I recently stumbled upon some interesting facts about the name Azania, while delving into the puzzling history of the ancient Indian (Dravidian) goldminers and the possible impact they had in southern African places such as MaShonaland in Zimbabwe, - in preparation for an article I’m busy drafting. I unfortunately cannot say when the article will be ready for posting, as I’m still waiting for some info.
In the meantime, while readers are waiting for the main course, allow me to share some interesting facts about the name Azania, seeing that the vast majority of South Africans believe the current name of the country should be replaced with this name, or a corupted version Mzansi – derived from the isiXhosa term “Mzantsi Afrika”, which has today become a common term, mainly among black Africans, when referring to “South Africa”. Incidentally, uMzantsi in Xhosa means "south".
Note: This posting mentions terminology and place names which will, no doubt, feature later in future articles. It can thus rightly be considered as a preamble to future postings related to this topic.
On a large continent like Africa “south” covers an enormous region and includes numerous countries. I’m sure there’s no need to list them all, but the point is - the country called “South Africa” is only one of them, and it happens to be called as such because it is the most extreme, last, southern country on the continent.
The first mention of the name Azania with a South African connection appeared in a 1930s archaeological report of excavations at Mapungubwe in the northern Transvaal (now Limpopo province). The skeletal remains were referred to as "ancient Azanians" (source). Archaeologists of the 1930’s must surely have known far more about Azania and its location than what is presented in this posting, which means the possibly exists that the excavated remains were probably identified as settlers from the northern African Great Lakes region – in the vicinity of ancient Azania. Yet, despite this possibility the old 1930’s excavation report is often utilized by leftist-Marxist groups as one of the motivational factors for renaming South Africa to “Azania”.
Future articles on this topic will speak of the Kingdom of Mapungubwe, which was abandoned in the late 13th century (about 1290 AD). It was a region south of Great Zimbabwe – beyond the northern borders of South Africa.
Incidentally, Azania also popped up in the proposed renaming of South Sudan recently when it carried out a referendum on seceding from the Arab north. Due to popular vote the country was eventually renamed the Republic of South Sudan upon independence on 9 July 2011.
In modern-day South Africa, Azania regularly features in the description of numerous political (liberation) movements or so-called Black consciousness movements, for example: Socialist Party of Azania (SOPA), Pan Africanist Congress of Azania, Azanian National Youth Unity, Pan-Africanist Student Movement of Azania, Azanian People's Liberation Army (APLA), Black Consciousness Movement of Azania (BCMA), which dissolved into the Azanian People's Organisation (AZAPO) - to mention a few. The earlier founders of these organisations, whose motto was (and still is) “Africa for the Africans” were (and still are) obsessed with the fact that all Black Africans are Azanians.
In reality it is a rather fitting description, for it clarifies the true origins of the South African black majority, in the exact same fashion white settlers of South Africa are categorized as European colonists – often in a demeaning manner, thereby implying that white people do not belong here.
Most modern-day digital sources will, rather nonchalantly and impassively, state that the name Azania has been applied to various parts of south-eastern sub-Saharan Africa, and that the earliest attestations for the name do not explain it. Other sources mention that in Roman times—and perhaps earlier—the name referred to a portion of the Southeast African coast extending from Kenya, to perhaps as far south as modern Tanzania.
I was more interested in finding out where exactly the southern boundary of this ancient region ended, and if it were anywhere near South Africa. My search lured me to a 1st century document, written sometime between 40 and 70 AD, called the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea. The document describes, in vibrant detail, navigation and trading opportunities from various Roman Egyptian ports along the coast of the Red Sea, and other places along Northeast Africa and the Indian subcontinent. The original was written in Greek, but various English translations abound. One translation, freely available online - with full text, can be found here. A hardcover translation by Wilfred H. Schoff, is available from Amazon.com.
The name Azania features in paragraphs 15, 16, 18, 31, and 61 of The Periplus.
The map below, sourced from Wikimedia Commons, shows locations, names and routes of The Periplus, and helps to sketch a mental picture of what is described in this 1st century document.
Click here, or on the below image to download a larger version of the map.
