Heroes of Africa

By Vivian Ezeife Van Gorder

This book focuses on the inspirational, dramatic stories of many important heroes of Africa. The goal of this book is to help people appreciate the effort and skill that has helped create all that is good in modern Africa. This book tells the vivid stories of courage and wisdom that will motivate and encourage future generations of Africans and those of the African diaspora. It also creates engaging activities to help us understand each hero. Our youth must continue to dream and add dedicated insight in the work of strengthening Mother Africa. In spite of all odds and opponents, Africans must look back in order to look forward. This book provides a creative and clear context for conversations about the rich diversity and noble character of the heroes Africans and those of the African diaspora.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Sep 28, 2018
• ISBN: 9781546260646

Vivian Ezeife Van Gorder

Vivian Van Gorder has dedicated her energy to supporting the future of the children and youth of Mother Africa. In addition, as founder and director of the Celebration Africa Film Festival and the It’s Time Africa social justice organization, Vivian is committed to building positive and proactive bridges between the people of Africa, the African Diaspora and supportive allies of Africa worldwide. Her vision is to encourage all of us to work to support Mother Africa in any and every way. We must learn her wisdom, and with courage support her love. Our children and youth will lead the way as they have in the past. Many, even Africans and those of the African Diaspora need to learn more and fight against all forms of Afro-pessimism as well as the real foes of the Motherland. Vivian’s work has taken her into classrooms, colleges, theatres, exhibitions and social-meeting contexts around the world. She is the mother of seven -- including quadruplets -- and is the author of several children’s books. Both education and creative expression -- Vivian believes -- will work against Afro-pessimism.

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2018 Vivian Van Gorder. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 09/27/2018

ISBN: 978-1-5462-6065-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-6066-0 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-6064-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018911279

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

1. Nelson Mandela of South Africa (1918-2013)

2. Seretse Khama of Botswana (1921-1980)

3. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia (1938-)

4. Wole Soyinka of Nigeria (1934-)

5. Patrice Lumumba of the Congo (1925-1961)

6. Philibert Nang of Gabon (1967-)

7. Funmilayo Ransome- Kuti of Nigeria (1900-1978)

8. Mansa Musa, Prince of Mali (1280-1337)

9. Thomas R. Odhiambo of Kenya (1931-2003)

10. Great Queens of Africa

11. Kofi Annan of Ghana (1938-2018)

12. Janani Luwum of Uganda (1922-1977)

13. Rachid Yazami of Morocco (1953-)

14. Qinisile Mabuza of Swaziland (ca.1955-)

15. Sameera Moussa of Egypt (1917-1952)

16. Leopold Senghor of Senegal (1906-2001)

17. Ajayi Crowther of Nigeria (1809-1891)

18. Aliko Dangote of Nigeria (1957-)

19. Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana (1909-1972)

20. Julius Mimano of Kenya (d.1893)

21. Wangari Maathai of Kenya (1940-2011)

22. King Kigeli IV Rwabugili of Rwanda (d. 2004)

23. Great African Soccer Players

24. Paul Ahyi of Togo (1930-2010)

25. Christian Barnard of South Africa (1922-2011)

26. Djimon Hounsou of Benin (1964-)

27. Trevor Noah of South Africa (1984-)

28. Angelique Kidjo of Benin (1960-)

29. Desmond Tutu of South Africa (1931-)

30. Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia (1973-)

31. Ahmed Baba of Mali (1556-1627)

32. Map Of Africa.

33. Concluding Questions for Discussion

INTRODUCTION

Africa — the Motherland — is a rich, and diverse continent with over one billion people living in 56 different countries filled with vast resources and resplendent with every color of animals, plants, and people.

Queens and kings have long ruled over the Africa where over 2000 languages are spoken. While many Africans, with many different skin colors, speak English, Arabic, or French, the largest language group in Africa is Swahili.

Africa is a land of rich stories, traditions, legends, and noble accounts – a place where a person can develop in any, and every, way imaginable. African women and men across history have influenced Africa and the entire world.

Africa is a land of beautiful, intelligent, and wise heroes of the mind, body, soul, and spirit. There are thousands of inspiring Africans whose stories we should learn, but for this