African Camp Fire Stories: Recent Episodes
Spino & Techzilla
African History stories are seldom told; in cases where they do get told, it is
seldom by Africans themselves. The African Camp Fire Stories’ Podcast is
created and narrated by natives of the continent.
It is very important for us to note that we are not professional Historians. And
we appreciate very much the work that Historians have done in covering the
stories that we make use on this podcast.
The objective of the podcast is to bring to the fore African history in an
engaging, interesting, and fun manner; while ensuring that all the stories that
we tell are well-researched and grounded in fact.
The African Camp Fire Stories’ Podcast team has a great affinity for the
history of Africa. We see a need for bringing African history stories to the
attention of ordinary people in Africa, and in the world as a whole. We feel
that African history stories should be part of the daily discourse of ordinary
people across the world.
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Summary African History Quickies – Episode 10 – Ethiopia Defeats Italy,
Part V
The story of false treaties, the First Italo-Ethiopian War – and the battle of Adwa.
Featuring: Menelik II; Ethiopia; Italy; Tigray; Amharic; King Umbreto II; Addis
Ababa; Adwa; Eritrea; and much more
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Summary African History Quickies – Episode 9 – Ethiopia Defeats Italy,
Part iv
The history of the Ethiopian ruling dynasty. Ethiopia’s link to Orthodox
Christianity, King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba.
Reference list will be provided with the last episode of this series.
Featuring: Menelik II; Abyssinia; Ethiopia; Italy; Haile Selassie; Yohannes IV;
King Solomon; Queen of Sheba; Menelik I; Orthodox Christianity; Mount
Entoto; and much more
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Summary Christmas and Hanukkah Special – Episode 5 – Date of Christmas
We provide a quick-look summary of the history Christianity in North Africa.
The rest and the big part of the episode looks at how the Date for Christmas Day was
chosen.
Featuring: Tertullian; Christmas; Gregorian Calendar; Rome; Augustus; Perpetua;
Clement of Alexandria; Origen of Alexandria; Marcion; Ethiopia; Eastern Orthodox
Church; Cyprian, Athanasius and Augustine of Hippo; and much more.
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Summary African History Quickies – Episode 8 – Ethiopia Defeats Italy,
Part iii
On this episode, Italy and Ethiopian fight over Eritrea.
Ethiopian engages in Holy War. Italy fails to accomplish her goals in the battlefield.
The Bibliography (Further Reading List) will come with the last episode of the
Ethiopia Defeats Italy series
Featuring: Ethiopia; Eritrea; Italy; Esma’il Pasha; the Madhi; Mahummad Ahmad
Abd Allah; Yohannes IV; Menelik II; Battle of Dogali; and much more
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Summary African History Quickies – Episode 7 – Ethiopia Defeats Italy,
Part ii
This is the second episode of our Ethiopia Defeats Italy mini-series.
Who is Isma’il Pasha? And how did his actions eventually lead to a dishonest
agreement between Britain and Ethiopia – an agreement that would see both
Ethiopia and Italy promised Eretrea at the same time.
How can that not lead into a clash.
A Further Reading List for this mini-series will be published with the last
episode of the series.
Featuring: Ethiopia; Italy; Yohannes IV; France; Britain; Eretrea; Isma’il
Pasha the Magnificent; the Madhi; and much more
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Summary African History Quickies – Episode 6 – Ethiopia Defeats Italy,
Part i
This is the first episode of our mini-series on the First Italo-Ethiopian War.
How come is Ethiopia’s victory against Italy in this war not well-known?
Many people know that Ethiopia was never colonised (though, that is not
100% true). However they do not know about the war and the victory that
contributed to Ethiopia remaining independent from colonisation.
A Further Reading List will be provided with the last episode of the Ethiopia
Defeats Italy mini-series.
Featuring: Italy; Ethiopia; Emperor Menelik II; Haile Selasie; Mussolini;
Horn of Africa; Red Sea; and much more
Summary African History Quickies – Episode 5 – Bokassa
On this Quickie episode, we tell the story of the 2 nd President and ruler of the
Central African Republic. It is a gripping story, filled with strange happenings
and deeds. But, ultimately, it is a sad story of too much power, greed,
corruption, and incompetence.
Featuring: Jean-Bedel Bokassa; Central African Republic; France; Napoleon;
Christianity; and much more
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Summary African History Quickies – Episode 4 – State of Indigenous
African Religions
On this quickie episode we define and discuss the status indigenous religions
in Africa.