Paragraph 16 describes the very last (most southern) market-town of Azania as a place called Rhapta, which is today non-existent. Dr Felix A. Chami, an archaeologist from Tanzania and a professor at Dar es Salaam University, found archaeological evidence indicating that Rhapta was probably near the coastline of the Indian Ocean at the mouth of the Rufiji River, in modern-day Tanzania. This places ancient Rhapta about 125 km south (as the crow flies) from Dar es Salaam, where one of today’s leading government schools in Africa is called, “Azania Boys Secondary School.”
Incidentally, Dr. Chami has also discovered, on the island of Mafia and Juani, artefacts that revealed East Africa as being integral to the Indian Ocean trade – (Tanzanian dig unearths ancient secret – BBC News)
Another interesting little fact is that Roman coins have been found on Pemba island, just north of Rhapta – Source: Miller, J. Innes. 1969. Chapter 8: "The Cinnamon Route". In: The Spice Trade of the Roman Empire. Oxford: University Press. ISBN 0-19-814264-1
Paragraph 16 is the only paragraph that mentions Rhapta. For the sake of relevance I’ll quote the entire paragraph, as it contains titbits of other interesting info:
“Two days' sail beyond, there lies the very last market-town of the continent of Azania, which is called Rhapta; which has its name from the sewed boats (rhapton ploiarion) already mentioned; in which there is ivory in great quantity, and tortoise-shell. Along this coast live men of piratical habits, very great in stature, and under separate chiefs for each place. The Mapharitic chief governs it under some ancient right that subjects it to the sovereignty of the state that is become first in Arabia. And the people of Muza now hold it under his authority, and send thither many large ships, using Arab captains and agents, who are familiar with the natives and intermarry with them, and who know the whole coast and understand the language.” - Source: W.H. Schoff (tr. & ed.), The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea: Travel and Trade in the Indian Ocean by a Merchant of the First Century (London, Bombay & Calcutta 1912).
It is worth mentioning that Azania was known to the Chinese as Zésàn and is mentioned in a 3rd century Chinese account, from the Weilue by Yu Huan, composed between 239 and 265 AD. A draft English translation by John E. Hill is available online here. The relevant text is in Section 15 - The Kingdom of Zesan (Azania). The first note in this text links to such an enormous amount of additional information on this topic that one can hardly call it a note.
The note referred to above also contains some info provided by Professor Felix Chami, who specifically mentions that Azania had nothing to do with the colour of people or even slavery. He states:
“What is in those words is the word ‘za’ or ‘zi’ an ancient Bantu word for waters-oceans or lakes, and another word ‘nchi’ or ‘nji’ another Bantu word meaning country or settlement respectively. The people of the coast of East Africa identified themselves with the ‘Indian Ocean’ which was then known as ‘za’ and hence the people of the country or settlement of ‘za’ and hence ‘Zanchi’ or ‘Zanji’.”- Professor Felix Chami - Email dated 22 July, 2003.
For purposes of this posting we will focus on a mere handful of facts dealt with in The Periplus, as it provides the most detailed information about trade with Azania, and confirms what was mentioned in other records such as Ptolemy - that Rhapta was the (southernmost) most remote and the largest of four ancient east African trading ports.
Who ruled the people of Azania?
The Periplus (paragraph 31) explicitly states that Azania was subject to Charibael and the Chief of Mapharitis, who, according to paragraph 16 - "governs it under some ancient right that subjects it to the sovereignty of the (Arabian) state." In paragraph 23 we read:
“And after nine days more there is Saphar, the metropolis, in which lives Charibael, lawful king of two tribes, the Homerites and those living next to them, called the Sabaites; through continual embassies and gifts, he is a friend of the (Roman) Emperors." - Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, Paragraph 23.
Now this is where things get rather interesting, because the Homerite Kingdom was an Arabian kingdom in ancient Yemen, established in 110 BC. It was the dominant polity in Arabia until 525 AD - (before Islam). The ruler Charibael is listed, in a reconstruction of the lineage of the rulers of Saba and Himyar (based on the work of Dr. Javad Ali), with an Arabic title, Karab Il Watar Yuhan'em II (son of Zamir Ali Bayin III) -- List of rulers of Saba and Himyar.
The “Mapharitis’’ mentioned in paragraphs 22 and 31 was a region in the interior of the south western Arabian Peninsula. Paragraph 22 mentions a city called “Saua” in the midst of the region called “Mapharitis”, and where the vassal-chief named Cholaebus lived. The city was three days inland from the port of Muza. Paragraph 31 indicates that Azania was also subject to this same chief, who, according to several other sources, was also the Sheikh of the South Arabian Ma'afir tribe.
