Afuwa

The Greatest African American and Afro-American Martial Artists in History

By Ben Miller

When asked to recall a great martial artist of African descent born in the Americas, the average person is likely to mention a twentieth-century boxer such as Joe Louis, or a more recent exponent of the Asian martial arts, such as Jim Kelly. Or, those of the younger generation might name the modern mixed martial arts competitor Anderson Silva, regarded by some as the greatest pound-for-pound fighter of all time.

What many do not know is that in centuries past, some of the greatest practitioners of European martial arts were of African descent.

Although Africans brought a number of their own indigenous techniques with them to Europe and the Americas (as can be read about here), they also sometimes trained in, adopted, and excelled at European swordsmanship—also known as classical and historical fencing.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, it was even possible (albeit difficult) for a person of African descent to achieve renown to such a point that they would be revered, and even sought for instruction, by whites—and the historical record shows that such was the case for multiple individuals.

An early instance of one such person can be found as early as 1733, when the following advertisement appeared in a southern Colonial newspaper, informing the public about a runaway slave or indentured servant:

“Run away, from Mr. Alex. Vanderdussen’s Plantation at Goose-Creek, a Negro Man named Thomas Butler, the famous Pushing and Dancing Master.” – South-Carolina Gazette (Whitmarsh), May 19 to May 26, 1733.

In eighteenth century terminology, to “Push” was to launch an attack with the smallsword, a fact which confirms that Thomas Butler was a fencing master—and one who had achieved some degree of fame, at least on a local scale. Butler was apparently so esteemed that in July of 1734, his former master was impelled to post the following additional notice:

“Whereas Thomas Butler, Fencing Master, has been runaway these two years since, and has been entertained by several gentlemen about Ferry who pretend not to know that he had a master, this is therefore desired that they would not do the like in the future…” – South-Carolina Gazette, July 20, 1734…

Forthcoming Science Fiction & Fantasy by Writers of Color (2015)

The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu (7th of April, 2015)

Two men rebel together against tyranny—and then become rivals—in this first sweeping book of an epic fantasy series from Ken Liu, recipient of Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy awards.

Shadowshaper by Daniel Jose Older (30th of June, 2015)

When the murals in a young artist’s neighborhood begin to weep real tears, Sierra Santiago discovers shadowshaping, a thrilling magic that infuses ancestral spirits into paintings, music, and stories. But someone is killing the shadowshapers one by one—and the killer believes Sierra is hiding their greatest secret.

Time Salvager by Wesley Chu (7th of July, 2015)

In a future when Earth is a toxic, abandoned world and humanity has spread into the outer solar system to survive, the tightly controlled use of time travel holds the key maintaining a fragile existence among the other planets and their moons.

Apex by Ramez Naam (5th of May, 2015)

In the concluding volume of the Nexus trilogy, mankind has evolved. They call them the Apex—humanity’s replacement. They’re smarter, faster, better. And infinitely more dangerous. 

The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin (4th of August, 2015)

In a world that has suffered frequent, repeated Extinction Level Events for millions of years, and all life (and magic) in this world has adapted to it, Essun must fight to save her daughter at the risk of breaking herself.

The Book of Phoenix by Nnedi Okorafor (5th of May, 2015)

A prequel to World Fantasy Award-winning novel, Who Fears Death. Phoenix is raised among other genetic experiments in New York’s Tower 7. She is an accelerated woman, only two years old but with the body and mind of an adult, Phoenix’s abilities far exceed those of a normal human.

Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho (Not Pictured) (September 2015)

In 1800s London, Zacharias Wythe, a freed slave and England’s first black Sorcerer Royal, is sent to discover why England’s magical stocks are drying up.

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabba Tahir (Not Pictured) (April 2015)

The story of two teenagers fighting to survive under the Empire’s brutal, militaristic regime, which has outlawed reading among the once-powerful Scholar class; the Scholars no live under the oppression of the Martials, who silently assassinate insurgents.

Lagoon by Nnedi Okorafor (Not Pictured) (14th of July, 2015)

Fiction Week!

The Octavia Butler Bibliography

Official Octavia Butler Page at SFWA

Octavia Butler at Goodreads

Dance Troupe Practice - Open practice at Templeton pool Sunday 5 July. 

Mahdi Ehsaei’s “Afro-Iran – The Unknown Minority“ Photobook is Now Available for Purchase.

Earlier this month, we talked to German-Iranian photographer Mahdi Ehsaei about the history of Africans in Iran and his experience creating his photo series documenting Afro-Iranians in southern Iran.

After publishing his photos online, his book “Afro-Iran The Unknown Minority” is now available for purchase. The first of its kind, publication features a series of 60 portraits and mood pictures, in colour, as well as essays that explore the historical and cultural significance of an often unacknowledged minority that has shaped culture in both southern Iran and other parts of the country. It also describes the more than 500 year old history of Africans in Iran, from enslavement by traders up to their emancipation in 1928.

Support the Afro-Iran project on Kickstarter and receive exclusive rewards. You can also purchase the book directly on Mahdi’s website. 

Read our interview with him.