Encyclopaedia Africana

Revolutionaries, Statesmen & Traditional Rulers

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Ba Foday Mansaray (circa 1750s-1818) was a Limba leader who founded a state in Wara Wara district, based on Bafodea (Bafodaya), a capital named after...

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Alimany Sattan Lahai (who flourished in the 19th century), one of the most astute political leaders in northern Sierra Leone in his day, was ruler...

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Kwaku Dua II (circa 1860-June 10, 1884), ruled as Asantehene for 44 days in 1884. Known earlier as Agyeman Kofi, he was the son of...

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Kwaku Dua I (circa 1797-April 27, 1867) ruled as Asantehene from 1834-67. Upon coming to power, he proclaimed Asante policy as being “Peace, Trade, and...

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Lieutenant-General Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka (October 26, 1926 – April 17, 1967) was the soldier who led the coup which overthrew the administration of President Kwame...

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Sir Kobina Arku Korsah (April 3, 1894 – January 25, 1967), was the first African chief justice of the Gold Coast (1956-57), and the first...

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Seretse Khama (July 1, 1921-July 13 1980) was a center of a political storm in 1950 when the British Government exiled him from the Bechuanaland...

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Kaiyamba (who flourished in the mid-19th century), was a powerful Mende warrior and the founder of Moyamba, 96 km (60 mi) east-southeast of Freetown, which...

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Leul-Ras Kassa Haylu (August 7, 1881 – November 16, 1956) was a 20th Century governor, military commander, imperial councillor, and author. His father, Dajazmach Haylu...

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John Kabes [c.1670-1734] of Komenda [Eguafo], a trading port 15 mi [24km] west of Cape Coast, was ruler of Kabeskrom (literally “Kabes Town” a township...

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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