McWhorter: Egypt is no better than West Africa

[STUNNAification]

egypt wasent even CALLED EGYPT BACK THEN IT WAS CALLED KEMET....... before so called egyptions was there

[level242]

HE IS FROM MY HOMESTATE OF NEW JERSEY

[FuckUtube4Life2010]

@level242 he's from philly.

[level242]

He takes the PATCO to Philly but he is from Lindewall!

[FuckUtube4Life2010]

@level242 if you're right then wikipedia is wrong.

[jimboedwardlee]

McWhorters comments are silly because Whites identify with "Western Heritage" this encompasses everything from the Greeks, Romans, Jews, Muslims. etc. It is over extended but according to popular understanding all of these histories are part of the Western World- Anyone who has taken a basic class in the History of Western Civilization knows this. McWhorter is really being sloppy here

[mij194]

@jimboedwardlee Not Muslims...

[Steadno]

African Writing Systems

/watch?v=vQQ88N7n4WA

[Gnickk]

I don't think these comments really understand what McWhorter is getting at. He's talking about relevance. He doesn't find East and North Africa particularly relevant to the history of African-Americans like himself.

[jaymur11]

Horrible analogy McWhorter! French Canadians and Russians? Wow!!!

[level242]

@jaymur11 I think he is on point.Here in the US when blacks get afrocentric we tend to focus on Jamaica,Egypt and Ethiopia.Fact is most of us hail from Angola or Sengal.When I was growing up in the 70's lots of blacks were learning Swahili.which is based in East Africa.But most likely your ancestors spoke Mende which is in West Africa.McWhorter is saying blacks should NOT pick a random African place.Instead their search should be genuine, precise and authentic.

[blueiguy1]

@level242 While I would agree slightly Europeans do not practice what Mcwhorther is saying. The Greeks are held as the cradle of Europe even though they had more interaction with Africans than they did with northern europeans. And while West Africa is important I think understanding ALL of africa is important seeing that many black people all over the world were treated badly. Also A.Americans opposition to colonialism kept this idea going .

[hoodprophet]

Ancient Kemet is very African in nature from a cultural standpoint. Just look at the difference in them and european "pagan" societies like Romans and Greeks. Kemet spread knowledge to the uncivilized areas of the world. Ancient Europeans exploited others' ignorance. Most African countries navigated the world to spread knowledge and life, it can be seriously argued that the European countries have spread death, destruction, and chaos...this is historically factual..

[blokcom]

@hoodprophet : What's not factual is your version of history by saying Egypt spread their knowledge around the world. Maybe within a a couple hundred miles around Egypt, but not across the planet.

[hoodprophet]

at a time when all civilized peoples were people of color (like before 1500BC), color wasnt even an issue. thats a european construct. culture was most important. and culturally, Africans were very intuned with the natural order of things with their academics and spirituality. We should focus on identifying with any African cultures East, Northeast, South or West that draw on that focus becuz that is the innate quality of the African peoples. We, the descendants have lost that...

[GGLebo23]

Yeah and I forgot about the whole writing thing. The whole Africans didn't have writing bullshit is FALSE!!! Lol at this dude lecturing to other people when he doesn't know his own stuff. Here's a video showing some African writing systems. I think I wanna get a tattoo of one. The characters are nice!

Writing Systems of Africa

watch?v=QWRqWzJ-N9w&playnext=1­&videos=FrK21r8JPik

copy & paste into the youtube search bar!

[GGLebo23]

Ummm.... we did not all come from West Africa. We came from all over. Now most of us did come from that area, but we've lost our roots since their isn't much documentation on slaves. And this dude knows goddamn well that many Euros look towards Rome & Greece as if it's their own history KNOWING they came from some barbaric Germanic or Celtic tribes. I like looking at ALL of African history bc I consider all Africans to be my family. Afro Unity is what we should strive for.