The Sabaites (Sabaeans or Sabeans) spoken of in The Periplus were conquered in the 1st century BC, by the Himyarites. They are referenced in the Book of Job for slaughtering the livestock and servants of Job:
[14] And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: [15] And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. – (Job 1:14-15 KJV)
The local community of Azania
From the text in The Periplus it can be deduced that the locals, particularly along the coastline of Azania and all the way south to Rhapta, were a multiethnic group who blended mainly with Arabs. The men living along this coastline are described as having “piratical” habits. From the term “piratical” one can then deduce that they plundered without paying commission or tax, a trivial fact that doesn’t surprise me in the least, as today we have plenty of those types now living here in South Africa.
A comprehensive description of the inhabitants of Azania, compiled by John Hilton, can be read at this link.
In conclusion - A long documentary silence follows the ancient texts mentioned in this article, but by the time documentation resumed through Arab geographical treatises, the name Azania had completely disappeared from the scene. Azania is dead, and if the southern Sudanese people were unable to resurrect it I cannot see on what grounds South Africa’s name will ever be replaced by it… South Africa is NOT Azania!!!
61 comments :
Interesting - If I'm told "Go back to Europe" I can now reply "You go back to Azania"!
Exactly!
Nice one TIA. I'm waiting for the full article. I think it's going to be interesting.
@ Anon... "go back to Azania". LOL!!!
If it's not copyright, can I use it too?
Very interesting piece of history BUT, yes there is a big but, the black useless eaters/masses don't give a damn about history, the truth or facts do they, they are to primitive, stupid and lazy to want to understand. This history lesson might interest we the readers but how is it going to help us survive in this God forsaken land of theirs, note I said theirs, does it belong to us the whites anymore, remember the boere handed it over in 1994. They and the liberals don't want to hear the truth anyhow as they are distorting and changing history daily to suit their evil needs. The educated and clear headed people like facts and history and to learn what we do not know, but the K4's and liberals don't give a damn, so what I am saying facts and history is a pointless exercise. Thanks any way for the interesting facts anyhow, it is really for our eyes only and for our interest.
Again a very good one Tia. Connot wait for the next one. I agree it's for our eyes only. Imagine Julias Malema to try and understand this fine posting? Ney! it's racist!
But is is ArseZania
Also keep in Mind the Romans gave the dark continent its name, after one of their Generals Scipio Africanus, at the time it was only the northern part and a province of the empire, not the whole continent.
Education and civilisation is wasted on these Creatures.
Very good Posting.
@PreatorianXVI, thanks for sharing the info about the Roman General Scipio Africanus, as it shows how the modern-day name came into Western use through the Romans. However - while we’re on this subject, I think readers should also be made aware of the following:
The Latin name Africanus simply means "the African" – hence we get Scipio the African -- Numidicus ("the Numidian"), Isauricus ("the Isaurian"), Creticus ("the Cretan"), Gothicus ("the Goth"), Germanicus ("the German") and Parthicus ("the Parthian").
The name Africanus was a victory title awarded to Scipio by the Roman Senate after he defeated the Carthaginian military commander Hannibal (Rome's nemesis) at the Battle of Zama in 202 BC – (modern-day Tunisia).
Incidentally, Hannibal occupied much of Italy for 15 years, a state of affairs that nearly crippled the rise of Roman power. A Roman counter-invasion of North Africa forced Hannibal to return to Carthage, where he was decisively defeated by Scipio.
The true origins of the name “Africa”
All etymological hypotheses considered it would seem that the most plausible origin of the name would be the Egyptian Khafra (or Khafre) who was an ancient Egyptian king (pharaoh) of the 4th dynasty – (2650 BC–2480 BC). The phonetic resemblance becomes quite obvious when you try pronouncing these names, but be aware that modern Egyptologists and others often mix the order of the hieroglyphs that the ancients wrote. Thus Kh-Afre = Afre-Kh = Africa.
It is unclear what the region was called before the time of the Egyptian 4th dynasty, but when you consider the term “Afar” and its obvious resemblance with the word "Ophir" – and specifically the biblical references to the land of Ophir with its numerous links to the sought-after precious metal, GOLD, which was brought from the region to King Solomon – well, then it begins to get really interesting.