Featuring: Indigenous African religions; Christianity; Islam; and much more
Further Reading:
- Britannica. African Religions.
Https://www.britannica.com/topic/African-religions
- Olupona, J. 2015. The Spirituality of Africa. The Harvard Gazette.
https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2015/10/the-spirituality-of-africa/
- Van Beek, W.E.A. 2020. African Indigenous Religions. Oxford
Research Encyclopaedias. (published March 2020)
- Van Klinken, A; Ndzovu, H.J; & Grillo, L.S. 2019. Religions in
Contemporary Africa: An Introduction. Published by Routlegde
Summary African History Quickie – Episode 3 – Arab Conquest of North
Africa
This episodes tells the story of the Arabic conquest of the territory of North Africa.
Listen to find out how the conquest took place; what was the theological basis for the early Islamic conquests; how large the extent of the conquest was…and much much more.
Featuring: Islam; the Berbers; Byzantine Empire; Persian Empire; Iran;Turkey, Roman Empire; and much more
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Summary African History Quickies – Episode 2 – The Bamum Writing System of Cameroon
On this quickie episode we discuss the Bamum script of Cameroon: how was it created; how was it lost; AND what is being done to restore it.
The Bamum Scripts and Archives Project website:https://eap.bl.uk/project/EAP051/search
Featuring: Cameroon; Bamum script; the Tikar; the Mbum; the British; the French; King Njoya; and much more
Summary ACFS History Quickies – Episode 1 – Nubia vs Egypt
This episode summarises the almost mythical relationship between Ancient
Nubia and Ancient Egypt.
However, this relationship didn’t only exist in ancient times.
Featuring: Nubia; Egypt; Kush; Mahdi; Akhenaten: Britain; and much more
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Summary of the Essays to Africa – Episode 1 – Democracy vs Economic
Development
This is our first episode under the banner of Essays to Africa. We therefore
begin the episode by explaining the concept of Essays to Africa.
We then go to provide some introduction and background to the topic of
Democracy vs Economic Development. We provide a summary of Africa’s
dire economic development situation. This is followed by a background
discussion on the topic of Democracy and why we have chosen to juxtapose
Democracy and economic development into one topic.
The Democracy vs Economic Development topic will continue on the next
episode.
Featuring: Democracy; Dictatorship; One-party state; Soviet Union; USA;
Africa; Free-market system; and much more
Summary of the Women’s Month Special, 2020 – Cleopatra, Queen of
Egypt
Cleopatra is a legendary figure; larger than life, in fact. We do our best to tell
her story. While bearing in mind that her story is too big to be told in one
episode.
We cover her times, and her world. The figures who made an impact on her
life – figures like Caesar and Augustus – also made more than just a splash
on world history.
All hail, the Queen of the Nile!!
Featuring: Julius Caesar; Marc Anthony; Augustus; Cleopatra Selene; Rome;
Egypt;
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Summary of the Christmas and Hanukkah Special – Episode 4 – Detour to
Europe
On this episode we take a detour and head over to Europe. Wecover the key
people who played a part in establishing Christianity in Europe. These are
people who are today not very known by ordinary Christians. For the most
part, the individuals we cover are kings an rulers. Their conversion to
Christianity, being that this was medieval Europe, meant that the people they
ruled over converted as well.
Starring: Martin Luther; Catholic Church; Charlamagne; Clovis; The Franks;
The Rus; Vladimir the 3rd; Buddism; Islam; Frederick the 3 rd ; Guthrum;
Vikings; and many more
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Summary of the Christmas and Hanukkah Special – Episode 3 –
Judaism and Christianity
This is the third episode of our mini-series on the story of Christianity and Africa.
On this episode we continue with the story of Abraham and his Descendants.
We explore further the Promise between the Jewish People and God. But can
the Jewish people keep their side of this Promise?
We continue to discuss the chaos and conflicts in Canaan.
We discuss the Council of Nicaea, the Nicene Creed and the Apostles Creed.
We introduce the debates between the Founding Fathers of Christianity about
the nature of Jesus Christ.
Starring: Abraham; Marcian; Constantine the Great; Solomon; King David;
Manessah; Moses; Nicene Creed; Council of Nicaea; Apostle’s Creed; and
much more
Summary of Christmas and Hanukkah Special – Episode 2 – Hanukkah and Judaism.
This is the 2nd episode of our mini-series on the story of Christianity and
Africa.
This time we get deeper to the roots of Judaism.
We also provide a detailed look at the story of Hanukkah
We begin to explore the nature of Judaism’s understanding of the relationship
the Jewish people and God.
