African Kings: List of the Most Popular Kings and Resources
Africa is a diverse and rich continent, and its people differ as much as its terrain. An escorted tour may take you to the deep jungles of the Amazon to the ancient pyramids of the ancient pharaohs. Its history is rich, and much can be learned of Africa today from reading of the kings of its past. The kings of Africa, one finds, are as diverse as the landscape of the continent itself.
Affonso (Alphonse) was King of the Kongo from 1455 until 1543, and was committed to creating a Christian kingdom. He was known for destroying local ritual objects, catechizing many sons of local chiefs, and baptizing a large number of people in his kingdom. He sent his son to Henrique to Portugal to study for priesthood, and he returned the first African bishop in 1521, and Affonso was also credited with creating girls schools in the Kongo.
Akhenaton (formerly Amenhotep IV) was considered one of the very first revolutionaries. For centuries the Egyptians believed in several Gods, consisting of representations of the sun, the Nile, and vegetation. When he took the throne, Akhenaton brought a new religion to Egypt, a monotheistic one, still focused on the sun, (or Aton), but still different. He changed his name from Amenhotep (Amen is satisfied) to Akhenaton (Aton is satisfied). Also, he changed Egypt’s foreign policy; Egypt became less aggressive, less imperialistic. He no longer sought to exert Egypt’s power beyond the Nile Valley. This angered many within Egypt, many who were still influential, and these people were able to reassert their power after the death of Akhenaton when less influence. However, his revolution certainly changed the way of life for Egypt.
Askia Mohammed took the throne upon the death of Sunni Ali in 1492, leader of the Songhai Empire. Askia was a devout Muslim, and he was instrumental in bringing Islam back to West Africa. He made the pilgrimage to Mecca and was appointed Caliph of Western Sudan, making him the spiritual Islamic head of Western Africa. He was succeeded by his son Askia Musa in 1528.
Behanzin, who became king upon the sudden death of his father, King Glee in 1890, was leader of one of the most powerful and independent kingdoms in West Africa, Dahomey. By 1885 France occupied all of the coastal strip west of Porto Novo, and the country of Damoney wanted it to go no further. They did not want to be taken by the French as a colony; they wished to retain their independence. King Behanzin was successful in the first of the battles at keeping the French from invading Dahomey, and he effectively created a truce between France and his country. However, two years later the French marched once again on Dahomey, and the Fon army fell to the French. King Behanzin was exiled to the island of Martinique, and Dahomey eventually became a French colony.
Hannibal , the great Carthaginian general, was noted for one of the most daring moves in military history, crossing the Alps to Rome. At one time the Carthaginians had power in Carthage, Corsica, Sardinia, and Syracuse. However, in 264 B.C. the First Punic War began when expansionist Rome spread their empire into these areas. When the Greeks, with whom the Romans sided, attacked some tribes in New Carthage, Hannibal, who was now grown and general of the army, made the first move and began the Second Punic War in 218 B.C. when he attacked Saguntum. He crossed over the Alps and into Italy with 37 elephants. Hannibal successful thwarted all attacks against him for the next several years. He was an excellent strategist and is studied still today in military schools.
Idris Alooma was instrumental in bringing Islam to Bornu around the year 1570. He revived the practices of Islam and went on pilgrimage to Makkah. He built a hostel in Makkah for pilgrims from Bornu, and he set up Qadhis for others to learn Islamic law rather than customary law. He also built many mosques in Bornu.
Imhotep lived 2667 B.C. until 2648 B.C. and was the architect of the world’s first monumental stone building, The Step Pyramid at Saqqara. He was born a commoner, and yet he rose to eventually be deified for the things he had done. Not only was he the architect of The Step Pyramid, he was later a physician and healer, and for that he was known as a god.
Ja Ja was the king of the Opobo territory and lived from 1821 until 1891. Rising from a slave to the ruler of the area near the Nigeria River, Ja Ja was one of the greatest leaders of his time. He ruled his kingdom justly and successfully kept the European traders out for many years.