Mike S please come back!
Hi Tia. Long time no speak. Enjoyed this article. History reveals the future when taken at a level free of the present purpose to nullify truth. Veritas!
Why use the records of the europeans of the ancient civilizations, why dont you use the historical records of the blacks themselves? ... oh... I forgot ....
Follow-up posting:
The Suppressed History of South Africa’s Ancient Dravidian Goldminers
The bames if towns and streets are being changed in mzantsi and I agree it is good can u tell us what black historians say than the romans I m sure that would ve fair to us.G uMosia wasemthanjeni
@Anon – I can understand what you are saying, but for the sake of other readers I’ll repeat your comment in grammatically correct English, with my own comments inserted in brackets:
Begin interpretation
The names of towns and streets are being changed in Mzantsi (a Xhosa word which basically means “South”) and I agree that it is a good thing (???) Can you tell us what black historians say about the Romans? I’m sure many of us would appreciate it.” (us presumably meaning Black Africans or people of African descent)
End interpretation
What do Black (African) Historians say about the Romans?
This question can easily be the topic of a lengthy posting, but considering that we are in the comment section, I’ll keep it brief and will provide external links for further reading and research.
It is nowadays rather difficult to determine whether a specific Historian is black or white, because the concept of dividing humanity into racial baskets is fast going out of fashion. A major problem with historians is that they can easily be influenced by political pressure to misrepresent or distort the historical record of a specific past era. The older the era the more cautious one must be not to accept everything you read at face value.
You must also bear in mind that the ancient Roman civilization comprised a very large area around the Mediterranean in Europe, Africa, and Asia. For this reason there will be various ‘historical’ views on the topic.
However, all things considered, Wikipedia is an excellent source for the layman to commence research. It has an impressive amount of information about the Romans and 1000’s of references to other reputable sources.
Roman Empire
Africa (Roman province)
Roman Perceptions of Blacks (A heavy read!)
Here's a list of books written about African/Diasporic history by historians of African descent.
I have lost all hope on the white man
So says you! "Africans" will make this God given land what they wish to make of it and they need not give an explanation no
man.
With all your education and false superiority you are still found wanting. What a pity. When Romans conquered any region it would then part of the Roman Empire; is it that hard for you to think of Azanian conquests in the same context? Strong Azanian.
Put aside all the
politics, "Azania" sounds so much better than "South Africa".
It will be very important to note that, even though we cannot authenticate the author's sources, he does inform you that Azania is in Africa, & his view need not conclude what a direction 'South Africa' name should be. However the author, if he is to be believed, informs you that Azania is in the continent of Africa, not Europe. Hence it remain relevant for blacks to be Africans, not Europeans.
If you want to be cynical when a black person tells you to go to Europe, tell him to go to Africa, then you'll realise that you're being stupid in a continent where you came. A German Shepherd dog breed born in Africa is still a German Shepherd, unless you want to call it an African Shepherd.
What do you mean with “we cannot authenticate the author's sources”? The entire article is referenced with credible sources!
@Anon 10:49PM - thank you!
To the Anon before that...
It is absurd to use the example of the German Shepherd dog breed in this debate. The German Shepherd breed was standardized in Europe during the 1850s but it was only in 1899 that the first dog was declared a true German Shepherd. That’s only about 114 years ago…
The European people arrived on the southern tip of Africa more than 360 years ago. They and their descendants adapted to African conditions over the years. Even their Germanic language developed in Africa hence the reason why it is called “Afrikaans” – and why the people are called “Afrikaners”.
Besides -- the vast majority of Afrikaners living in South Africa have never set foot on another continent, except Africa.
@Anonymous
Ignorant comment!
@Anonymous
It sounds better for a black majority nation anyway
It would be better if the EFF did win in the next ten years and change the country's name to Azania
The ANC is a corruption party, they aren't communist or fascist like people claim they just want to win elections so they can keep lining their pockets
The ANC might change it from the Pretoria municipal area to the Tshwane municipal area, but they didn't change the name of Pretoria proper
The ANC uses English, not black languages
The ANC isn't about true revolution, they're about maintaining power and not making big changes that piss people off
The faster a bunch of radicals like the EFF get into power and start doing crazy things the faster all the whites move into the Cape and declare independence for the lands beyond the Fish River and leave the blacks to run their own failed state
Azania is and has never been a name to use with regard to South Africa. If anyone has the correct African name for South Africa it would be found in the khoekhoegowab and san languages. Simple as.
