At the turn of the 20th century, as European powers tightened their grip on Africa, one woman emerged as a formidable symbol of resistance against British colonial expansion. Her name was Nana Yaa Asantewaa, the Queen Mother of Ejisu in the Asante Kingdom of present-day Ghana
To defend its territory, pursue expansion, and maintain its position against rival powers, Dahomey required a standing army capable of carrying out the monarch’s military ambitions. In response, the West African kingdom developed a remarkable military institution that placed women at the center of its defense and expansion.
Ile-Ife was a center of political authority, artistic excellence, religious thought, innovation, and commerce whose influence continues to shape Yoruba identity.
For generations, many of us have grown up looking at the world through a map that made Africa appear smaller than it really is.
“We must remain committed that as a nation, we shall soldier on until the ultimate conclusion is reached,” Nandi-Ndaitwah told the crowd. That single sentence captures the Herero story better than any history book chapter could: a people who have survived attempted extermination and are still, generation after generation, refusing to let the world forget.
FunTimes Magazine launched the Oral History Diaspora Advisory Council on October 1, 2025, at the Nigeria Flag Raising Ceremony in Philadelphia. We chose that day and that setting with intent.
For Black Philadelphians, Labor Day weekend works overtime. It is the unofficial end of summer, sure, but it is also a homecoming and a history lesson, served on a paper plate with extra sauce on the side.
Starting in September and running through December, an unbroken wave of African nations mark the day they told a colonizer to leave. That happens to line up with our fall almost perfectly. So let’s walk through it, the way you would walk a cousin through a family tree they didn’t know they had.
Every August 31, Black communities across the world pause to celebrate the International Day for People of African Descent, a United Nations observance dedicated to recognizing the heritage, culture, achievements and human rights of people of African descent around the world.
For decades, the question of reparations for slavery and colonialism has remained one of the most difficult and controversial issues in international affairs. The devastating consequences of slavery and colonialism are well documented, yet debates over the legitimacy, scope and merits of reparations have continued to generate strong arguments on both sides.