[0alstonw0]

This guy has very little idea what he's talking about. The notion that Europeans don't look to Greece and Rome is absurd! Furthermore there were lanbuages and mathematical systems in west africa and kingdoms that were as modern as those in Europe and lived in peace. Something Europeans never accomplished for centuries at a time. This guy needs to read a real writer...Richard Poe

[VegasSkateCulture]

@0alstonw0

The guy is barley brushing the point. How advanced you are is not based on your architectural structures. Obviously that is important, but he is forgetting simple facts like Ethiopia was one of the greatest Christians societies to ever have represented the religion, and The moors conquering Spain and Italy in 711. A.D. the guy needs to read more.

[ebeledi]

looks like he doesn't even know much about his own west african history...there have always been writing systems in west africa like Nsibidi, Akan writing system called Adinkra, and of course the ancient writing systems of the Dogon people....there is even ALOT more.

[ForChangeMovement]

@ebeledi C'mon... "ALWAYS!?" Your statement doesn't even sound logical. People dont come out of the womb writing.

At some point writing had to start in West Africa. The starting point is what you need to address if you have a problem with what McWhorter is saying. I'm quite sure he knows that there were indeed writings that came out of West Africa but the time is what makes the difference in his argument.

He is addressing a certain time period.

[ebeledi]

@ForChangeMovement im not sure what your point is....i never said people came out of the womb writing your just putting words in my mouth. I dont agree with his statement about west africa because its incorrect. that is all.

[ForChangeMovement]

@ebeledi Which statement is wrong and how is it wrong? Your response leaves your readers unfulfilled, while his is full of details. So tell us the statement he made and why that particular statement is incorrect.

Your original response said, and I quote, "there have always been writing systems in west africa..." The word "always" is the problem in your statement. You need to explain when those writings began in comparison to the writings of Egypt to make your point make any sense.

[ebeledi]

@ForChangeMovement you read in too deeply and over analyze. when i say there has always been writings in west africa i mean that in a historic sense (since civilizations of mankind have risen ) not in a pre-historic sense. Of course writing hasn't always been part of the anywhere in the world. Writing never spread to West Africa by anyone we were doing it the same time Egyptians were doing it. that was my point, i dont understand why that is so hard to comprehend.

[ForChangeMovement]

@ebeledi So it is your belief that Egypt and West Africa both developed writing at essentially the exact same day?

Im not over analyzing, im reading what you said and repeating it back to you verbatim. I just want you to clarify. Rather than launch an attack against me or McWhorter why not just qualify your statements with some facts/details so that we can understand.

Obviously, what you are saying is outside of the normal beliefs of Americans so me wanting an explanation should be expected.

[eazydee415]

Where the hell thy find this house nigga at

he aint even black thats a white boy speaking

[bigalisme]

@eazydee415 Why? Because he enunciates and sounds like he has an education?

Since when is speaking proper English "white"? That's very telling of ghetto culture...

[eazydee415]

@bigalisme No very telln of cracker culture not because he talks white english but because of what hes sayn cracker so speak on wut u kno cracker

[AFRIKTODAY]

In a free society, people ought to be interested in whatever they please! Uno, Africans trace their roots around the Nile valley and Ancient Egypt was the first great civilization in Human history. If Afro American feel the need to connect with that civilization, good for them. Nobody cries when they go to church or call the name of Jesus. What is the big deal.

I am a Libertarian, African but I also want to know more about ancient Egypt.

[muhcarl]

I think he is very smart but he almost always argues faulty premises.  The importance of connecting blacks to their Kemetian (egyptian) ancestry is all the more important when whites have worked extremely hard to repress and revise black people's history. Dr. Cheik Anta Diop's The African Origin of Civilization is a book I recommend for all people, black, white or otherwise.

[Steadno]

i read this guy's work

[CrowdPleeza]

John is right. Black Americans aren't descendant from Egypt but west and central Africans who have no connection to Egypt. The Egyptians spoke an Afro-asiatic langauge. Most west and central Africans speak Niger-congo langauges. So there is no langauge match between the two. Few west Africans developed their own writing like hieroglyphics which they would have if they came from Egypt.

[Steadno]

@crowd so we could say the same thing about europe. greeks and romans were not german, celtic or slavic. infact greeks and romans enslaved them.