White are europeans,they always use ideas to take nations that they do not belong to!,but let me tell pink people you are not white,you are weak,africans are more superio than you!,oneday the people of the nations you have hurt will rise!,the ones you call aboriginal australians!,the red indians who are true americans!,I am telling you all those people will rise together the san people!,azanians!,will rise and your children will feel pain and poverty!,you who call yourself white will be extinct,you will all die with pain!
It always amazes me, when comments are thrown around about African History, by individuals who seem to have little or no knowledge of our history. And those who are keen to blog, they seem to know Africa through caucasian eyes, backed by their version of African History. It is a shame, and disgusting for whomever you are (Blogger). I suggest you go back to African history told by African… I am sure you will retract your statement on South Africa is not Azania.
Question to the audience: If I welcome a pregnant woman (Stranger) in my house, and she happens to give birth in my house, does that child automatically becomes my family? Let us stop fooling ourselves, in the event of any wars that occur in any part of Africa, Europe quickly sends ships, planes, and armies etc to pull their own people out. I don’t know if we are so blind not to see… all those people with-drawn out are caucasians, non African. In fact, we Africans, if fleeing to their lands, we become refugees, and they have instilled the same ideology to other fellow African, to refer to our fellow brothers, sisters, mothers, Fathers, daughters and sons to refugees, in our own Africa. Again: to buttress my point, if you don’t know African History, I boldly say this, you would be a fool to claim: caucasians are Africans!!!
People of South Africa, please! Enough of these race fights. The truth of the matter is: South Africa today, is made up of different race types -- not just blacks or whites. Why can't you embrace this fact and then from there, move on in figuring out how to live with one another, because nobody is going anywhere. Like the great man once said, "South Africa belongs to all who live in it." Whether it's Azania, Mzansi, or whatever you choose to call it, the land (which is what matters) belongs to you ALL -- every one of you!
I am not South African, by the way, but from reading all the comments on here, not only could I tell which race each commentor belongs to, but also what their personal attitude is towards other races. Nearly everyone (including the blogger) is biased against the other race and, honestly, it's disgusting. You're all behaving like children instead of being rational. Be the good Christian, Muslim, Hindu, or whatever you are and LEARN TO SHARE WITH OTHERS. Isn't that what all religions teach?
Dear author?
What would you have us rather do then? Name this country in honour of a language that pays homage to the decendants of Queen Elizabeth? You would go to such lengths as writing such an article in order to protect such foul a legacy as British colonialism? I choose Azania on any day
Great Article.
I came across it after hearing a poem that ended with "Bring back Azania", I wondered where did it go? Did it exist here? So I was glad to find a well researched informative post that sparked the researcher in me to go further into the continents history. Thank you.
But I was surprised to see you RESPONDED to racist comments without a hint of disapproval, leaving me to wonder if I have not been fooled by a racist blogger to consider Azania not South Africa.
Azania refers to the Original name of the now called African continent, its funny how whites always try teaching us blacks about ourselves knowing very well that truth has been distorted 1000 times and there great philosophers had African teaching* Ethiopia is the actual place of the birth place of human kind' it was the centre of the continent thats why it has more pyramids than anywhere else. it is the birth place of the tribe of King Solomon and the lion of Judah.
only if your a son of the soil you can understand
You dumb arse
You are very quick to forget that you enslaved your own people first, your great philosophers had African teaching at the first universities in timbuktu' all we were sailing the seas before you had any idea of latitude*
U should start using your derogatory brain and do a bit of research before you open your mdidi of a mouth
Ethiopia is the birth place of human kind, that means everyone on this planet is an African. Also, if Afrikaans is an African language, why did you African folk rebel against it being taught in schools?
as a non black, a non white but a mix race of indian and colored. i for one, am tired of this racial issues. yes, the romans, dutch, french and english have colonized this continent and so what, its the freaking past. we need to move on and focus on rebuilding the continent and fighting POVERTY, CRIME AND CORRUPTION, the three major things that all you dumb racist BEINGS failed to focus on. at the end of the day, being racist will never resolve any issues, changing the past will never resolve any issues and changing names of place's.....is just as pointless as selling ice in winter. we need to put differences aside and move on....we are not born a racist....
