History Forum TZ | African & Global Insights

How did African societies remember their kings, wars, migrations, traditions and achievements before the introduction of written records? For many years, some accounts of African history concentrated heavily on written documents produced by European travellers, missionaries and colonial administrators. This sometimes created a misleading impression that African societies had little or no history before European contact. However, the absence of widespread writing did not mean the absence of historical knowledge. Across Africa, communities developed different methods of preserving and transmitting information about their past.  These included oral traditions, genealogies, songs, cultural practices, artistic expressions, monuments and other forms of material evidence. Some communities also had their own systems of writing before the introduction of colonial rule. Therefore, it is important not to assume that all African societies were non-literate. 1. Oral Traditions: Passing History ...

Imagine working hundreds of miles from home in the scorching heat of East Africa. Every evening, as darkness falls, fear grips the camp because somewhere in the surrounding bush, two silent hunters are waiting. They are not stalking zebras or buffalo. Instead, they have begun hunting humans. This is the true story of the Tsavo Man-Eaters, two male lions whose attacks on railway workers in 1898 became one of the most famous wildlife stories in history. Their reign of terror delayed one of Britain's biggest colonial projects, inspired books and Hollywood films, and continues to fascinate historians and scientists more than a century later. But how much of the legend is true? Did the lions really kill 135 people? And what drove them to prey on humans? Building the Uganda Railway In the late nineteenth century, Britain wanted to strengthen its control over East Africa. One of its most ambitious projects was the Uganda Railway, which would connect the Indian Ocean port of Mombasa with t...

When many parts of medieval Europe were still building castles, a magnificent African city of granite stood proudly on the Zimbabwe Plateau. Massive stone walls rose without a single drop of mortar, gold caravans departed for the Indian Ocean, skilled craftsmen forged iron tools and ornaments, and kings ruled over one of southern Africa's wealthiest states. Stone walls of Great Zimbabwe This was Great Zimbabwe, the political, economic, and spiritual heart of a powerful kingdom that flourished between approximately 1100 and 1450 CE.  At its height, the kingdom controlled extensive trade routes, managed enormous cattle herds, produced vast quantities of gold, and constructed the largest ancient stone city in sub-Saharan Africa. Today, Great Zimbabwe remains one of Africa's greatest archaeological achievements and stands as undeniable evidence that advanced civilizations flourished in Africa long before European colonization. Where Was Great Zimbabwe? Great Zimbabwe is located nea...

AFRICAN HISTORY GLOSSARY (A–Z) A Age-set System A social and political organization in which people of the same age group progress through stages of life together. Members of an age-set often shared responsibilities such as military service, leadership, or community work. The Maasai of Kenya and Tanzania are well known for this system. Agriculture The cultivation of crops and the keeping of livestock for food and other products. Agriculture enabled people to settle permanently and establish villages and kingdoms. Animism The belief that natural objects such as rivers, mountains, trees, animals, and rocks possess spiritual power or souls. Animism formed the foundation of many traditional African religions. Ancestral Worship The practice of honoring deceased family members through prayers, sacrifices, and rituals. Many African societies believed ancestors protected and guided the living. Anthropology The study of human societies, cultures, and their development over time. Anthropologists...