[TheAncient7]

@Steadno They all came out of the caves.

[eazydee415]

@CrowdPleeza WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS WHITE BOY TALKN ABOUT WEST AFRICA WAS IN CONTROL OF THE TRADE ROUTES ACROSS THE SAHARA THEY CAME BACK IN FORTH FRM WEST AFRICA TO EAST AFRICA (EGYPT) THE 1ST UNIVERSITY WAS IN WEST AFRICA TIMBUKTO AND THE GOLD MINES IN WEST AFRRICA AN LIKE DUDE SAID THE DOGON TRIBE ARE DECENDENTS OF THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS AND THATS IN WEST AFRICA MALI SO TELL THAT 2 THE CRACKERS

[CrowdPleeza]

@eazydee415

The Dogon language doesn't match the Egyptian language and the Dogon don't use Egyptian hireoglyphics and their religion isn't identical to the Egyptian religion so it's unlikely that the Dogon are decendant from the Egyptians. Most Africans did originate in East Africa but that doesn't necessarily mean they all came from Egypt. East Africa includes more countries than Egypt.

[AFRIKTODAY]

@CrowdPleeza

The dogon language MATCHES with ancient Egyptian and Coptic! Their religion, crafts and culture are very well connected. Not only the Dogon but also the AGNI, the Ashanti, the Ewe, the Yoruba, the Wollof, the Pulaar, the Igbo, the Duala, Fang...etc! On which base can you even stand to support your claim since you don't even speak African languages?

Nubia/Egypt was the root tree to all African cultures!

[CrowdPleeza]

@AFRIKTODAY

Where's the Egyptian and Dogon Hieroglyphic matches? Were the Egyptians known for the type of drumming and dance found throughout west Africa? Does West African DNA match any from ancient Egypt?

[AFRIKTODAY]

@CrowdPleeza

Research the work of the Danish geneticist slavoo Paabo in relation to the race of the Ancient egyptians. Believe me, if the Egyptian were " caucasoid" and science could prove it, every TV network around the world would know that! You know why nobody "discuss" that issue too loudly? It is because everyone knows the truth!

By the way, there are countless of AFRICAN HIEROGLYPHICS systems that I doubt you are aware of. The IGBOS, YORUBA, BA-MUN all have similar scripts.

[CrowdPleeza]

@AFRIKTODAY

I agree that the early dynastic Egyptians weren't whites but were indigenous Africans. Most west Africans had no indigenous word writing system. Those that did developed writing did so in the 19th and 20th centuries like the Mende and Mande people.

[AFRIKTODAY]

@CrowdPleeza

Once again you speak about things you do not master or even understand. Mande? The Ghana empire of the 9th and 10th century used " Hieroglyphics"! Why? Because they were MIGRANTS from the Nile Valley who had fled the Roman incursions to create an empire on the Niger delta! African history is no more stagnant that any other history! Population migrates, move for a various set of reasons. I can only advise you to consult and study African HISTORIANS.

[CrowdPleeza]

@AFRIKTODAY

Google these men and take note of why they developed writing.

Momolu Duwalu Bukele

Kisimi Kamara

[AFRIKTODAY]

@CrowdPleeza

Kisimi Kamara! " He locked himself in a room for days and came back with a fully developed writing system" ! Are you even serious? ( Lol)! Dude, are you kidding with such nonsenses? I told you to consult African Historians buddy, not nonsenses! For your information, writing has always existed in Africa, but it was merely used for " rituals" and " confined to secret societies" rather than ALL! By the way, while in Nubia everybody could learn, only the ELITE in egypt was allowed!

[CrowdPleeza]

@AFRIKTODAY

Mande is commonly used to refer to the Mandinka people. Also could you provide a link that touches on how the Afro-Asiatic category has been discredited?

[AFRIKTODAY]

@CrowdPleeza

You are quite an ignorant! The Ashanti people of Ghana has a writing system, the igbos do, the Duala, Bamun, Songhai, Yoruba all have a script, most of them being hieroglyphics. Please, do some research before spewing nonsenses my friend. African script was confined to secret societies and not divulged to the mass population. That's the difference!

