In African Chiefdoms and monarch male leaders are the dominant force but one of the most daring queen from Africa and also beatiful as cleopatra herself was Queen Nzinga of Angola(1583-1663).In the sixteenth century, the Portugese position in the slave trade was threatened by England and France. As a result, the Portugese shifted their slave-trading activities to the Congo and South West Africa. Mistaking the title of the ruler (ngola) for the name of the country, the Portugese called the land of the Mbundu people Angola—the name by which it is still known today.Here, the Portugese encountered the brilliant and courageous Queen Nzinga, who was determined never to accept the Portugese conquest of her country. An exceptional stateswoman and military strategist, she harassed the Portugese until her death, at age eighty.Her meeting with the Portugese governor, recorded by a Dutch artist, is legendary in the history of Africa's confrontations with Europe: Representing her brother, the ngola, Nzinga arrived at Luanda in royal splendor. Upon entering the room, Nzinga observed that the only seat in the room belonged to the governor. She promptly summoned one of her women, who fell on her hands and knees and became Nzinga's "seat". Outwitted from the start, the governor never gained the advantage at the meeting, which resulted in a treaty on equal terms. Women of the world this is a masterpiece of how you are strong and queen Nzinga proved this. For avid readers you can check your library for this publications:
-Black Women in Antiquity, Ivan Van Sertima (ed.). Transaction Books, 1990.
-General History of Africa, Vol. V: Africa from the Sixteenth to the Eighteenth Century. UNESCO, 1992.
-Women Leaders in African History, David Sweetman. General Publishing Company, Limited, 1984.

'Kengele' means Bell in swahili and this term is synonymous with the monument found at the Kenyan Coast.The name is derived from the huge bell put up by missionaries to toll for the freed slaves who had settled at Freetown area. That was in the 19th century. These slaves had been freed from the coastal plantations and converted to the new Christian faith. A few years ago, however, some enterprising vandal took off with the bell. The National Museums of Kenya has since replaced the bell with a replica – in other words, a replica of the historical symbol.

It was great news for us in Africa and especially for our Ethiopian brethrens when one of the national monuments was brought back home.The Axum obelisk is regarded as a national treasure by Ethiopians and thousands turned out to celebrate the return of the 1,700 years, 160 tonne and 24metres tall piece. Axum was the capital of a powerful, pre-Christian Axum Empire that stretched into parts of the Arabian Peninsula. Legend has it that Axum was also the final resting palace of the Ark of the Covenant. Massive obelisks are among a few tangible remains of the past glory of Axum, an area lying in the shadow of the Adwa Mountains where Emperor Menelik II defeated the Italians in 1896, the greatest modern victory of an African army over a European force. Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said the monument, due to be re-erected in September, was a "symbol of identity". Italian troops took it to Rome in 1937, where it stayed despite a 1947 UN agreement for its return and finally it cost the Italians $7.7 million dollars to bring it back on the 25th April 2005.

For those who love the African cultural heritage its good news that most of the pillaged artefacts are going back to Africa.Australia has handed over to the Egyptian authorities several 2500-year-old antiquities at the centre of a smuggling racket. Police recovered the tomb artefacts as part of an investigation that has led to a prosecution in Egypt, a spokeswoman for the department of environment and heritage in Sydney said .The seven objects include small funerary statuettes (shabtis), a bronze axe head, a ceramic bowl and amulets. The smuggling ring came to light a couple of years ago and the items have been sought internationally since then. They were identified in March and seized by police in the Australian city of Melbourne and no arrests have been made. The artefacts were smuggled out of Egypt under false papers as reproductions before being sold in Australia.”

For those who love serious reggae music and strictly Roots Rock Reggae the Metro FM a goverment controlled radio station will be airing reggea Music 24/07 starting from 1st August 2005.I have been watching and hearing the development of reggae music in kenya with amazement and gratifications,everybody out their should overstand that it was illegal to play reggae in radio stations in the early 80s but things have changed.For all the reggae fraternity here in Nairobi its Big up and keep it ital!