@Anonymous
m'africa zimbiri
azania means the land of the natives therefore nobody lives in a direction "south of africa " just imagine this country its Azania like it or not
Azania means the land of the natives with or without history we cannot afford to live in direction "south of africa" just imagine .Folks dont be doomed this country is Azania like it or not .IZWE LETHU
AZANIA IS INDEED OUR FORE FATHERS LAND IZWE LETHU SOUTH AFRICA IS JUST A DIRECTION SO WHY CANT WE GIVE THIS BELOVED COUNTRY A DIGNIFIED NAME AFTER WE GOT OUR SO CALLED "FREEDOM"
Call me a zany Afrikander; I'm liking the sound of Azania.
What a shame to realize people are still fighting about race who comes from were and how who lay claims to what land.
Just food for thought race is dying in this new world.
In couple more years and more there wont be single races there will be multiracial people in this world that will not care about color of skin.
Single races will be something of past long and forgotten be written in the history books.
What a shame I wont be around to see all this happen.
But all the best to the future generations of this world.
Let greed pride and selfishness over power them.
Let there minds be set free and create a better world for all future generations.
Azania iAfrika Izwe lethu that fills my heart with so much pride. South Africa is just a direction of where we are in the continent. Funny how whites assume they are the only ones who have legitimate info on our beloved motherland Afrika more than us abantu/batho/vhathu
Same people who are telling their kids that when they first came landed at our shore there were no black people in this part of the land.They are also trying to give the khoi a different race.In the eyes of the settlers Khoi are not black.Talking about rewriting history.A true Africa knows his history and we don't listen to lies.
How do you refer to Africans as lazy and stupid yet you have scores of white people who are subordinate to black people in terms of education wealth and social status?
If Africans are stupid and lazy what do you make of a white person who happens to be a subordinate of a black person I terms of education wealth work positions and social status. I am black educated hard worker and I work with anyone who is prepared to fold up their sleeves and get down to a job. I don't believe in white or black supremacy
Fuck the whites fucking boers go back to Europe Africa for africans don't try to teach our history our African history is superior then your fucking genocide history
I am amused at the eagerness of people who desperately wish to wipe out any vestiges of European-ness embrace the word Azania, which is Greek in origin. What am I missing? Or is Greece not in Europe? What I actually want to know, is what the truly indigenous names for this region is, as somebody many posts ago suggested we look at the San (or similar language) words. Does anybody know what they called this region?
PS I am not a linguist/ historian/ political activist/ racist/ or social status climber. Just curious.
Someone anonymous said:" If anyone has the correct African name for South Africa it would be found in the khoekhoegowab and san languages. Simple as." Has anybody found this information? I would really like to know. A Greek word claimed as the name for Africans feels phoney.We call it plagiarism.
If the Author learns the language spoken by the late Nelson Mandela and a few million other South Africans. He would be familiar with the term Mzansi....um Za nji meaning South. If the word Azania is derived from Zanji it means South country
From what you have written above Azania is a more accurate description of the country than South Africa. The name Africa itself also has Greko-Roman origins and applied to the Mediterranean coast. Azania applied to the Indian Ocean coast which was more South than Africa. So South of Africa is Azania!!!!
@Anonymous
I have been trying to also find out on the same subject and this doesn't make much sense to me after going through few articles I have come to realise that "AZANIA" is actually named or the first name given to one of the east african country now called "TANZANIA" According to Ptolemy in his book (and mind you the guy was a Geographer) this is what he wrote
"And we must remember that Ptolemy the Geographer, a Greek-Roman citizen of Egypt, writing in his Geography in the second century AD, described the interior of Africa beyond Ethiopia quite accurately: "toward the west are the Mountains of the Moon from which the lakes of the Nile receive snow water." This description shows a knowledge due mainly to the commerce done by Roman merchants in the eastern Africa coast
During Caesar times, the port of Rhapta (located near Dar es Salaam in Tanzania) emerged as the principal commercial center on the east African coast. With increasing trade, groups of professional merchants and entrepreneurs emerged at Rhapta, and coins came into general use on the east African coast. Merchants of Rhapta imported iron goods such as spears, axes, and knives from southern Arabia and the eastern Mediterranean region controlled by Rome in exchange for ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and slaves obtained from interior regions.