[CrowdPleeza]

@AFRIKTODAY

Can you provide some links so that I can see the writing systems of the Ashanti, Yoruba and Igbo? I'am curious to see them and see what year they were started. Saying they were secret writings is very convient keeping you from having to prove they actually exist.

[AFRIKTODAY]

@CrowdPleeza

Dude, don't be so simplistic ok! If you knew anything about ancient egypt itself, you would know that the writing system was not spread to the mass but kept to the priesthood and the scribs! Egypt was an elitist society divided in social castes. Maybe that was one reason of its eventual downfall! It was too rigid and couldn't adapt to change! You find the same elitism and division in west African traditions! I am quite appalled to deal with your level of ignorance honestly!

[CrowdPleeza]

@AFRIKTODAY

Google:

African Writing Systems

Look for the Cornell University site. They show the writing systems that some west Africans did develop. Most were created from the 16th century and up.

[AFRIKTODAY]

@CrowdPleeza

Since PEOPLE AT CORNELL SAID SO, IT MUST BE TRUE RIGHT? Imagine going to the University of Lagos to find information about Ancient Greece! That's beyond laughable between you and I. No, research African authors like Cheikh Anta, Theophile Obenga, Aboubakri Moussa, Guy Boyo, Doumbi Fakoly, Gregoire biyogo, and many others. I must admit though that most of them write in French! I don't care what a few armchair-intellectuals are saying about Africans UNTIL I consult the NATIVES!

[CrowdPleeza]

@AFRIKTODAY

You still haven't directed me to a link discrediting the Afro-Asiatic language category.

[eazydee415]

@CrowdPleeza ma bad i meant gods people

[AFRIKTODAY]

@CrowdPleeza .

Direct yourself! I gave you a title of a book by Theophile Obenga" Egypt and black africa". It's a small book, you could read it in 1 hr

[CrowdPleeza]

@AFRIKTODAY

Just because Obenga disagrees with the Afro-Asiatic category doesn't mean it's been debunked. Afro-Asiatic,Niger-Congo and Nilo-Saharan are all still being used to categorize languages. So if Obenga has discredited them then he needs to do a better job of announcing this to the linguistic community.

[AFRIKTODAY]

@CrowdPleeza The scientific community? Lol! You mean the scientific church! Obenga's work was the foundation of cheikh anta diop linguistic analysis! We are talking about almost 30 years of data and proofs. The least thing westerners should do is to "learn" and "study" the languages in question before assuming some classification. To me, all this Nilo sahara, afro asiatic crap is,,, crap! Utter nonsense! That's not science! Verify your claims before reaching hasty conclusions.

[AFRIKTODAY]

@CrowdPleeza

One exemple to demonstrate the correlation between egypt and Africa ( west africa in particular) is trough the names of modern Africans. Those names can be dissected like egyptians ones. You will find names like San-kha-Re (ra), ka-ma-Ra, Sow, Agni, annan, Kha, Ba, Amun, Benu, Tou-Re...etc! All these names HAVE EGYPTIAN MEANINGS! These are not mere accident or coincidences but express a filial relation with Nubia and Kemet! The relation has survived despite almost 2500 years!

[AFRIKTODAY]

@CrowdPleeza

You are utterly wrong!

There is no such a thing as Afro-Asiatic language; that hypothese was debunked 20 years ago. Ancient Egyptian is one of the root linguistic tree in which stands most African Languages and west African in particular. Study linguistic first off and history as well. Also, Hieroglyphics were not developed in Egypt but in NUBIA, the mother of ancient Egypt and today's Soudan. I don't see any issue with Afro American relating to Egypt.

[CrowdPleeza]

@AFRIKTODAY

Afro-Asiatic languages haven't been debunked. Name me a university linguist who supports that?

[AFRIKTODAY]

@CrowdPleeza

Afro-Asiatic is an utter fabrication! The root of Egyptian language and script is in Nubia! That's where the ancient egyptian came from! Most western University have embraced the Afro asiatic crap but it has been debunked since the late 80s! Do a little bit of homework in that regard. The semitic assumption of egyptians are fallacious and Arabs have nothing to do with the formation of that civilization.

