Article review on Ghana and its people in the 11th century
The author of the article 11th century Ghana, Abu Ubaydallah Al-bakri was a Muslim scholar from Cordoba Spain. He found material for his article by interviewing anyone who had been there. He also relied on his immense knowledge of Africas geography.
SUMMARY
This article talks of 11th century Ghana as having towns with two distinct religions Muslim and Paganism (Al-bakri, 2001). One of the towns was occupied by Muslims, they had imams, jurists and scholars. The kings town, named Al-Ghaba was six miles from the Moslem town. Although the rulers themselves were not Muslims, they either brought with them or welcomed Muslims as scribes and medicine men. In this town, the people practiced idol worshipping and offered sacrifices and offering. Ancient Ghana had gold mines which were under the kings custody.
The kingdom of Ghana eventually fell due to several reasons. The king lost his trading monopoly. At the same time there was a harsh drought and had a long-term effect on the kingdoms ability to sustain cattle and cultivation (Andrea Overfield, 2000). There is also the knowledge that Almoravid Muslims came from the North Africa and invaded Ghana.
REFLECTIONS ON THE ARTICLE
The article manages to show how the kingdom was a center of trade in West Africa and how it derived its power and wealth from gold. Ghana played a major role in the exportation of Africans to America as slaves (Andrea Overfield, 2000). The cape coast castle which is UNESCO world heritage site stands as a reminder of the millions of Africans that were shipped away as slaves to America.
Recently Ghanas parliament passed legislation which allowed any person of African decent in the Diaspora to live and to work in Ghana indefinitely. Ghana attracts far more African Americans than any other country in the continent. This is partly due to the sense that Ghana could be a spiritual homeland to the African Americans (Al-bakri, 2001).
SUMMARY
This article talks of 11th century Ghana as having towns with two distinct religions Muslim and Paganism (Al-bakri, 2001). One of the towns was occupied by Muslims, they had imams, jurists and scholars. The kings town, named Al-Ghaba was six miles from the Moslem town. Although the rulers themselves were not Muslims, they either brought with them or welcomed Muslims as scribes and medicine men. In this town, the people practiced idol worshipping and offered sacrifices and offering. Ancient Ghana had gold mines which were under the kings custody.
The kingdom of Ghana eventually fell due to several reasons. The king lost his trading monopoly. At the same time there was a harsh drought and had a long-term effect on the kingdoms ability to sustain cattle and cultivation (Andrea Overfield, 2000). There is also the knowledge that Almoravid Muslims came from the North Africa and invaded Ghana.
REFLECTIONS ON THE ARTICLE
The article manages to show how the kingdom was a center of trade in West Africa and how it derived its power and wealth from gold. Ghana played a major role in the exportation of Africans to America as slaves (Andrea Overfield, 2000). The cape coast castle which is UNESCO world heritage site stands as a reminder of the millions of Africans that were shipped away as slaves to America.
Recently Ghanas parliament passed legislation which allowed any person of African decent in the Diaspora to live and to work in Ghana indefinitely. Ghana attracts far more African Americans than any other country in the continent. This is partly due to the sense that Ghana could be a spiritual homeland to the African Americans (Al-bakri, 2001).
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