Author Archives: Henry Kwadwo Amoako

Education in Africa: The Impact of Colonialism

  The onset of the colonial period in the 19th century marked the beginning of the end for traditional African education. European forces, missionaries, and colonists all came ready and willing to change existing traditions to meet their own needs and ambitions. Colonial powers such as Spain, Portugal, Belgium and France colonized the continent without […]

Education in Africa: Effects of Foreign Education

Every society has a history that will shape the present and future circumstances of its people and development. Most people from Africa, Asia and South America, live in the aftermath of colonialism, while others, for example the Indigenous Peoples of North America, Australia, New Zealand, Latin and Central America still live in colonial bondage. The […]

Education in Nigeria: Final Part

The government of Nigerian has majority control of university education. The country has a total number of 129 universities registered by NUC among which federal and state government own 40 and 39 respectively while 50 universities are privately owned. In order to increase the number of universities in Nigeria from 129 to 138 the Federal […]

Education in Nigeria: Part 2

State-owned secondary schools in Nigeria are funded by each state government and are not comparable to the Federal government colleges. Although education is supposed to be free in the majority of the state owned institutions, students are required to purchase books, uniforms and pay for miscellaneous things costing them an average of thirty thousand naira […]

Education in Nigeria: Introduction

Education in Nigeria is overseen by the Ministry of Education. Local authorities take responsibility for implementing policy for state-controlled public education and state schools at a regional level. The education system is divided into Kindergarten, primary education, secondary education and tertiary education. Primary education begins at the age of 4 for the majority of Nigerians. […]

History of Education in Angola

African access to educational opportunities was highly limited for most of the colonial period in Angola. Many rural Angolan populations of the vast countryside retained their native culture and language and were not able to speak or understand Portuguese. In mainland Portugal, the homeland of the colonial authorities who ruled Angola from the 16th century […]

History of Education in Ethiopia: 1950 – 1990

In May 1961, Ethiopia hosted the United Nations-sponsored Conference of African States on the Development of Education. Among other things, the conference highlighted Ethiopia’s educational deficiencies. The Ethiopian education system, especially in primary and secondary education, was ranked the bottom among African nations. There were school and teacher shortages, a high dropout rate, and low […]

History of Education in Ethiopia: Part 2

Education in Ethiopia has been dominated by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church for many centuries until secular education was adopted in the early 1900s. Priorto 1974, Ethiopia had an estimated illiteracy rate well above 90% and compared poorly with the rest of Africa in the provision of schools and universities. After 1974 revolution, emphasis was placed […]

History of Education in Ethiopia: 1900s

Until the early 1900s, formal education in Ethiopia was confined to a system of religious instruction organized and presented under the aegis of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Church schools prepared individuals for the clergy and for other religious duties and positions. In the process, these schools also provided religious education to the children of the […]

History of Education in South Africa: 1806 – 1900

The earliest European schools in South Africa were established in the Cape Colony in the late seventeenth century by Dutch Reformed Church elders committed to biblical instruction, which was necessary for church confirmation. Inrural areas, itinerant teachers (meesters) taught basic literacy and math skills. British mission schools proliferated after 1799, when the first members of […]

History of Education in South Africa: 1900 – 1990

Following the British victory in the South African War, the British High Commissioner for Southern Africa, Sir Alfred Milner, brought thousands of teachers from Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand to instil the English language and British cultural values, especially in the two former Afrikaner republics. To counter the British influence, a group of Afrikaner […]

History of Some Popular Shrines in Ghana (In-depth) Part 2

Akonedi Shrine This is a shrine located at Larteh Kubeasi, very popular and believed to be one of the most powerful shrine among the Akuapims. Major spirits worshiped at the Akonnedi shrine in Larteh include: Akonnedi, Esi Ketewa, Adade Kofi, Asuo Gyebi and Tegare. Okomfoo Ejo is referenced as the first okomfoo (priest) of Akonnedi […]

History of Some Popular Shrines in Ghana (In-depth)

There are thousands of shrines and sacred spaces in Ghana, commemorating ancestors, gods, historical events, and everyday life. According to oral tradition these shrines which host deities helped our ancestors over hundreds of years to overcome their enemies. Because of this, attachment to these gods and ancestors is held in high esteem in Ghanaian traditional […]

History of Herbal Medicine in Ghana (In-depth)

According to Akan Oral tradition ancient traditional medicine in Ghana especially among Akan tribes started with Oracles and deities. Whenever there was a calamity, sickness or epidemic in a community, the elders of that place usually consulted deities for solution. Herbs and concoctions were usually made based on what the Oracle said. With time people […]

RADIO EYE (1994) – The First Private Radio Station in Ghana

In 1994, when residents in Accra woke up one morning to hear a radio station blaring out copious melodious music, but not from the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, Ghanaians realised that private broadcasting had been actualised.! That was how Radio Eye really opened the eyes of Ghanaians to the fact that when in 1977, the Supreme […]

The Legend of Olaudah Equaino

Olaudah Equiano was born in 1745 in the African country that is now Nigeria. Before he was captured he recounts this narrative in his memoirs: “The adults worked in the fields during the day leaving the children to hfend for themselves in the village. Older children were often given the task of acting as lookouts […]

The Origin of the Powerful Yoruba People and The Mystic of Oduduwa. Part 2

Oduduwa is considered to be the founder of the Yoruba race. He represents omnipotence, as well as the power of the womb. According to some Yoruba traditionalists, Oduduwa was more than just the founder of Ile-Ife. They believe that he was responsible for its creation, as he was one of the deities responsible for the […]

The Origin of the Powerful Yoruba People and The Mystic of Oduduwa.

The legendary ancestor of the Yoruba people is considered to be Oduduwa who is believed to have descended from above! The Yorubas are numerous and well known in Africa, they originated from Ile-Ife, arose and became quite popular by their trading with the Portuguese, which gave them a large supply of guns. The Yorubas are […]

Legendary Stories of the Igbos 600 Years Ago: Ikenga The Warrior

According to Ndi Ichie Akwa Mythology and Folklore Origins of the Igbos, Ikenga was the son of Ngwu, and was a bold warrior and fantastic wrestler. He was reputed with the ability of flying from one Iroko tree to another. Before I talk about the Legendary Ikenga let’s check out what the Ikenga wood carving […]

The Lost Identify of Africans – An Academic Discourse by Archbishop Emeritus Peter kwesi Sarpong

Emeritus Archbishop Peter Sarpong who is the current head of the Kumasi Archdiocese of the Catholic Church was born on 6th February 1933 in Offinso, Ashanti. He was ordained Catholic priest on the 11th of December 1959. Approximately 10 years after his ordination to the priesthood, he was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Kumasi […]