[CrowdPleeza]

@AFRIKTODAY

" Afro-Asiatic is an utter fabrication!"

According to? Egyptian's lanuage was Afro-Asiatic and Nubian's language was Nilo-Saharan. Name some university linguist who disagree? In order for your view to get anywhere you'll have to discredit mainstream linguist on this.

[AFRIKTODAY]

@CrowdPleeza

Dude, I doubt you are following the linguistic researchs of African languages otherwise you would not usher a lot of "nonsenses". Ancient Egyptian is rooted with Nubian language, not some afro-asiatic. I mean, the Egyptian civilization was a byproduct of the Nile and Sahara desert but for some reason its language is afro-asiatic? Logically, does that make any sense? No!

The Egyptians NEVER once claimed to be anything but NATIVES!

[AFRIKTODAY]

@CrowdPleeza

Thirdly, the issue also is a matter of mere intellectual curiosity and I think a lot of brainwashed westerners happen at time to be simply intellectually lazy! Even if I have a bias in my approach to european history, I would first get the interpretation of local european historians before analyzing their claims from my own subjectivity! Consult the work of Natives Africans first and if you can find " imperfection" or blatant "lies" in their work, then criticize!

[AFRIKTODAY]

@CrowdPleeza

I am not even talking about Afro Americans historian but rather NATIVES africans who speak the languages, are rooted culturally and know their own history. I can name cheikh anta diop, aboubacri Moussa Lam, Theophile Obenga, and a newer generation of Afro historian employing the tools of modern analysis within the context of african history. The humility of a philosopher is the willingness to learn even from the ideas one might have divergence with. ( Those are egyptian concepts).

[eazydee415]

@CrowdPleeza hahaha wut ever cracker the nile river runs frm south 2 north if moses was put in a basket and floated to egypt he came frm the south motha fucka thats y yall want to seperate blacks from egypt because we r gods people they even have us carved in stone in side the pyrmids so take that bullshit back to europe faggot and suck yo own dick

[AFRIKTODAY]

@eazydee415

Bro, no needs to insult the guy like that to make a point. And, " we" are not Gods, " We are all" Gods! God made nature diverse and beautiful. Just being " Black" or " white" is not a sign of deity but rather the way one's carry his life and treats his fellow man/woman/animal/nature. I am African and my grand father told me that our people came from Egypt/Nubia running away from arabs slave traders. I ve known that all my life and no amount of " Cornell" crap will change my view.

[eazydee415]

@AFRIKTODAY I meant to say that we r gods people i did not mean gods

[AFRIKTODAY]

@eazydee415 Yes but we are all, chinese, europeans, africans, indians, all of us are god's people. If god had a people that he favored, then he wouldn't be god!

[CrowdPleeza]

@eazydee415

" yall want to seperate blacks from egypt because we r gods"

Blacks ain't gods. Stop romanticizing Black Africans.

[eazydee415]

@CrowdPleeza but still fuck u cracker

[capitalmindz]

@CrowdPleeza It is readily accepted as fact that the populations that established the original "Egyptian" and Ethiopian civilizations migrated northward from southern Africa (with ties to Western Africa as well)

It all depends on how far you look back. Either way if you go to the most distant point of discernible social complexity you will be dealing with Africa/Asia. Period. Since Egypt had been appropriated by Europe for so long it was important for Africans to reclaim it again. That's all :)

[DamienDragonetti]

But what he doesn't understand is Kamites did flee to West Africa during some of the invasions (the last one for sure). There are a few pyramids left in W. A. and the Dogon know whats going on. Now for those of you who are sharping your fangs for me make sure you have your info right, I walk with a big Ankh.

I'm Nubian but I have love for my entire African family around the globe.

[areyouquitemad]

I suspect that the vast majority of people came not from emporers, pharoahs and kingsas they like to believe but from poor, powerless peasants! And, I'm completely okay with that idea, it in no way dimishes us as people or removes our potential to succeed in life.

