Costel’s Reviews > An African History of Africa: From the Dawn of Humanity to Independence > Status Update
Costel
is on page 256 of 531
Great Benin, where the king resides, is larger than Lisbon; all the streets run straight as far as the eye can see. The houses are large, especially that of the king, which is richly decorated and has fine columns. The city is wealthy and industrious. It is so well governed that theft is unknown and the people live in such security that they have no doors to their houses.
— 14 hours, 42 min ago
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Costel’s Previous Updates
Costel
is on page 359 of 531
The first Europeans to reach the Cape in Southern Africa in 1488 were the Portuguese, as was usually the case.
— 12 hours, 49 min ago
Costel
is on page 350 of 531
Louverture said: 'I was born a slave, but nature gave me the soul of a free man.' He did not live to see the day of freedom. He died in prison in 1803.
— 12 hours, 55 min ago
Costel
is on page 347 of 531
Legislation abolishing the trade was enacted first by Denmark in 1803, Britain in 1807, the United States a year later, the Netherlands in 1814, France in 1818, Brazil in 1850 and Portugal as late as 1878.
— 13 hours, 0 min ago
Costel
is on page 345 of 531
If a white enslaver had children with a captive African woman, the children could be put to work.
— 14 hours, 7 min ago
Costel
is on page 337 of 531
In 1546 in Cabo Verde the Afro-Portuguese mixed-race community asked Portuguese officials if they could share civic power with them in the local government, a request that the Portuguese refused.
— 14 hours, 9 min ago
Costel
is on page 334 of 531
The colony of Luanda was established by the Portuguese in 1575. They had conquered the coastal areas of this part of Africa, and Luanda was the biggest of their slave trading hubs.
— 14 hours, 20 min ago
Costel
is on page 241 of 531
The Benin Bronzes are perhaps the most iconic body of art found south of the Sahara, and they have become even more famous thanks to their huge significance in the restitution debate.
— Aug 18, 2026 02:04AM
Costel
is on page 234 of 531
The idea that Europeans 'discovered' parts of Africa is a misconception. Africans such as Tippu Tib had long traversed large portions of the African interior and were familiar with its topography and terrain.
— Aug 18, 2026 02:02AM
Costel
is on page 217 of 531
Some local sources suggest that Mozambique is derived from the name of a tenth-century Arab trader called Musa Bek.
— Aug 18, 2026 02:01AM
Costel
is on page 204 of 531
Salt was still very important but cowrie shells from the Indian Ocean were also used as currency for internal trade.
— Aug 18, 2026 02:00AM