African presence in early England

By Dr Kwame Nantambu
December 10, 2022

Dr. Kwame NantambuNow that England has ushered in its first modern-day, non-European Prime Minister in Rishi Sunak of Asian-Indian descent and the country’s first Hindu to hold that top office, indeed, it is a sine qua non to reveal and recount the role and presence of Africans in England’s early history.

In his treatise History of the Africans in Europe (1971), Dr. G.K. Osei postulates that “when Saint Patrick went to Ireland to convert the people he took one (African) with him. The (African) used to sing at the various meetings. Ireland had an African Bishop called Diman. He died in Ulster in 658 A.D. and is now a Saint.”

Moreover, three famous British historians Godfrey Higgins, Gerald Massey and David MacRitchie “have written of these ancient British Blacks.”. Indeed, the record shows that ” the Phoenicians , a Black people did mine tin in Cornwall and that Egyptians went to Britain before the Romans.”

Most specifically, the renowned British Egyptologist, poet and writer of the pioneering magnum opus Egypt: Light of the World (1907) Gerald Massey contends that “Stonehnge, the most famous ancient monument in England was built by an (African) architect named Marien” in six stages between 1520 B.C. and 3000 B.C. Furthermore, “Massey gives many proofs, including Egyptian words in ancient British languages.”

Dr. Osie goes on to recount historically that “The Scots, in their earliest chronicles, claim descent from the Egyptians. Scotia, Egyptian princess married to a Greek and from whom it is said the name Scotland originated.” The historical record reveals that “up to the 10th century, three islands in Scotland were wholly Black. One of the Scottish Kings was an African called Alban.”

Another verifiable proof of the presence of Africans in England’s early history is that of the Morris-dance. In fact, Sir. John Hawkins, an earlier authority on music adamantly asserts that “England’s “national dance is of African origin. It is indisputable that this dance was the invention of the (African) Moors.”

And this African musical origin in England is further validated by the truism that White British dancers actually blackened their faces to perform that dance. And for a conscious historical side-bar, it is vital to note that to recall that Charles, then Prince of Wales , later King Charles 11 of England, “blackened his face and dressed himself like a Negro (African) slave to escape the soldiers of Cronwall. Negroes (Africans) were fairly plentiful in England at that time. Queen Elizabeth 1 of England was so much in love with Francis, Duke of Alenoon, a Negro (African), that when told by her ministers that she could not marry him, she wept.” The Duke was described as “black with wooly hair.”

As another geo-political side-bar, it is very imperative to note that when Africans ruled this planet in the B.C. era, the system of governance whereby the oldest son succeeded his dad, the Pharaoh, was known as the Dynasty. In fact, there were 31 Dynasties in ancient Egypt (Kemet) from 3100 B.C. to 332 B.C. However, when Europeans began to rule the planet in the A.D. era , this system of governance is now called the Monarchy whereby the oldest child would succeed the King or Queen on the throne.

Specifically, this is the sole, endemic purpose of Euro-cetric global mis-education, HIS-Eurocentric-STORY or Edjumacation which is to deny African peoples of any sense of originality, period and full stop.

Dr. Kwame Nantambu is Professor Emeritus Kent State University , USA.

4 thoughts on “African presence in early England”

  1. The history lesson on the presence of blacks in early England is informative, in fact I never knew of Elizabeth 1 love affair with Francis. Am I to infer without which Rishi Sunak’s ascendancy to PM was a result of such?

    1. Even if Sunak got it on with Pope Francis (which I strongly doubt), I doubt that would have had any value in the Tory leadership struggle.

  2. Morden day English Journalist and Politicians are trying to rewrite Black History, they are trying to blindside us all by saying that it was the Arabs and African Chiefs who were the ones responsible for African Slavery, and somehow the British are the real Heroes by introducing “The Abolishment of Slavery”
    The British were innocently sailing by the African continent, minding their own business (like they normally do) when unexpectedly 15 million African slaves jumped on board their ships, desperately trying to get away from the persuading nasty Arabs and African chiefs. The captains of the British ships, being the caring gentlemen that they are, immediately helped the Slaves to safer countries. Same as Captain Cook helped the Aborigines in what is now known as Australia.

  3. Obviously, your historical statements lack precise information when these Africans came to England. England is a place known since 500 A.C. Before the English settled down on the island known as Brittania, they leaved in the north of Germany and Danmark and were known as Angles and Saxons. They brought across their language and their culture. Before these invaders created England Brittania was ruled by the Romans. The language of the Romans was Latin and they were against common believe not purely European at all. The north of Africa was part of the Roman empire and African soldiers were very common among the Romans. This means black people came to this island long before England was created and long before anybody spoke English on that island.

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