[azartistjw1]

John is one of the brightest men I have had the pleasure of knowing. Understand that if you choose to judge a man by the "style" of their language, slang, ebonics, spanish slang, country or whatever, you have to look at the platform from where that person is speaking. John addresses that speaking proper English should NOT make you a so called 'Uncle Tom." IF it does, then the rule stands in place to hold black people down because speaking proper English has only lead to blacks advancement.

[pharaonicvs]

First time i c a black african american with sense

[mattmcwax]

Like McWhorter I'm more interested in the truth and coherence but sometimes I waver on whether the ends justify the means. Afrocentric hip-hop was at least trying to get some kind of consciousness, so even if it was soaked in myth, it was a better alternative to modern rap's celebration materialistic and hedonistic culture. But for the long run, effective role models have to be closer in time and proximity to resonate with young people. Then, maybe some new legacies can be built.

[spiritualseeker02]

this man is a uncle tom but most blacks that talk like a so called white person normally are uncle toms and coons anything to justify arabs and white people's wrong doing and stealing of countries and other important things black people stay away from uncel toms if you are a proud african

[Entropy56]

"uncle tom" Hahahh! You are a racist.

[RationalEmotive]

Reverse racism is ten times worse than some KKK gatherings!

I don't care what your race is. If you reach out for a hand-out, without hard work and expect the government to give you a free ride, you are an Obamist socialist.

[blackwomenaregodsfav]

This "Man" is of no worth to any race let alone our beautiful black race. Wow Get the fuck out my race!!! This nigger is worthless. If he was shit in a toliet I would'nt even flush. Lol There is always one. If you are not part of the solution you part of our problem. Name anything this man can bring to my black race? Anybody can be black but are ashamed of being black. He need to be captured fast and killed slow. Die!!

[kahirij]

I think you might be a racist, judging by your username and your frequent use of racial slurs and calumny.

What degrees do you hold?

[ososeff]

you have no history comparable to theirs see that we have on that surpassed theirs when we supposed to none i think we should mention all african history as our own african people are a social people

[ososeff]

then what is ancient kemet but a black society

if a white person from russia can mention the greeks as part of his history or part of his race why shouldnt a black person have the concept a european do not have to mention these thing because its written in their history the so call world history is mostly based on their history and what the have stolen from others but black peoples who have being told that

[ososeff]

well done

[preadamite1]

But what he left out was our ancestors who created these powerful, medieval, pre-slavery empires in west africa, were the DESCENDANTS of the NILE VALLEY PEOPLE who built the egypt, nubia(sudan) and kush(ethiopia). When the NILE valley was assaulted by asiatics, arabs and peckerwoods, the ancestors spread out over the continent but most went WEST to WEST AFRICA. My whole thing is that black people need to be taught our WHOLE HISTORY. Slavery is a part- a TINY part of our history.

[preadamite1]

Hes correct about Pre-slavery, pre invasion, and pre colonization and resource rape of WEST AFRICA in particualr and the african continent in general by the white beast. PRIOR to the pale savages invading west africa, we had powerful, prosperous, and highly cultural kingdoms in west africa. Medeval west africans were the richest people in the world. We had arts, laws, building and of couse agricultural knowledge that we brought with us to AMerikkKA.

[TemplarX2]

No we are not giving up Egypt to the Arab invaders invaders. Egypt was black.

[Tia1ko]

Except for Ramesse II, who was a pretty hip pale redhead. :-)

[DamienDragonetti]

Sad, but we can all dream of sugar plum fairies huh? LOL pale

[Tia1ko]

Well, go fetch some ginger blacks to show me and then we can talk. ;) I haven't heard of such "localized" eumelanin deficiency yet.

[CrowdPleeza]

I wonder how many BLK Americans know our ancestors came from coastal west and central Africa(Senegal to Angola)? I don't think many of us know this. Many of us mistakenly think our ancestors were brought from all over Africa.

[azkllms]

Doesn't he know that Russia is not a part of Europe but of Asia.

[CrowdPleeza]

Russia is part of Eurasia. That's Europe and Asia combined.