For instance, in the First or Old Testament, there are a lot of verses where
God is a egging on the Israelites to take over Canaan. Admittedly this
takeover is not peaceful. There were people already living in Canaan when
Canaan was promised to the Jewish people, as Judaism believes that this
promise exists.
Starring: Simon Sebag Montefiore; Bart D Ehrman; Abraham; Judaism;
Christianity; Islam; Ethiopia; Egypt; Cleopatra; Antiochus Epiphanes;
Alexander the Great; Cyrus The Great; Babylon; Persia…and many more
Summary of Christmas and Hanukkah Special – Episode 1 – Introduction
This is the very first episode of our mini-series on the story of Christianity and
Africa.
We explain why we are starting with Christianity, in our eventual objective to
go through all the significant religions in Africa.
We lay the foundation for our mini-series, by explaining the foundational
tenets of Judaism. We explain that in order to discuss Christianity and even
Islam, Judaism needs to be explained first. Judaism is the foundation for both
Christianity and Islam.
We briefly introduce the geographical area on which the story of the
foundation of Judaism and Christianity occurred. What kind of area was it?
We provide a high level overview of the historical sources we will be using for
the mini-series.
Starring: Josephus; Philo; Tacitus; Judaism; Christianity; Islam; Isiah; David;
Solomon…and many more
Summary of Cold War Pawns – Episode 14 – Lumumba and Mobutu, Part
Two
We continue to discuss The Democratic Republic of the Congo – and the
story of Lumumba and Mobutu. We provide a comparison of these two men.
How did each of their individual political-outlook develop? We begin to look at
the basis of their rivalry. Lumumba gains the fear and hatred of Belgium and
the West. Lumumba starts go get paranoid about Western motives.
Starring: The DRC; Patrice Lumumba; Joseph Mobutu; Katanga; Lisala;
Belgium; MNC party; King Baudouin; Belgium; The USSR; The USA; Joseph
Kasa-Vubu; King Leopold II; & many more.
Summary of Special Episode IV – How Is History Written, Part 2
We continue to look at the nature of History sources. They say History was
written by winners. But does that mean that its incorrect? How can you decide
if a history source could be used. We present five points you can use to judge
history writings. These points are not the only factors one can use to weigh
history sources. But for the purposes of this episode, we feel they suffice.
Starring: Colonialism; Missionaries; Huns; Romans; the Chinese; Barbarians;
Nomads; Greeks; and much much more.
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SUMMARY of Xenophobia and Hatred Series – Episode 3 – Rome and
Carthage
For a while now we have been teasing the Rome and Carthage discussion.
We have done so in our three articles on Xenophobia (see our website:
www.africancampfirestories.com ), and also on Episode 1 of this series.
So it is about time that we truly get into the story of Rome versus Carthage. Find
out what were some of the reasons for hatred between these two very
powerful and seminal states of ancient times.
Starring: Cato The Elder; Roman Republic; Carthage; Hannibal; Scipio
Afrikanus; Mago; Hasdrubal; Tunisai; Hamilcar Barca; and many many more.
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Summary of Cold War Pawns – Episode 13 – Lumumba and Mobutu
We continue to discuss The Democratic Republic of the Congo. We talk about
the chaos in The DRC. We talk more about Lumumba. We introduce and
explain the Evolues. We discuss the problem of tribalism in The DRC. We
introduce the Lumumba-Mobutu dynamic.
Starring: DRC; Evolues; Kasai; Patrice Lumumba; Mobutu; Katanga;
Belgium; MNC; CONAKAT; and much much more
Summary of Special Episode III – How Is History Written, Part One
“Until lions have their historians, tales of the hunt shall always glorify the
hunters”….these are words are from an African Proverb.
This is the first episode on the topic of How Is History Written. This short
series will explore the nature of history sources. And various other points like:
How do Historians write History? What sources are available for the writing of
History? How to decide if history sources are legitimate
Starring: Herodotus; Africa; History; Julius Caesar; Alexandra The Great;
Persepolis; Mongols; and much much more
SUMMARY of Xenophobia and Hatred Series – Episode 2 – Rumors of
Fear and Mistrust.
This episode tackles the issue of rumors in times of crisis. There were a lot of
rumors during the xenophobic attacks in South Africa. But there were rumors
during the French Revolution as well. There were rumors in Rwanda. Rumors
are capable of spreading crisis like xenophobia.
