Kwanzaa2020

ALKEBULAN
(MOTHER OF MANKIND)

MEKI DAVIS & KAI NISSEN

ALKEBULAN Ancient Egypt was known as Kemet.

According to the Kemetic History of Afrika:
• Alkebu-lan means “mother of mankind” or “garden of Eden”. It was also

Arabic for " The Land Of The Blacks“

• Alkebulan is the only indigenous word known and was used by the
Moors, Nubians, Numidians, Khart-Haddans (Carthagenians), and
Ethiopians.

• The name Africa came into use by the Romans, who used the name Africa
terra — "land of the Afri" which described the northern part of the
continent.

• Afrika was renamed Africa during European colonization.

BENIN

BENIN

• Population:
According to the United Nations
Data, the Benin population mid 2020
is approximated to be 12, 123, 200
which is 0.16% of the world’s total
population.

BENIN

• Flag:

– Green represents the
hope of a new
democracy.

– Red represents the
courage of the ancestors.

– Yellow represents the
nations treasures.

BENIN

• Beninese Animals:

There are currently 127 animals that are tracked in
Benin and they include elephants, leopards, lions,
antelope, monkeys, wild pigs, crocodiles, and buffalo
& snakes.

BENIN Of the Christians, about half
are Roman Catholic, while the
• Religion: remainder includes small
Vodoo, Christianity, Islam groups of Methodist, Baptist,
Christian missions have been active in the coastal and independent Christian
region since the 16th century, and almost half of denominations. Islam has
the total population is Christian. members in the north and
southeast; about one-fourth of
the total population is Muslim,
nearly all of whom are Sunni.

BENIN

• 3 Facts:
Benin people wear heavy winter coats in the summer.

Voodoo is an official religion of Benin and
it is only official in one country in the
world! The locals call it ‘Vodun’ which
means ‘spirits’.

Some people in Benin believe that photography steals a piece of the
soul. Tourists should always ask for permission or take pictures from
afar and stay away from clear face shots!

Benin was part of the Slave Coast during the colonial era.Allada and
Porto Novo were main stations in the slave trade, while Ouidah was the
main port of sending slaves to Brazil and the Caribbean.

Benin Voodoo Festival

BENIN • Date of colonization:

Group portrait of 'Dahomey Amazons', visiting French colonizers first established a slave factory in Allada in 1670 but moved
Paris (Europe), Circa 01 / 02-1891 from there to Ouidah in 1671.

Dahomey was a tyrannical and militaristic kingdom. Its power was based upon
a highly trained army, which included a female sector (called the “Amazons”
by Europeans) developed from the king’s wives.

Dahomey was a major supplier of slaves for the transatlantic trade, but by the
mid-19th century the volume of the slave trade began to decline.

In 1852 King Gezo was forced by a British navy to accept a treaty abolishing
the slave trade, although this was never implemented.

From the 1840s onward Gezo promoted the export of palm oil, produced by
slave labor on royal plantations, as a substitute for the declining slave trade.

BENIN

• Current Leader:
The Presidential election on
March 6, 2016 resulted in a win
for Talon who was pardoned by
the former president Yayi for
plotting to overthrow him.

BENIN Tribes:

The Yoruba, who are related to the The Fon make up 2/5 of
Nigerian Yoruba, live mainly in the population
southeastern Benin and constitute
about one-eighth of Benin’s
population.

The Bariba, the fourth
largest ethnic group and
make up about one-
tenth of Benin’s
population

BENIN

• Languages:
French, Fon,Yoruba

BENIN

• Common food:

Since the mid-1980s Benin has produced
yams, cassava, corn (maize), millet, beans,
and rice to achieve sustainable staple foods.

Yovo Doko are similar to the Beignets
from Europe. It is a sweet fried pastry made
with 3 ingredients: flour, yeast, and sugar.

Fried yams are found pretty much
anywhere food is served and that includes
street food.

Akara are black eyed beans fritters. It’s
made with mashed black-eyed peas, onions,
eggs, spices and salt. It’s served with Dja, a
spicy tomato sauce or a hot sauce.

BENIN

• Art History & Current Art:
An artisan village is attached to the Historical
Museum of Abomey (formerly the Royal Palace).

There is an excellent ethnographic museum in
Porto-Novo, a historical museum in Ouidah, and
the Open-Air Museum of Ethnography and Natural
Sciences in Parakou.

The National Library is in Porto-Novo.

Art galleries are the Cultural and Artistic Centre
and the French Cultural Centre, both in Cotonou,
and the CAZAM in Porto-Novo.

BENIN

• Music:

The first generation of musicians emerged in1963.They were
inspired by local rhythms to spread awareness, entertain and
promote the gathering of ethnic groups.

Yedénou Adjahoui is undoubtedly the most prominent figure of zinli,
musical rhythm from the lands of King Béhanzin.

Letriki’s self-titled album, recorded in 1984, highlighted the
traditional melodies, played at events honoring the dead (Egoun -
goun).

Flagship titles included ‘Hindwa Bassi’ and ‘Maton Maton’,under the
Albarika Store label, the only producer at the time.

Alékpehanhou is another prominent figure from South Benin, who
released forty albums. He broke all sales records without much
promotion. He played the zinli with a huge drum, gongs, rattles and
clapping supported by songs and dances.

BENIN

• Daily Life:
Cotton is gold! It constitutes 80% of the country’s export

‘Yovo’ = White man

Some people lived in villages and small towns, but most people lived and
worked in Benin City.

The most important person in the kingdom was the king, known as the
Oba. Hundreds of men and women lived at the royal court and devoted
their lives to looking after the Oba and his family. Some people at court
had very special jobs, working as acrobats, sorcerers or leopard hunters.

Most people in the countryside worked as farmers but there were also
potters and blacksmiths.They made simple pots, weapons and tools for
the villagers.

The national sport played by several teams is football (soccer).

MALI

THE END