Encyclopaedia Africana

Encyclopaedia Africana

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Ras Walda Selasse (1736-1816) was an Ethiopian statesman who ruled over Tegré from 1780 to 1816. He grew up at the court of Ras Mikael...

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Major-General Orde Charles Wingate (February 26, 1903-March 24, 1944) was a British officer who played a notable role in the Ethiopian liberation campaign of 1940-41,...

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Salama (circa 1818-October 25, 1867) was Abuna (head) of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church from 1841-1867. During his years in office he became one of the...

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The Rev. David Asante (December 23, 1834-October 13, 1892), a missionary with the famous Basel (Lutheran) Mission, helped to make Twi the powerful literary language...

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Patrice Emery Lumumba (July 2, 1925-January 17, 1961) served as prime minister of the Congo during the tumultuous first months after independence on June 30,...

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Mbidi Kiluwe (who flourished circa 1500), also known as Ilunga Mbili, a hero in Luba oral tradition, is thought to have introduced “bulopwe”, the unique...

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Sahla Selassé (1795-1847) was the regional ruler of Shawa from 1813-1847. In the course of the 1830s he assumed the title of Negus (king), and...

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Matemu a Kelenge (circa 1895- September, 1931), popularly known as Mundele Funji, led the famous 1931 Pende revolt against the colonial government. Matemu belonged to...

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Empress Sabla Wangel (?-1568) was the wife of Emperor Lebna Dengel [reigned 1508-40], and participated in the events which occurred during the difficult years which...

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Frumentius (F’ré Menatos), who flourished in the 4th century AD, also known as Abba Salama I, or Abba Salama Kasata Berehan, was the first bishop...

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