Encyclopedia Africana

Encyclopedia Africana is where you get all the details and information you need on Africa. It is a complete guide on African-related topics, news, and stories.

Encyclopedia Africana was inspired by the dream of the late African-American scholar W.E.B. Du Bois and assisted by an eminent advisory board led by Nigerian Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka, Harvard professors Kwame Anthony Appiah and Henry Louis Gates, Jr., have created the first scholarly encyclopedia that takes as its scope the entire history of Africa and the African Diaspora. A landmark in reference publishing, Africana is an incomparable one-volume encyclopedia of the black world; a vital resource for families, students, and educators everywhere.

In Africana you will find

  • Over 3500 headword entries and 2 million words of text. Click here for samples
  • One thousand illustrations including maps and photographs—most in four-color
  • Easy-to-use A-to-Z organization
  • Color-coded major subject areas for easy cross-referencing
  • Extended essays on principal themes by world-renowned scholars

You will learn a lot about Apartheid in South Africa, and that the term apartheid (from the Afrikaans word for “apartness”) was coined in the 1930s and was used as a political slogan of the National Party in the early 1940s, however, it may interest you to know that the policy itself extends back to the beginning of white settlement in South Africa which started as far back as 1652. After the primarily Afrikaner Nationalists came to power in 1948, the elements of social custom of apartheid were systematized under the law which began to see to its implementation.

Other interesting topics that might be of interest include the following:

Politics – Exploring the current political state in South Africa and Africa at large entertainment,

Entertainment – Follow all the latest entertainment news as it happens, including the latest in Music, movies, popular and celebrities and influencers in South Africa and across Africa at large.

Business – Ideas, opportunities, and policies affecting businesses in Africa

Education – Latest education news, events, university rankings

More interesting titles you should know about

60 Modern Xhosa Names and Their Meanings

Even before having a child, most people usually keep names that have been carefully picked for the new one. Although picking a nice and unique name can look difficult at times, it is usually worth the effort. Thankfully Xhosa people do not have to worry about finding nice names because there is a long list of modern and unique Xhosa names to choose from. What an expectant parent (or parents) may have to worry about is finding the perfect name for your children from this long list of nice names.

To make the search much easier for you, we have put together a list of modern Xhosa names and their meanings. The names below were carefully picked and will be just perfect for your child.

Where to Sell Mandela Coins and How Much They Are Worth in South Africa

There are over ten valuable coins in South Africa. These coins were not created for the sake of having different coins in circulation but to commemorate a person, place, or event. Gathering these coins has gone beyond being just a hobby or something you do for fun, as with a good number of the right coin, you can become so wealthy. Mandela coins are one of the most valuable coins in South Africa. If you have a store of these coins, you can sell them for a good amount of money. But the problem most people face today is that they don’t know where to sell the Mandela coins in South Africa. In this post, you will get to know where to sell your Mandela coins and what to do before placing your sales price.

20 Beautiful Tswana Traditional Dresses and Attire

Tswana people are rich in cultural heritage, expressed through several means, including through their traditional attires. With the growth in fashion and the evolving trends in the contemporary world, Tswana traditional dresses and attires have been dynamic, adapting to innovations in dressing styles while still projecting their rich cultural heritage.

The Tswana people are Bantu-speaking ethnic groups of South Africa. Although Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe have many Tswana people, South Africa has about 5 million Tswana language speakers, making South Africa the country with the highest number of Tswana people.

Although Tswana people can be found in four different countries, they still share similar cultures, including food, music, language, art, and cultural attire. Tswana cultural attire is known as Shweshwe, a fabric that was initially dyed indigo. Shweshwe is made up of shapes and patterns that represent the Tswana culture.

20 Modern Classy Zulu Traditional Attire and Dresses

Like most countries in the African continent, South Africa is indeed blessed with diverse cultures and traditions that truly depict their identity, values, and beliefs. Virtually all of these cultures and traditions started existing a long time ago and are being passed down from one generation to another. In South Africa, the food people eat, the language they speak, and even the cloth they wear tell of their ethnic backgrounds and more. For instance, a typical Zulu man can be distinguished by his Zulu traditional attire; so is a Xhosa man or even someone from Pedi.