Khama , Bostwana’s first president, was born in 1921. He spent his sickly childhood in boarding schools in South Africa, suffering with diabetes, but when he grew into an adult he attended Fort Hare University and continued on to law school in England where he met his wife, a white woman named Ruth Williams. This caused quite a stir in his homeland, and he was ordered home immediately by his father who demanded that he get a divorce. However, Khama won the approval of the people, and his father resigned himself to retirement. Khama became an excellent politician and statesman, even though he continued to be ill from his diabetes. Eventually, he succeeded in seeing Zimbabwe become an independent state in 1980 and saw the creation of the South African Development Coordination Conference. He died shortly after.
Khufu ruled from 2551 to 2528 B.C. and was considered to be the father of pyramid building in Gizeh. Khufu is known as the builder of the Great Pyramid of Gizeh, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. This is certainly one site seen on most escorted tours throughout Egypt.
Mansa Mussa ruled for a period between 1306 and 1332. He is considered to have been a ruler that was both a great economist and a great patron of the arts. His amazing achievement of assisting 72,000 people across the Sahara Desert earned him notoriety and a place in history books.
Menelek ruled until 1913 and united many kingdoms into the one kingdom of the United States of Abyssinia, present-day Ethiopia. He is considered to be one of the greatest statesman and leaders in world history. He resisted attempts by Italy to invade the country and eventually saw the independence of Abyssinia.
Moshoeshoe was born in 1786 and was considered a great statesman who succeeded in creating a sense of unity and peace within the borders of his country. He emerged to power when he fled to the hills with a group of Sotho people in the Zulu kingdom and became the Basuto kingdom. Moshoeshoe encouraged Christianity amongst the people in his kingdom, partially because he believed that the British would be less likely to invade or be as harsh to fellow Christians. He was diplomatic in his dealing with all, and he was successful in maintaining some independence for a long period of time.
Mutoto ruled during the 1400′s. He sought to join Africans in a united front, forging one strong government, to avoid European exploitation that had begun all over the African continent.
Narmer ruled during the 31stcentury B.C. and is considered to be the first pharoah of Egypt. He unified Upper and LowerKemet to create one country. The city that was built by Narmer on the new land after his conquest is currently known as Memphis. Narmer reigned for 35 years.
Osie Tutu was the first king of Asante, now Ghana, from 1680 until 1717. He united six nations under his reign to become the region of Asante.
Samory was the king of the Sudan and was named ruler, or war chief, in 1861. He was considered the Black Napoleon of the Sudan. During his reign he created an army and swore an oath to always protect his people. For eighteen years Samory consistently kept European countries from invading his territory.
Senwosert was king of Kemet in 1897 B.C. and was well known by the Greeks as Kekrops or Seostris. He is known in Greek mythology by those names, as he was once a conqueror of Greece, and he is also connected with the founding of Athens.
Shaka was king of the Zulus from 1818 until 1828. The legendary king is well-known for his warfare techniques. In the 19th century, Shake changed the way regiments were formed, and he trained his men in fierce tactics, making his fighting force one of the most feared in the world.
Taharka began his rule at the age of 32 in 710 B.C. His military campaigns are famous, and are mentioned even in the Holy Bible. Taharka controlled the biggest empire in Africa, and he created a building program tremendous in scope.
Tenkamenin led Ghana to the greatest prosperity it had known in a number of years when he reigned from 1037 until 1075.
Thutmose III was the sixth pharaoh of the famed 18th Dynasty. During his reign, he created the largest empire in Egypt. His rule lasted more than fifty years, 1479 B.C. to 1425 B.C.
Tutankamun also known as king tut is the famous boy-king who ruled from 1333 B.C. until 1324 B.C. He became king at age nine and ruled until his eighteenth year. He is known especially for his tomb which has been discovered intact. His tomb has toured the world over, and it has restored an interest in ancient Egypt.
Resources about African Kings
Black History Pages – Moshoeshoe
I am a mom of 2 boys who loves to spend time with them doing fun things outdoors. In my spare time I have my own things I enjoy doing such as gardening, reading old books, and being a closet history buff.
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