Map: Natural Earth (PD)
Africa from ancient Egypt and historic kingdoms to colonial history, independence movements, culture and social reform.
32 figures
Cleopatra
69 BC–30 BC
Ancient · Politics
Monarch · Politician
Hannibal
c. 247 BC–c. 183 BC
Ancient · Military
Military leader
Hypatia
c. 360–415
Ancient · Science
Mathematician · Astronomer · Philosopher
Imhotep
c. 2650 BC–c. 2600 BC
Ancient · Medicine
Physician · Architect
Mansa Musa
c. 1280–c. 1337
Medieval · Politics
Monarch · Politician
Ibn Battuta
1304–c. 1368
Medieval · Exploration
Explorer · Writer
Umm Kulthum
1898–1975
Modern · Music
Singer
Chinua Achebe
1930–2013
Contemporary · Literature
Novelist · Writer
Nelson Mandela
1918–2013
Contemporary · Politics
Politician · Political activist · Lawyer
Wangari Maathai
1940–2011
Contemporary · Social reform
Political activist · Biologist · Politician
Fela Kuti
1938–1997
Contemporary · Music
Singer · Composer · Political activist
Augustine of Hippo
354–430
Ancient · Religion
Religious leader · theologian · Philosopher
Akhenaten
c. 1401 BC–1336 BC
Ancient · Politics
Monarch · Religious leader
Cecil Rhodes
1853–1902
Modern · Business
Entrepreneur · Politician · Explorer
Gamal Abdel Nasser
1918–1970
Contemporary · Politics
Politician · Military leader · revolutionary
Anwar Sadat
1918–1981
Contemporary · Politics
Politician · Military leader
Muhammad Ali
1769–1849
Modern · Politics
Politician · Military leader
Julius Nyerere
1922–1999
Contemporary · Politics
Politician · Teacher · Writer · translator
Eratosthenes
276 BC–194 BC
Ancient · Science
Astronomer · Mathematician · Philosopher · Poet · historian
Euclid
334 BC–285 BC
Ancient · Science
Mathematician · Writer
Muammar Gaddafi
1942–2011
Contemporary · Politics
Politician · Writer · Military leader
Ibn Khaldun
1332–1406
Medieval · Philosophy
historian · Philosopher · Writer · Politician
Khufu
c. 2701 BC–c. 2566 BC
Ancient · Politics
Monarch · Politician
Ptolemy
c. 100–c. 170
Ancient · Science
Astronomer · Mathematician · Writer · Philosopher
Ramesses II
1303 BC–1213 BC
Ancient · Politics
Monarch · Military leader
Tutankhamun
c. 1343 BC–c. 1324 BC
Ancient · Politics
Monarch
Thutmose III
c. 1481 BC–c. 1425 BC
Ancient · Military
Monarch · Military leader
Al-Idrisi
1110–c. 1165
Medieval · Exploration
Explorer · historian · Writer
Jomo Kenyatta
c. 1893–1978
Modern · Politics
Politician · Journalist · Writer
Muhammad Abduh
1849–1905
Modern · Religion
theologian · Philosopher · Writer · Politician
Muhammad Ahmad ibn Abdallah
1844–1885
Modern · Religion
Religious leader · Military leader · revolutionary
Patrice Lumumba
1925–1961
Contemporary · Politics
Politician · revolutionary · Political activist