The Zulu tribe in South Africa is well-known for its population and rich colorful cultural heritage, making them unique and outstanding. All Zulu attires are used by all Zulus of different ages and gender. However, there could be a situation where you find some Zulu traditional attire meant for a particular set of people from a particular social class. But generally, everything about traditional attire in Zululand makes one easily fall in love with the tribe.

21 Classy Tsonga Traditional Dresses and Attire

The beautiful and flowery multi-colored Tsonga fabric makes it very easy for anyone to choose a Tsonga traditional dress and attire that suits their body stature and skin tone. Many modern Tsonga traditional dresses follow up-to-date fashion trends but still uphold and project the Tsonga culture. A bride does not need to worry about looking ancient on her wedding day, or a Tsonga couple doesn’t need to worry about not looking trendy when they adorn their native attire.

Right from time, the Tsonga people have always been known for their colorful cultural heritage. Today, with the improvements and dynamism in western fashion, African stylists have also been able to come up with amazing attires without letting go of our traditional African fabrics. Tsonga fabrics are usually exquisite, and practically everything made out of them comes out beautifully.

50 Beautiful Zulu Names for Girls and Their Meanings

Parents naturally want to give their children nice names that reflect their goodwill towards the child, and in Africa, names are usually believed to have an impact on how successful the child will grow to become. This is why parents are always choosy when it comes to picking a name for their kids. There are so many good Zulu names for girls that sound nice and have deep meanings as well and we rounded them up for easy access.

20 Modern Sepedi Traditional Dresses and Attire for Stylish People

All tribes in South Africa have a wealthy cultural heritage expressed in their kind of food, music, and art. Even while trying to keep up with recent fashion trends, the various South African tribes have found a way to modernize their cultural attires without losing the cultural essence. Like other tribes, several Sepedi traditional dresses and attires reflect the Pedi people’s culture. In the same vein, they are also stylish that any modern person can wear them.

Most Sepedi traditional dresses and attires are blue, white, pink, and yellow colors. All these colors are patterned on a dress in a particular way that reflects the Sepedi culture. There is a Sepedi traditional outfit for both brides, men and women, so nobody is left out.

30 Modern Traditional Dresses and Attires in South Africa

Like most African countries, South Africa is home to multiple cultures, traditions, food, and attires. From colorful beaded necklaces and bracelets to sparkling brightly colored fabrics to abstractly embroidered robes, South Africa has various dress styles representing people from different regions. Modern traditional dresses in South Africa are highly stylized and unique.

As a matter of fact, each piece of cloth people wear has a long history and expresses pride in their identity. Most of these traditional attires also serve as an inspiration to regions outside the country and local and international elite brands. Many modern South African traditional dresses have also made it to the runway, where people with diverse cultural heritage distinctively dress themselves to show where they come from.

20 Fashionable Xhosa Traditional Attires and Dresses for Elegant Ladies

The Xhosa people of South Africa have a rich culture, distinguished by traditional attires for body coverage and adornment. Their dressing is part of their lifestyle and has existed for generations. Like every other popular print in Africa such as the Ankara and kitenge, Xhosa attires have an extraordinary history dating back to pre-colonial times. The outfits are further enhanced by the beautiful beads that adorn them, which are usually small and round in shape. These beads are made with bone seed, metal, glass, wood, nutshell, and the likes. Below are some of the most captivating Xhosa traditional attires for the ladies.

25 Beautiful South African Traditional Wedding Dresses

South African traditional weddings are usually one of the most interesting cultural events one can attend. The beautiful traditional displays, decorations, music, and food are not the only things that make the events unique. The different South African traditional wedding dresses on display at these events always adds to the grandeur. The traditional wedding dresses – including the ones worn by the groom or bride and those worn by invited guests go a long way to depict the exact culture and tribe of the couple.

