How Ancient African Innovations Were Branded as Witchcraft
Across Africa, remarkable advances in science, architecture and spirituality have often been dismissed as witchcraft. Greek philosophers like Socrates and Plato are believed to have studied mathematics and medicine in Africa long before Europe claimed those discoveries. The builders of the Great Pyramid at Giza demonstrated engineering feats still puzzling modern experts. Yoruba woodcarving, glassmaking and the Ifá binary divination system predate European arrivals. Portuguese records from 1472 describe the sophisticated Bini Empire—complete with street lighting and massive city walls—surpassing many European cities of the time. Colonialism distorted these achievements by labeling them supernatural. Reclaiming this heritage can inspire a renewed sense of pride in Africa’s ancient knowledge and technology.
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