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Edgar Allan Poe (Jan.19, 1809 - Oct.7, 1849)

The myths surrounding Ancient African Writing systems

Historically, the continent of Africa was looked at as the “Dark Continent”. It was assumed by many europeans that Africa was “uncivilized” and “barbaric” and in no way could have developed such complex languages.

However this belief was as far removed from reality as possible as communicating, writing and trade are part of the human experience especially for the regions and kingdoms that traded internationally.  There were many different writing systems in Africa. The writing systems were and still are, a reflection of various philosophies [thought processes] found in African cultures and civilizations. Language, to an African mind is part of your spirituality. The word spirituality is a way of life based on a society’s belief systems and moral values as they relate to a higher being. A spirituality is all of what you define yourself to be and is intertwined with your everyday actions. Your spirituality cannot be separated from your being. Egyptians (Kemetans) believed that God is everything and everything is God as did many other African cultural groups, not the idea that God is just in everything. Spirituality is also the relationship between you and your ancestors. When a person dies, the “spirit” returns to a higher being. Your ancestors then become, your link with that higher being. Symbolism is a way of expressing that spirituality through individual aspects of your culture. Therefore spiritual symbolism means your relationship with a higher being and your ancestors who are parts of the higher being through the individual aspects of your culture in everyday life. Much of the text written by Egyptian scribes were attached to a Egyptian spiritual belief.

Victorian Hairstyles A collection of Victorian photographs ranging from 1855 - 1880’s.