Understanding The Zulu Culture, Traditional Attire & Food

The Zulu tribe is one of the most widely known tribes in Africa, mainly because of the very vital part that it played in the continent’s history. Originally, the Zulu tribe emanated from the Ngunis who inhabited central and Eastern Africa and subsequently migrated to Southern Africa in the “Bantu Migration” which occurred centuries ago. The Zulu tribe represents the largest population of ethnic groups in South Africa; making up to 10-11 million people. They are known for their strong fighting spirit which has fashioned renowned warriors in history including the likes of Shaka Zulu who played a prominent role in various Zulu wars. The history of South Africa would not be complete without the mentioning of the Zulu tribe. Outlined below are interesting truths about the Zulu tribe you should know.

40 Fancy Dreadlocks Styles for Ladies

In recent times, women all over the world have taken the lead with dreadlocks and accordingly, there are many dreadlocks styles for ladies that complement their beauty. The beauty of dreadlocks is that it fits well on just any lady, no matter their hair size or texture of the hair. There is a dreadlock style that matches every lady out there. Perhaps you’ve been contemplating on getting a dreadlock style but wonder if you can keep your girly hairstyle. One thing is certain, there’s no need to say goodbye to your girly hairdos as most dreadlocks styles for ladies allow you to incorporate different styles into them.

Sotho People – Culture, Traditional Attire & Food

Africa is known for the unique and diversified culture of its different people. And among these is the very interesting group of people called Sotho. They are divided into three groups: The Northern Sotho (Pedi), Southern Sotho, and the Tswana (Batswana). These groupings happened due to various events in the course of histories like wars, invasions and the change of leaders. In the end, most of these people are now living in South Africa. Sotho (South Sotho or Basotho) people are concentrated in the Free State, Gauteng, and Eastern Cape Provinces, with small groups in Namibia and Zambia.

50 Unique Zulu Names For Boys and Their Meanings

Names serve as a means of identification and you don’t want to identify your child with a name that has an awful meaning. As an African, names are particularly more than just a means of identifying people. The various tribes in Africa place deeper and more significant meaning on names and this is more than just surface level. Most tribes, including the Zulu tribe of South Africa, believe that names can have a negative impact on a person’s life.

Sometimes choosing a name for your male child can be difficult, especially with the long list of available names to choose from. To save you the stress, we rounded up a list of just 50 unique Zulu names for boys that have very awesome meanings. If after going through the Zulu names for boys you are still finding it difficult to choose a name, then keep reading to see five common Zulu names for boys that you should totally choose from.

Dlamini, Nkosi and Ndlovu Clan Names – Famous South Africans With the Most Popular Surnames

Surnames are often attached after a person’s given name. It tells a lot about a particular person, where he comes from, what people with the same surname are known for (if they are related), and more. It is a known fact that a surname helps to identify someone. For some, their surname gives them a sense of belonging and paves the way for them in certain situations. South Africa has a reputation for having unique names, common among the various clans in the country. Many surnames, no doubt, exist in the country, but we shall be looking at the most popular surnames in the region.

These Are The 20 Best South African Ladies Haircut

There was a time when the thought of a woman having a haircut was unfathomable. It was initially thought that haircuts are a masculine thing, and so it was left for men as part of their identity. However, today that cannot be said to be the case as ladies, including South African ladies, have broken that stereotype. Again, it was thought that long thick hair is an African woman’s identity and so reversing that seemed to be against the norm.

Nowadays, however, personalities are no longer defined by the way a lady dresses or her costume alone; the woman’s haircut (or hairstyle, as the case may be) also adds to the entire personality equation. This realization has driven South African ladies to take on or invent beautiful haircuts that best project their disposition. If you have seen a South Africa woman with a haircut, you haven’t seen anything yet.

50 Unique Zulu Names For Boys and Their Meanings

Names serve as a means of identification and you don’t want to identify your child with a name that has an awful meaning. As an African, names are particularly more than just a means of identifying people. The various tribes in Africa place deeper and more significant meaning on names and this is more than just surface level. Most tribes, including the Zulu tribe of South Africa, believe that names can have a negative impact on a person’s life.

Sometimes choosing a name for your male child can be difficult, especially with the long list of available names to choose from. To save you the stress, we rounded up a list of just 50 unique Zulu names for boys that have very awesome meanings. If after going through the Zulu names for boys you are still finding it difficult to choose a name, then keep reading to see five common Zulu names for boys that you should totally choose from.