Africa | My Eyes Tokyo

Happy Birthday to Guinea-Bissau!

2018-09-24

Bissau-Guinean women. *Photo from Wikipedia September 24 is Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Guinea-Bissau from Portugal in 1973. Guinea-Bissau was once part of the Kaabu Empire, as well as part of the Mali Empire. Parts of this kingdom persisted until the 18th century, while a few others were under some rule by the Portuguese Empire since the 16th century. In the 19th century, it was colonized as Portuguese Guinea. Upon independence, declared in 1973 and recognized in 1974, the name of its capital, Bissau, was added to the country’s name to prevent confusion with Guinea (formerly French Guinea). Guinea-Bissau,

Happy Birthday to Mali!

2018-09-22

A market scene in Mali. *Photo from Wikipedia. September 22 is Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Mali from France in 1960. Present-day Mali was once part of 3 West African empires that controlled trans-Saharan trade: the Ghana Empire, the Mali Empire (for which Mali is named), and the Songhai Empire. During its golden age, there was a flourishing of mathematics, astronomy, literature, and art. At its peak in 1300, the Mali Empire covered an area about twice the size of modern-day France and stretched to the west coast of Africa. In the late 19th century, during the Scramble for

Happy Birthday to Swaziland!

2018-09-06

Princess Sikhanyiso Dlamini, the eldest daughter of King Mswati III of Swaziland, at a festival. *Photo from Wikipedia September 6 is Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Swaziland from the United Kingdom in 1968. The autonomy of the Swaziland nation was influenced by British and Dutch rule of southern Africa in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Finally, in 1894, a convention placed Swaziland under the South African Republic as a protectorate. In 1903, after British victory in the Anglo-Boer war, Swaziland became a British protectorate. The constitution for independent Swaziland was promulgated by Britain in November 1963 under the

Happy Birthday to Gabon!

2018-08-17

Crowd on beach in Gabon. *Photo from Wikipedia August 17 is Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Gabon from France in 1960. Bantu migrants settled the area beginning in the 14th century. Portuguese explorers and traders arrived in the area in the late 15th century. The coast subsequently became a center of the slave trade with Dutch, English, and French traders arriving in the 16th century. In 1839 and 1841, France established a protectorate over the coast. In 1862 – 1887, France expanded its control to include the interior, and took full sovereignty. In 1910 Gabon became part of French

Happy Birthday to Central African Republic!

2018-08-13

People at a local school in Bangui, the capital and largest city of the Central African Republic. *Photo from Wikipedia August 13 is Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Central African Republic (CAR) from France in 1960. The country’s current borders were established by France, which ruled the country as a colony starting in the late 19th century. After gaining independence from France in 1960, the Central African Republic was ruled by a series of autocratic leaders. The Central African Republic is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Chad to the north, Sudan to the northeast,

Happy Birthday to Chad!

2018-08-11

A Chadian tailor sells traditional dresses. *Photo from Wikipedia August 11 is: Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Chad from France in 1960. French colonial expansion led to the creation of the Territoire Militaire des Pays et Protectorats du Tchad (Military Territory of the Lands and Protectorates of Chad) in 1900. By 1920, France had secured full control of the colony and incorporated it as part of French Equatorial Africa. The French primarily viewed the colony as an unimportant source of untrained labour and raw cotton. Only the Sara (ethnic group who reside in southern Chad and Central African Republic)

Happy Birthday to Côte d’Ivoire!

2018-08-07

Congestion at a market in Abidjan, the economic capital of Côte d’Ivoire. *Photo from Wikipedia August 7 is Republic Day of Côte d’Ivoire, which commemorates its freedom from France, gained in 1960. Prior to its colonization by Europeans, Côte d’Ivoire was home to several states, including Gyaaman, the Kong Empire, and Baoulé. Two Anyi kingdoms, Indénié and Sanwi, attempted to retain their separate identity through the French colonial period and after independence. Côte d’Ivoire became a protectorate of France in 1843 – 1844 and was later formed into a French colony in 1893 amid the European scramble for Africa. Côte

Happy Birthday to Burkina Faso!

2018-08-05

The Grand marché (Main Market) in Burkina Faso. *Photo from Wikipedia August 5 is Independence Day of Burkina Faso. Various ethnic groups of present-day Burkina Faso, such as the Mossi, Fula and Dyula, arrived in successive waves between the 8th and 15th centuries. From the 11th century the Mossi people established several separate kingdoms. In the 1890s during the European Scramble for Africa, the territory of Burkina Faso was invaded by France, and colonial control was established following a war of conquest between 1896 and 1904. The territory was made part of French West Africa in 1904, and the colony

Happy Birthday to Niger!

2018-08-03

A market in Maradi, the third largest city in Niger. *Photo from Wikipedia August 3 is Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Niger from France in 1960. In the 19th century, contact with Europe began with the first European explorers to travel to Niger. Following the 1885 Berlin conference during which colonial powers outlined the division of Africa into colonial spheres, French military efforts to conquer existing African states were intensified in all French colonies including Niger. By 1922, all resistance to colonial rule was eliminated and Niger became a French colony. Following the Overseas Reform Act (Loi Cadre) of

Happy Birthday to Benin!

2018-08-01

Beninese students. *Photo from Wikipedia August 1 is National Day, celebrates the independence of Benin from France in 1960. From the 17th to the 19th century, the main political entities in the area were the Kingdom of Dahomey. This region was referred to as the Slave Coast from as early as the 17th century due to the large number of slaves shipped to the New World during the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. After slavery was abolished, France took over the country and renamed it French Dahomey. In 1960, Dahomey gained full independence from France and On November 30, 1975, Lt. Col.

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