THE UNIQUENESS OF AFRICA.

Modupe Iwashokun
4 min readJul 28, 2023

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Hey guys! We are here to talk more of African history and uniqueness. There are a lot of specialty within Africa’s origin we want to discuss. So let’s go. Before we go to the uniqueness of Africa, let’s know the meaning and origin of Africa.

Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia in both aspects. But what is the biggest continent in the world? It is actually Asia, the world’s biggest and largest continent in the world. It is also the home of the highest mountain in the world and as by far the most populous continent of all. Let’s not go too much to Asia. After all, we are talking about Africa.

Africa’s diagram on the world map.
Asia’s diagram on the world map.

Africa is considered to be the oldest inhabited territory on Earth, with the human species originating from the continent and it’s true. Let me tell you why. You know, most foreigners come to Africa to explore its historic origin because we have many old stuff and yes some even live there, how fascinating? They come to see the culture, language, dressing, style, sites, entertainment, music and people etc. We have so many things we have and other countries don't have and that’s what make us unique and different.

Discovering Africa’s wonders: Africa is the cradle of humanity where the oldest fossils of our ancestors were found, dating back million of years ;it is almost like the oldest continent on earth. Interesting right? Yes. There is something important that should know about Africa; British colonized many African countries and took us into slavery because they think they are more superior than us or maybe because they are white. But still, we brought ourselves up and said “no, you can't keep treating us like dirty animals. This is Africa and we have to stand up and fight back”. This is when independence came about. In all of the African countries, independence was first introduced in Ghana. Ghana was the first to gain independent on March 6, 1957. Ghana was British colony known as Gold coast prior to its independence. You see that British people was prior to its independence. It means that Ghana gained independence from British colonial rule. So, before March 6, 1957, Ghana was a British colony known as the Gold Coast.

After Ghana gained independence in 1957, other African countries began to follow suit. Here are some of the other African countries that gained independence in the years following Ghana’s independence:

  • Guinea (1958)
  • Cameroon (1960)
  • Senegal (1960)
  • Togo (1960)
  • Mali (1960)
  • Madagascar (1960)
  • Congo (now Democratic Republic of the Congo) (1960)
  • Somalia (1960)
  • Benin (1960)
  • Niger (1960)
  • Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta) (1960)
  • Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) (1960)
  • Chad (1960)
  • Central African Republic (1960)
  • Gabon (1960)
  • Nigeria (1960)

These countries were among the first wave of African countries to gain independence in the 1950s and 1960s, marking the end of colonialism on the African continent. British people decided to colonize African because of the interests they had on us. They wanted to use this for their own advantage. They took away our pride, respect and dignity but no we couldn't take it anymore. We had to say no and make ourselves proud of being an African.

If you are from African or where you belong is Africa, you are very lucky because of these:

Africa is a diverse and vibrant continent with a rich history and cultural heritage. Despite the challenges it has faced, including colonization and exploitation, Africa has a lot to be proud of. Here are some reasons why Africa and Africans are proud of their continent:

Cultural diversity: Africa is home to a rich tapestry of cultures, traditions, languages, and customs. From the ancient civilizations of Egypt and Ethiopia to the vibrant music and dance of West Africa, Africa’s cultural diversity is a source of pride and inspiration.

Natural beauty: Africa is blessed with some of the most stunning natural scenery in the world, including vast deserts, lush rainforests, soaring mountains, and pristine beaches. From the Serengeti in Tanzania to the Victoria Falls in Zambia and Zimbabwe, Africa’s natural beauty is a source of pride and wonder.

Resilience and innovation: Despite the challenges it has faced, Africa has a long history of resilience and innovation. From the ancient empires of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai to the modern-day tech hubs of Lagos and Nairobi, Africa has a proud tradition of overcoming adversity and pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

Community and hospitality: Africans are known for their warmth and hospitality, and for their strong sense of community. Whether it’s sharing a meal with family and friends or coming together to support each other in times of need, Africans take pride in their strong social bonds and their commitment to caring for one another.

Overall, Africa and Africans have many reasons to be proud of their continent. Despite its challenges, Africa is a place of great beauty, diversity, and resilience, and its people have much to offer the world.

Sometimes, people wished to be born in other continents because of the advanced technology they got. But now they are proud to be called ‘Africans’ because of our wonderful culture and hospitality. You will notice that some white people are racist especially to black people but no black people are not like that. We welcome foreigners with hospitality and so much love. How sweet is that huh?. I am so proud to become an African because of the uniqueness and specialty we have and yes we are also great people too. So I encourage everyone to come to Africa to experience its uniqueness. Yeah!

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