Encyclopaedia Africana

Encyclopaedia Africana

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William Wellington Gqoba (1840-April 26, 1888), a Xhosa intellectual of the late 19th century, edited the leading Xhosa journal of the day. Isigidimi samaXhosa (“The...

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Maria Margaretha Koopmans-De Wet, (March 8, 1834-August 2, 1906) was a cultured woman, renowned as a hostess, patroness of the arts, and ardent patriot. She...

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Ras Tasamma Nadaw (18?-April 10, 1911), Regent of Ethiopia from 1909-11, was a general, statesman, and confidant of Emperor Menilek II [reigned 1889-1913]. His father, Ato...

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Isbrand Goske (circa 1626-1689) was the Dutch governor of the Cape of Good Hope from October 1, 1672 to March 14, 1676. Born in The...

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Thomas Birch Freeman (December 6, 1809-August 12, 1890) was a missionary of Anglo-African descent who established the Methodist Church on a firm footing in the...

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Goolam H. Gool (1907-December 2, 1962) was a prominent Coloured politician, who aspired to the leadership of the South African Coloured community, a goal he...

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Emperor Susneyos (circa 1571-September 16, 1632) reigned from 1607-32. He was a strong ruler who imposed his authority on a divided realm. But after he...

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Evariste Kimba (July 16, 1926-June 2, 1966) was a political leader during the first years of Congo independence. An early supporter of Katangese rights, he...

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Kogbandi Vangahun (18?-early 1890s) was a brave but profligate warrior whose career as a professional fighter was often marred by the distrust provoked by his...

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Kombo Kiboko (circa 1870-May 20, 1942), was one of three Pende rulers selected to participate in an ill-conceived rotating chiefship the colonial government designed to...

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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The Encyclopaedia Africana Project is an AU Flagship Project with the mission to produce and publish peer reviewed articles devoted mainly to Africa and its people.

Encyclopaedia Africana