[herbaljunky]

Russia engulf both continents. Besides there is no appropriate demarcation of land mass that defines Europe as a real continent.

[reiserkeiser]

yeah! fuck egypt. my folks ain't from egypt. We are descendants of west africans!

[FreshD2008]

The reason that African Americans don't hold West Africa in such a high regard as Egypt is because of the geo political power play designed to downplay Sub-saharan history, at the same time attributing Egypt's history to forces foreign to Africa. Only just recently they are starting to uncover archeological sites that boast cities twice the size of London along the River Niger. Cities before Arab contact and settlement......

[FreshD2008]

There is so much in West Africa left to be discovered we've only scratched the surface. Yet, the incentive is painstakingly lacking not because its devoid of any historical significance, but to perpetuate the myth that Sub-saharan (Negroid) Africa has always been backwards is a implicit way to persuade its management from more "competent" peoples. It is a subtle political move to grab resources, the modern day form of recolonization.

[geezone1]

Hotep! You are exactly right my brother.

I keep trying to tell people this. We west Africans are connected to the Nile Valley and brought knowledge from there however; we developed our own Kingdoms and systems and social orders.

Hotep!

[FreshD2008]

We still have people who still truly believe in the Hegelian perspective of West Africa, that there were no cities, no civilization, that they were barbariuos hunter gatherers that didn't even have a system of writing. This is an outright lie. The indigenous people of Cameroon developed an alphabet prior to Arab contact. Iron smelting was an indigenous discovery. The Wagandu CIVILIZATION was completely indigenous. The myths about Africa still prevail only for political purposes of control..

[Obasiliasfilosofos]

Civilizations that are less geographically isolated, Develop faster, They can trade and borrow ideas.

Societies discovering the same inventions as another independently is rare.

[jankraw]

but i disagree with this guy on one point! the point that white american don't get there pride from european "greatness" because they may be ignorant of the past. BUT a white american who was ignorant of his history would only have to look at the white house and it's ROMAN architecture to make the link to there history and there european "greatness." it's fed via the subconscious!

[HandGrenadeTesticles]

Black Americans have no fucking clue.

It's a fucking joke.

[FightDPower]

Sad but true. Black Americans often cling to Islam as if it belongs to them. It doesn't, but Christianity doesn't belong to Whites either. Black pride doesn't make sense, at least in the ancient sense. They lost every war they ever fought, and could barely farm. They had little to no notion of culture, and lacked the capability to survive in conditions the likes of which Asians and Caucasians managed.

[sn00piedog]

LMAO that was the most stupid comment i've seen welcome to my stupid comment list. Africa, Asia, Europe both have their own ridiculously Harsh eviroments , Africa= heat, Asia (middle eastern)= heat, slant eyed asia ( rain ), Europe cold, but greeks had heat.

[eazydee415]

@HandGrenadeTesticles WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS WHITE BOY TALKN ABOUT WEST AFRICA WAS IN CONTROL OF THE TRADE ROUTES ACROSS THE SAHARA THEY CAME BACK IN FORTH FRM WEST AFRICA TO EAST AFRICA (EGYPT) THE 1ST UNIVERSITY WAS IN WEST AFRICA TIMBUKTO AND THE GOLD MINES IN WEST AFRRICA AN LIKE DUDE SAID THE DOGON TRIBE ARE DECENDENTS OF THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS AND THATS IN WEST AFRICA MALI SO TELL THAT 2 THE CRACKERS

[maturedsince89]

Advanced societies does not need large monolithic structures and grandolient clothing... West Africa was and still is rich in gold, and many other societies came from afar to trade values and customs with the people of West Africa. i.e the ARABS!!

[Steadno]

All of Africa is oursWe must stop dividing ourselves!

[hwfceo]

this is the number one reason we shouldnt mix with mutants!!!

[thejuggernaut187]

has this guy ever heard of the dogon?

[CoyoteJaw9]

Sub Saharan Africa gave birth to:

poetry

art

story telling

humour

music

and most importantly, language.

But if you look a the area since the birth of civilization ie. the agricultural revolution, it's been pretty quiet. Not because its people are less clever, but because it wasn't the right kind of environment.