Starring: Rwanda; Rwandan Revolution; Rumors; World War One; Austrian
Empire; the Nazis; Charles Taylor; Sierra Leone; and much much more
Summary of Cold War Pawns - Episode 12 – Enter Lumumba
The DRC eventually gains its independence from Belgium, after a superlative
resistance. Then…chaos ensures in the country. The Belgian army is left in
the DRC, in order to ensure smooth transition to freedom and independence.
But then this army begins to do the opposite of what it is meant to do. It finds
a way to be a force for evil, by collaborating with the forces in the DRC that
want to break away from the country.
Lumumba becomes Prime Minister. He tries to hold the country together. He
asks for help from the USA, the UN and the USSR. But no one is offering
help. African countries are not helping the DRC either. All they do is to talk –
talk that is constricting the options that Lumumba has for acquiring economic
help. In this episode we welcome Mobutu. He steps in the scene by
inhumanely crushes resistance against the central government.
Starring: Mobutu; Lumumba; Kasa-Vubu; Kasai; Canada; United Kingdom;
USA; USSR; Katanga; Albert Kalonji; Moise Tshombe; MNC-K; CONAKAT;
President John F Kennedy; and many more
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SUMMARY of Xenophobia and Hatred Series – Episode 1 – Introduction
On this episode we introduce the Xenophobia and Hatred series. We provide
you with many heart-rending backgrounds/intros - including stories about
Greece, Rome, Carthage, and South Africa – and people like Cato, Julius
Ceaser, Napoleon Bonaparte, Alexander The Great, the Persians, etc. We
define xenophobia. We talk about Turkey, the Ottoman Empire, the
Crusaders, Salah ad-Din, Armenia, and even….wait for it…Kim Kardashian!
Starring: Cato The Elder; Cato The Younger; Rome; Carthage; Hitler; Nazis;
IFP; ANC; Nelson Mandela; Oliver Tambo; Greece; Sparta; and many more
SUMMARY of Episode 11 – Cold War Pawns – Enter Congo
This is our very first episode of the Cold War Pawns’ series that delves into an
African country. And that African country is The Democratic Republic of the
Congo. On this episode we begin discussing the history of The DRC.
Starring: The Berlin Congress; Scramble for Africa; Leopold the Second;
Congo Free State; Belgian Congo; and much much more
Image to be used: The Blue Flag of The Congo Free State and Map Showing
Were DRC is located, and surrounding countries.
SUMMARY of Special Episode ii: The CIA and KGB Comedy of Errors
This is our second Special Episode. Listen to the episode to find out what our
Special Episodes will entail.
This episode might make you lose sleep at night. You will find out that the
people that are supposed to protect the world from nuclear war are a cause
for concern.
This episode covers the follies and comedies of the USA and USSR
intelligence agencies – specifically the CIA and the KGB. We look at the many
times when nuclear war between the USA and USSR nearly occurred. The
world as we know it would not exist had that nuclear line been crossed. Plus
we cover many other flops, follies and comedies committed by the USA and
USSR intelligence services.
Starring: CIA; KGB; Spies; Pope John Paul the Second; Fidel Castro;
Nuclear scares; Incompetent intelligence agents; Drunken agents; The Mafia;
and many more
SUMMARY of Episode 10 – Cold War Pawns – Summary of Foreign
Intervention in Africa
This episode discusses, in a high level, African colonisation and the fight for
African independence. We tackle the Berlin Congress, which was used by
North American and European countries to split up Africa between
themselves. Once freedom came in Africa, problems started to arise.
Tribalism among African natives. Foreign interference by former colonial
powers. Genocide. Corruption. Civil War. Was the Cold War good for Africa?
Listen to this episode and find out.
Starring: Germany; Ghana; Mahatma Gandhi; The Berlin Congress;
Colonisation; African Independence; Tribalism; African Civil Wars; and much
much more
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SUMMARY of Episode 9 – Cold War Pawns – Iranian Oil, Cuba and the Mafia
This episode covers Iran and its oil and the Cold War. Britain and the USSR
invade Iran. Then Britain leaves Iran, but Stalin refuses to leave. The CIA
executes a coup in Iran. We also venture into the Americas, and talk about
the story of Cuba. The Cuban Revolution. Fidel Castro. Che Guevara. The
USSR sends nuclear weapons to Cuba. US President Kennedy responds by
illegally stopping USSR ships headed to Cuba.
