Encyclopaedia Africana

Taytu Betul (circa 1853-February 11, 1918), empress of Ethiopia, was the wife of Menilek II [reigned 1889-1913]. It was she who gave the name “Addis Ababa”...

Nur Hussein ibn Ibrahim al Malkai of Balé (now the province of Mendebo in southeast Ethiopia), a sheikh, a Muslim mystic and teacher of the...

Alaga Heruy Berru (1865-1949) was the leading Ethiopian painter during the later period of the reign of Emperor Menilek  [ruled 1889-1913]. The son of a...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...