Encyclopaedia Africana

Revolutionaries, Statesmen & Traditional Rulers

  • 6 Min Read

Uthman Abu Bakr Diqna “‘Uthman Digna” (c.1840-1926) was one of the ‘Amils (Provincial Governors) of the Mahdist State in the Sudan (1885-1898).   His ancestors were...

  • 7 Min Read

Augustus William Kojo Thompson (1880-February 26, 1950), generally known as Kojo Thompson, was a lawyer, a radical nationalist politician, and a pan-Africanist. An outstanding critic...

  • 5 Min Read

Thomas George Lawson (circa 1814-June 1891) was a chief’s son who became the first official interpreter and messenger operating between the colonial administration and the...

  • 2 Min Read

Sir Charles William Tachie-Menson (1889 – October 17, 1962), who had a distinguished career in public service, was the first African Chairman of the Public...

  • 4 Min Read

Togbi Sri II (1862-1956) was the Awoamefia (paramount chief) of Anlo for nearly 50 years (1907-1956). He distinguished himself as an innovator and as a...

  • 3 Min Read

Sitobu, who flourished around 1450, was the first Ya Na (paramount chief) of the kingdom of Dagomba in what is now northeastern Ghana which he...

  • 5 Min Read

Alfred James Shorunkeh-Sawyerr (circa 1861-May 18, 1929), bookseller, printer, journalist, and eventually practicing lawyer, was a forceful and outspoken participant in public affairs in the...

  • 5 Min Read

Shaka, (circa 1787-September 12, 1828) was the founder of the Zulu nation and a social and military innovator. The exact date of his birth is...

  • 3 Min Read

Nana Ansa Sasraku I (16? – 1689) was the ruler of Akwamu, a Twi speaking state in what is now south-eastern Ghana. He built it...

  • 7 Min Read

John Mensah Sarbah (June 3, 1864-November 27, 1910), patriot and statesman, was one of the most outstanding nationalists of the Gold Coast at the end...

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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