Starring: Britain; The Russian Empire; Iran; Cuba; Mohammad Mosaddegh;
the Shah; John F Kennedy; Nikita Khrushchev; Fidel Castro; Che Guevara;
Bay of Pigs; Cuban Missile Crisis; Joseph Stalin; and many more
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SUMMARY of Episode 8 – Cold War Pawns – Berlin Conflict and The Korean
War
We look the conferences that took place between Roosevelt, Stalin and
Churchill. Germany is split into Western portion and USSR portion. Berlin is
split into East and West. The USSR blockades the West from Berlin. The
Communists take power in North Korea. In the Korean War, the USA supports
South Korea. China and the USSR support North Korea.
Starring: France; The Berlin Blockade; North Korea; South Korea; Mao
Zedong; Joseph Stalin; Kim Il-Sung; Kim Jong-un; West Germany; East
Germany; and many more
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SUMMARY of Episode 7 – Cold War Pawns – The Fight for China
Today’s episode goes to Asia. We look at the History of China, in as far as the
Cold War is concerned. China’s war against itself. The Chinese Civil War.
War between China and Japan. China’s relationship with the USSR. China’s
Relationship with the USA. The Communists take power in China.
Starring: China; Japan; Chinese Civil War; the Kuomintang; Mao Zedong;
Chiang Kai-Shek; Joseph Stalin; and many more
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SUMMARY of Special Episode i – The USA and Russia’s Pre-Cold War
Intervention in Africa
This is our very first Special Episode. On this Episode we take a break from
our Cold War Pawns series, to give you a little history of the USA and
Russia’s involvement in Africa before the Cold War.
Starring: Liberia; Morocco; Berbers; Barbary Wars; Thomas Jefferson; James
Madison; Anton Bakov; Gambia; Muhammed the Third; and much much more
SUMMARY of Episode 6 – Cold War Pawns – After Hitler
We continue to look at the growing conflict between the USA and the USSR.
We look the conferences that took place between Roosevelt, Stalin and
Churchill. Then, first Roosevelt dies and then Hitler follows. World War Two
ends. Both the USA and the USSR develop nuclear bombs. Harry Truman
becomes US president. The Communists take power in China.
Starring: Mao Zedong; Chiang Kai-Shek; Communist Party of China; the
Nuclear Bomb; Yalta Conference; League of Nations; United Nations; Tehran
Conference; and many others
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SUMMARY of Episode 5 – Cold War Pawns – The Second World War
Paranoia reigns between the Western Allies (the USA and Britain) and the
USSR. The countries allied against Adolf Hitler’s Germany meet to reach
agreements; but those agreements are not kept. There are problems with
Poland. Hitler finally dies. Who or what can now keep the USA and the USSR
together now?
Starring: Poland; Adolf Hitler; Germany; Second World War, Soviet Polish
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SUMMARY about Episode 4 – Cold War Pawns – The Birth of Fear
The USA and the USSR cross-paths. The relationship started from shaky
ground from the very beginning. They were very different countries, with
different outlooks. Maybe they would have never managed to get along. We
see Winston Churchill as one of the key instigators of anti-Communism and
anti-USSR sentiments.
Starring: Britain; Pearl Harbour; Japan; USSR Civil War; Vladimir Lenin; Red
Scare; Winston Churchill; Joseph Stalin; Franklin Roosevelt; and many others
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SUMMARY of Episode 3 – Cold War Pawns – Africa and the Cold War
In this episode of our Cold War Pawns series, we explain why we feel that a
lot of background on the Cold War is required. We state that is it possible for
the Cold War era intervention by the USA and the USSR to be viewed as
being similar to the colonial era. We talk about some Cold War events.
Starring: Vietnam, Greece, Turkey Joseph Stalin, NATO, Molotov Pact, US
President Harry Truman, US President Dwight Eisenhower, Leonid Brezhnev,
Molotov, and many others.
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SUMMARY of Episode 2 – Cold War Pawns – Introducing The Cold War
Pawns Series
This is the very first episode of the African Camp Fire Stories Podcast’s very
first topic, called Cold War Pawns. We introduce the Cold War Pawns’ series.
We explain the Cold War. We explain what we mean by the title of the series.
We provide a summary of the countries and the leaders we will cover in the
Cold War Pawn series, both in Africa and internationally.
Starring: the USSR; the USA; the Cold War; The Democratic Republic of the
Congo; Che Guevara; and many more.
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SUMMARY of Episode 1 – Cold War Pawns – Podcast Introduction.
We would like to welcome you to this podcast. The podcast will focus on
African history stories and African historical events.
This episode is the very first ever episode of the African Camp Fire Stories
Podcast. In this episode we introduce the Podcast; and how the podcast will
be structured.
Starring: African History; Africa.
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