Encyclopaedia Africana

Revolutionaries, Statesmen & Traditional Rulers

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Kenneth David Kaunda (April 28, 1924 – June 17, 2021) was a Zambian statesman and nationalist leader who served as the country’s first president from...

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Kofi Atta Annan (April 8, 1938 – August 18, 2018) was a Ghanaian diplomat and international statesman who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the...

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Kalala Kafumbe (18?-1895), a leader of the Mulenge people of eastern Kasai, united the decentralised Mulenge clans into a single political organisation. Like many other...

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Chibind Yirung (folk hero, who may have flourished circa the 17th century), the reputed founder of the Lunda (Aruund) state, is described by tradition as...

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Bolangwa (circa 1860-1910), or Bolangbwa, was the first chief invested by the colonial authorities to rule the Bobangi chiefdom located east of the Congo River,...

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Kabey a Mwanb (circa 1850-circa 1895) was chief of the Kaninchin, a small Lunda-related people living about 185 km (115 mi) south of Mbuji Mayi....

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Ikenge (circa 1850- December 20, 1883) was prominent in the early history of Mbandaka, present capital of the Equateur region in Zaire. Like many other...

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Ibaka (circa 1820-April 1889), rose from slavery to become one of the wealthiest men engaged in the 19th century Zaire River trade. As chief of...

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Gandanda Gibanda (circa 1865-October 1931), a prominent Pende chief, was unjustly tortured and executed by colonial authorities following the famous Pende revolt of May and...

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Francis William Reitz (October 5, 1844-March 27, 1934) is not as well known a figure as Paul Kruger or M.T. Steyn. Reitz, nevertheless, made a...

Editor’s Note

This website features a collection of articles largely from previously published volumes of the Encyclopaedia Africana, specifically the Encyclopaedia Africana Dictionary of African Biography, which highlights notable individuals from various regions of Africa. Please note that in these volumes, some names of people, towns, and countries were spelled differently than they are today. We have retained these historical spellings to preserve the integrity of the original publications. In some instances, the current spellings are also provided for easy reference.
Please report errors to: info@encyclopaediaafricana.com / research@encyclopaediaafricana.com

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