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According to evolutionary theory, Africa was before man, hence, cradle of human civilization and life. Africa was once prosperous, respectable and progressive. We had transparent and accountable social planning by Africans. Work was sacred and all forms of idleness, laziness and beggary were discouraged. Criminals were punished.The haves and those in authority provided education for the young, food for the hungry, shelter for the homeless, medicine for the sick and water for the thirsty.The weak in society were given priority.

African were human to respected even the colonialists whom they welcomed without green cards or visas and even gave land to settle. Africans had inventions, innovations and science.The oldest iron-ore mine in the world was in Swaziland. African had boats and other water vessels long before the birth of Christopher Columbus. What is called superstition was pure African science. Incest was banned long time before European royal families discouraged it. Egyptians had the concepts, measurements of weight, distance,area and volume.They invented geometry,trigonometry,algebra and other mathematical techniques before Pythagoras. Their pyramids are a wonder that modern science has failed to unravel.

The Dogon of Mali were great astronomers who understood the solar system well.Bodies in space not visible to the naked eye were known to this tribe. Before the first Millennium BC ,the East African had a fairly accurate calendar. African had their unique number systems as discovered on the Ishango bone in Congo. The Yoruba of Nigeria had a number system based on twenty and the Kuria could count up to a trillion. Africans were great agriculturalists growing crops and domesticating animals. Before Hypocrites formulated his oath, Africa had her doctors.The Zulus had 700 medicinal uses of plants.There was a vaccine for small pox long before Edward Jenner's. Africans doctors performed Caesarean sections and even had gynecologists and birth attendants who knew the importance of the pubococcgeus muscle and the use of stools during delivery.

Africans knew gender equality and women especially in Igbo of Nigeria and Kikuyu of Kenya ruled supreme and were respected. Women represented the institution of motherhood,life and continuity. Our leaders addressed us as "My people" and not Ladies and Gentlemen. We had no caste systems because we were all equal and the most valuable resource. Africans had their gods before Christ was born. Baby Jesus and His parents took refuge in Africa. The first Church was built in Abyssinia(Africa) and Christian values of love of God and neighbor are not in conflict with African values. And religion in African context was not "the opium of the poor" as Marx believed. Where did Africa lose its great heritage?

Learn more about this author, Peter Ongera.
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