Sp in terms of momunments, buildings etc etc there's very little.

But if you take the bigger view, then everything comes from West Africa.

[MovementMaterial]

Well I think thats one thing. Lately I have been seeing people who look to ancient Egypt for identity purposes.

People are wearing ankhs, and reciting the words of hottep. Then some take it as far as trying to replicate the ancient kemetic religions.

So it goes further than trying to prove Egypt had African roots.

But the point of this video is to show that we here in America come from western Africa. Why dont our ppl hold west African culture in such high regards?

[MovementMaterial]

The answer to my last question may be that white western culture has looked to Egypt for years and held its ancient civilizations in high regards. Egypt has been celebrated in movies for years.

America has long admired Egypt and its rich history. Its no wonder blacks here have clinged to it.

But why do we not celebrate western Africas past civilizations? Is it because we dont see them as being great? Because they didnt build any pyramids, they werent great?

W. Africa is great too!

[2handsclapping]

Interesting debate. Human nature is drawn to a amass profit in the struggle for limited resources and increased comfort.

The tool for production is technology.

The tool for controlling what we have is oppression.

The tool for arguing our rights over others is division.

These tools reinforce each other so, hence the monuments/pyramids, a society that overcomes the friction of nature.

We celebrate this because its complimentary to the idea of our world. (which is in crisis)

[2handsclapping]

The issue is, is this system good/sustainable? We need to understand that a network of relationships is far powerful/valuable than mindless monuments. Networks like a market place or the internet are the future, not objects or barns full of grain.

Most monuments lie, like the pyramids. They say things that are not true. The Vietnam War memorial is an exception. It was commissioned to lie, tell us that we are triumphant, but instead it tells the truth, that we lost people we loved.

[jankraw]

it's true i rarely hear african-american's refer to ancient ghana,ancient mail, songhai, the yoruba kingdom's etc.... it's alway eygyt or even berber kingdoms! im a british born jamaican and am proud of my ghanian root's in the ashanti kingdom!

[sn00piedog]

because their only taught in school about egypt , the rest of Africa they learn about always leads to shackles because stupid fucking people don't wana teach something good about Africa other than wild life.

[sn00piedog]

Well don't just claim to be from West africa because you here it had a rich history , but you are right most black Americans are decendants of those from west Africa, but their's a small percent of you from places close to central Africa.But CHEERS Go AFRICA ;)

[TheAncient7]

@MovementMaterial The Dogon tribe of Mali have the same Religion as the Ancient Egyptian and Nubian. When West Africa was a power house Egypt and Nubia was long gone. The original people of the Nile was pushed to the south and west Africa.the Religion of the Egyptian is the oldest in Africa why not use the wear the Ankh. And they don't teach us shit about west African in school and they teach that the Egyptian are Arab. And Any ways Egypt had all type of Africans there! it was just one type.

[sandroeleven]

@TheAncient7 everyone does have a decendent so to some knowing the history is Egypt is great. They too came from somewhere and are mixed. There are lots of arabs there that is why they are seen as arabs. Migration changed a people.

[eazydee415]

@sandroeleven tHE ORIGINAL EGYPTIANS WHERE PURE AFRICANS NOT MIXED BUT LATER IN ITS RAIN AS DIFF CULTURES CAME INTO AFRICA BECAUSE IT WAS LIKE AMERICA IS NOW THEN PEOPLE BEGAN TO MIX AND THAT BRONG ABOUT THE FALL OF EGYPT BITCH

[sandroeleven]

@eazydee415 I think that is obvious bitch. Know what you speak of when you respond. That was not my comment.

[AFRIKTODAY]

@eazydee415

Why does this guy even care if black associate themselves with ancient Egypt? The european root themselves within the Greeko-Roman tradition yet there is no correlation between aristotle and the queen of England. As a matter of fact, European were colonized by Romans and they were seen as barbarians by them. What is the big deal? It is ok to prey on the bible but not try to learn the Medu Nether or the Ma'at that is 200% deeper and more spiritual than the bible, coran or whatever?