Please go through this link for more details http://researchomnia.blogspot.com/2015/10/romans-in-azaniaraphta.html
I have been following this for a while now and thought to paste some of my own research here as well. I do agree that south Africa is not "AZANIA" but again is not a country in Europe either. following many articles written and speaking about AZANIA you will agree the it speaks about a country in East Africa and particularly the present country TANZANIA.
"During Caesar times, the port of Rhapta (located near Dar es Salaam in Tanzania) emerged as the principal commercial center on the east African coast. With increasing trade, groups of professional merchants and entrepreneurs emerged at Rhapta, and coins came into general use on the east African coast. Merchants of Rhapta imported iron goods such as spears, axes, and knives from southern Arabia and the eastern Mediterranean region controlled by Rome in exchange for ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and slaves obtained from interior regions.
Indeed Ptolemy goes on to itemize a long list of towns and ports all down the eastern seaboard of Africa. Some scholars believe that his knowledge of the coast extended as far south as Cabo Delgado in northern Mozambique. Ptolemy included details of the latitude of each place he mentions. The most intriguing of these is a port called Rhapta which is also mentioned in a book written by an unknown Greek author called the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea. The Periplus is probably the most comprehensive documents we have of the ancient world of the Indian Ocean.
According to the most thorough translation by Lionel Casson: "Two runs beyond this island comes the very last port of trade on the coast of Azania, called Rhapta, where there are great quantities of ivory and tortoise shell."
The following is a map from Wikipedia showing the possible location of Raphta in the eastern Africa coast:"
For more details you can open up this link and many more links that clearly point to Tanzania as AZANIA
http://researchomnia.blogspot.com/2015/10/romans-in-azaniaraphta.html
@Anicet Philip - thank you for your insightful contribution to this posting!
As I read through the blog and then the posted comments I am given reason to pause. The reality of today is that centuries ago, this country was invaded. The invaders took advantage of the residents of the community and made themselves very rich at the expense of the locals. Some who came did not acquire riches but benefited from the status quo. Today, the conflict is over who should determine the future of this land.
If history is the basis for this blog, it should not be suggested that we forget the history of what happened to the people who were there in the beginning. The idea of moving forward and not addressing the problems created by those invaders is problematic. Especially when you see that the descendants of the invaders are prosperous and the descendants of the residents are impoverished.
This is not to say that this model is a perfect assessment of the situation, but this is a convoluted problem and like it or not, my assessment is accurate. So, to suggest that the victimizers should continue in their prosperity that was gained at the expense of others while others should accept the problems created by others and now accept that this problem that was not created by them should be solved by them while those who benefited from the creation of the problem should continue to enjoy the benefits while those who were victimized deal with the consequences.
This is further complicated by the universal demand for the rule of law for the present while obfuscating the call for just compensation for past wrongs which persist in creating problems for the masses.
What is in a name? Only the value imbued in it by those who use the name.
This discussion about the name of the country is moot. Today, we have Rome, Georgia. Is this city not Rome because it is not the original Rome. It is Rome because the people say it is Rome. That is the name they choose to use and to deny them their choice is just one more victimization in a long line of wrongs imposed upon them.
Let us consider the bigger problem of revisionist history and the contemporary lie. Too many times people have been indoctrinated with the concept of freedom and when presented with the truth, they choose to ignore the truth in favor of the lie because it is convenient. For this country and yes the world to heal, we must accept and admit that race does not exist except as a ploy to manipulate people who are different from each other.
The process entails keeping them confused and at odds with each other while white supremacist profit and benefit from the ensuing confusion and conflicts. This is not just a SA / Azania problem. This is a world-wide problem. White supremacists are not above sacrificing other white people, or advancing black people for show in order to maintain the illusion equity they have created.
The solution lies in openly admitting the truth about what has happened and then being completely honest about the reality of the situation. The resources on the planet belong to all, but we must cease manipulation and concentration of the wealth derived from these resources for the benefit of a few and begin to dispense the wealth to those most in need and divert the excesses from those who have deprived the masses of the basic necessities of life.
The law is only valid if it has equity across the board. Justice that can be bought and sold to the for any price is not justice and the laws support such a system will not stand in perpetuity.
