Mistake of our forefathers7. Nation building – Our Task8. Reverse Engineering 9. Civic Movement Youth Engagement)10. Conclusion

04/15/23 Codewit Global Network - Evolving Excellence 4

Who Should Tell The Story of Africa?

All people need to learn about their past and need to be able to participate in the creation of their own legacy. In the past, the story of Africa has been told and defined by others and these 'others' have been considered authorities on the subject. The representation of African events and characters by non-Africans has led, in many instances, to the creation of a negative portrayal of Africa.

04/15/23 Codewit Global Network - Evolving Excellence 5

Africa -Land of Contrast

What does Africa mean to you? The continent of Africa means

many different things to people in Africa and around the world.

To some people it is the home they love.

To others it is a mysterious, far off land that they know little about.

To Europeans it is a poverty stricken, war torn, disease inflicted continent which happen to be blessed with a large, diverse land with beautiful landscape and Natural Resources meant to explore.

04/15/23 Codewit Global Network - Evolving Excellence 6

Basic Facts About Africa 53 independent countries 732 million people More than 800 ethnic groups Hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth, was

136.4 degrees F., in Libya in 1922 The Nile is the world’s longest river at a distance

of 4,145 miles long Second largest of the Earth’s continents Africa has an area of 11,668,598.7 square miles

04/15/23 Codewit Global Network - Evolving Excellence 7

Africa before Colonization Key Terms

• Domesticate- to adapt wild plants and animals and breed them for human use

• Civilization- a society that has cities, a central government, and social classes and usually has writing, art, and architecture

• Migrate- to move from one place to settle in another

• Ethnic group- a group of people who share the same ancestors, culture, language, or religion.

04/15/23 Codewit Global Network - Evolving Excellence 8

African Civilizations

• Egyptians began farming along the Nile about 5000 B.C.

• Ancient Egypt was ruled by Pharaohs and Queens

• Hieroglyphs- picture writing symbols

04/15/23 Codewit Global Network - Evolving Excellence 9

What skills did Africans need to survive? Survival Instinct

Food Water Shelter

Hunting & Gathering Africans were hunters, farmers

and gathers They would hunt for wild game They would gather fruits and

other eatable herbs & plants

Farming in Africa probably began in North Africa •Domesticating plants and animals allowed People to have better control in their food supply

•People to settle in one place• people to store surplus items

04/15/23 Codewit Global Network - Evolving Excellence 10

Until the 18th century the image of Africans was generally positive.

They were farmers and cattle-breeders; they had industries, arts and crafts, governments and commerce.

In addition, Africans had immunities to Old World diseases. They were better laborers and they had nowhere to escape to once transplanted to the New World. The colonists themselves came to believe that they could not survive without Africans.

04/15/23 Codewit Global Network - Evolving Excellence 11

African encounter with the West (1)

Africa had traded with Europeans through merchants in North Africa for centuries.

The first traders to sail down the West African coast were the Portuguese in the 15th century.

Later the Dutch, British, French and Scandinavians followed.

They were mainly interested in precious items such as gold, ivory and spices, particularly pepper.

04/15/23 Codewit Global Network - Evolving Excellence 12

African encounter with the West (2)

The Portuguese traders sailed south around the Cape of Good Hope and then north along the eastern coast of Africa

They liked what they saw and came back later with three ships to seize the riches

The Portuguese ruled for over 100 years The English, French, & The Dutch all followed the

Portuguese and set up settlements

04/15/23 Codewit Global Network - Evolving Excellence 13

The Atlantic Slave trade

Slavery was a common part of African society long before the Europeans came to their continent

The Europeans had established colonies in the Americas and in the Caribbean.

Slaves in Africa could usually win their freedom after working for a few years

Europeans rarely released their slaves

04/15/23 Codewit Global Network - Evolving Excellence 14

Competition between Europeans

The race to colonize Africa led to the 1884 conference in Berlin, Germany

They set rules for which countries could claim African land

They created African Map without African participation

04/15/23 Codewit Global Network - Evolving Excellence 15

European Conquest of Africa

Key Terms Cape of Good Hope- the point of land at the

southern tip of Africa Plantation- a large farm where cash crops are

grown Colonize- to settle an area and take control of its

government

04/15/23 Codewit Global Network - Evolving Excellence 16

A New Social Identity (1)

Toward the end of the eighteenth century, the image of Africans began to change dramatically.

The major catalyst for this transformation Antislavery movement that expanded and

strengthened The Kings and African chief refusal and

resistance resources exploitation

04/15/23 Codewit Global Network - Evolving Excellence 17

A New Social Identity (2)

As a consequence Colonist forces found it necessary to develop new arguments for defending the institution.

Focusing on physical differences, they turned to the notion of the natural inferiority of Africans and thus their God-given suitability for slavery.

Such arguments became more frequent and strident from the end of the eighteenth century on, and the characterizations of Africans became more negative. In order to achieve their goal

04/15/23 Codewit Global Network - Evolving Excellence 18

A New Social Identity (3)

By limiting perpetual servitude to Africans and their descendants, colonists were proclaiming that blacks would forever be at the bottom of the social hierarchy.

They began to teach Africans that their color, hairstyle and every thing that made them African is inferior

04/15/23 Codewit Global Network - Evolving Excellence 19

Africa after Colonization

Most African countries had been under European rule for a very long time, therefore they had no real understanding of how to run a government. New leaders were not prepared to govern Governments were very unstable Some military leaders took control by force

04/15/23 Codewit Global Network - Evolving Excellence 20

Grave Mistake of our leaders Fought for independence with a vision Diverted attention to trivialities, power play, embezzlement,

corruption Thought they have reach their destination Forgot that being independent is the beginning of the journey

Nation building – Our Task Our Generation must find the road and connect back to our

forefathers vision Reverse Engineering – must re-orientate ourselves and our brothers Mental emancipation Through creating project, workshop, seminars, education

Civic Movement Youth Engagement)

04/15/23 Codewit Global Network - Evolving Excellence 21

Change your opinions, keep to your principles; change your leaves, keep intact your roots.