This is the most important lesson that I have to share with you.
I remain, Yours in the struggle.
TIA MYSOA...and everyone (black and white) who is able to read Dave-E Yonah EL's text am apealing to you all to read through it with a clear mind. Rea through it more than once atleast and then mybe ....just mybe ...YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND!!! Understand what, you may wonder....alot of things...from what role each individual and race have to play in accepting each other to why anyone can not decide or dictate in what others can or can not do, or be...ITS CLEAR BUT THE PROBLEM IS THAT "ITS THE TRUTH THE WORLD DOESN'T WANT TO ACCEPT" for obvious reasons... MV.Faku
I not black or white and I am born, raised, and living in North America, a continent that was dessimated by white Europeans at about the same period as Africa; however, where I am, whites could not reach to establish much of anything until 150 years ago with half of them descended from Europeans who came less than 100 years ago.
I love how the Black consciousness movement summed up colonial white oppression as "Europe and its satellites..." That's exactly what it is, white people
Can rebrand, rename, and even feel independent from others, but they don't fool anyone. They do not assimilate, and think they are God's gift to the world. Go's probably shaking his head. They still trade and keep in touch with their European nations; they are satellites and they built on Native lands, killed and massacred to get their fur, gold, and now oil.
They care so much where Azania is because they feel threatened by a majority and do not see that they belong there. Does that feel awful? Bitch and complain all they want but that's how more than half the world feels thanks to whites invading and taking more
land than any "civilization" ever.
Does it matter where Azania actually is? They didn't seem to care after world war 2 when they plopped white Jews in année Israel that is not exactly where Israel used to be. Racist whites do not belong anywhere in Africa, period. They do not belong in the Americas or Australia or Oceana. Is that radical? Why is it not radical when whites treat non whites like second class citizens who are born and raised in a given region.
Whites built South Africa? I've heard that one many times, just replace "South Africa" with any other place in the world. They built over other civilizations and cultures, no matter how "primitive" or truly complex they are. They build over anything that is different from them and they give themselves the self appointed right to ownership. Why don't they go back and rebuild Europe? No one would
Contest that. BWhites can live happily anywhere in the world, they just shouldnt act like that own it if outside of Europe. It is only when they cannot do that that they should get the hell out.
Whites don't belong in Africa. They can live there and be an immigrant of they want to, what's wrong with that? They call non-whites immigrants in other places in the world, even when they just colonized and invaded, nothing more.
For your information; the fact that 'whites', 'blacks' and any other 'race' can breed offspring means that, in biological terms, they are of the same race. The terms 'race' and 'species' are the problem. What generally we call 'race' is in biological terms 'ethnicity'. A lion and a tiger are of the same species but of different races thus they can't breed. Various types of cats can create offspring thus they are of the same race but of different ethnicity. Through mixture of the various ethnicities (not races) new ones can be formed. The 'coloureds' in South Africa are a Human example of that. Humans have been breeding dogs, cows and whatnot to suit their needs. This would be impossible if the animals were of different races..
When one begins talking about the variety and origin of human ethnicity it becomes very complex very fast. I understand that it is easier to cling to simple, dualistic thought-frames but this also means that one is continuously seeing 'reality' through these thought-frames. Language is a great tool but this is a typical case of "we shape our tools, and thereafter our tools shape us"..
..This means that the discussion concerning 'blacks' and 'whites' (binary system?) is like an argument between schizophrenic art critics in front of Basquiat-Warhol painting...get it?
is it that hard to notice that Whites are extra-terrestrials, who destroys in the name of enforced civilization, Africans never asked for your help, and deep down you know you didn't create anything, all you do is steal as you still do to this day
Stargazer, and others: Comments that are off topic, offensive, slanderous, or otherwise annoying stand a chance of being deleted. Think twice before posting a comment. @Stargazer - you're an idiot of note! I've published your uncouth comment with the sole purpose of having the satisfaction of deleting it at a later stage.
@Tia Mysoa im happy you talk about africanus as it still remains a question what did the colonialists do to wipe out the people and the original names driven by greed of exploiting resources and making people slaves and the worst introducing bantu education wich was inferior it leaves us with no option to improvise as to be fair on blacks even Azania will stiil be ok as long it changes to what we call it
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