Earlier this year, our Nova Pioneer students celebrated Black History Month by paying homage to their favourite and most memorable African icons. Black History Month is an annual observance marked every February aiming to celebrate African Icons in history and throughout the world.
Importance of celebrating African Icons
African history is a massive and intricate subject, world-shaking events have shaped the continent’s history, from the early men and women who left their footsteps in volcanic ash to the liberation of Nelson Mandela, and a whole lot of wars, conquests, civilisations and revolutions in between. As a school developing the future leaders and innovators who will shape the African Century, we feel it is important that students know their history.
We connected with some of our young Novaneers to learn more about their African icons and what they admire the most about them. It’s so inspiring seeing how informed these young Novaneers are! Look at what they had to say about their heroes.
Who Was Ida B. Wells?
Ida B. Wells was an African American journalist and activist who led an anti-lynching crusade in the United States in the 1890s. She was better known as Ida B. Wells, was an African American journalist, abolitionist and feminist who led an anti-lynching crusade in the United States in the 1890s. She went on to found and become integral in groups striving for African American justice.
Who Was Yaa Asantewaa
Yaa Asantewaa was an influential Ashanti queen at the beginning of the twentieth century who remains a powerful symbol today. She was a skilled farmer before ascending to the title Queen Mother in the 1880s. In 1896, the Ashanti people began to rebel against the British presence and the British attempt to construct the “Gold Coast” colony. To retaliate, the British captured and exiled Asantehene Prempeh I, King of the Ashanti, and Asantewaa’s grandson Kofi Tene, who was also a powerful leader. The British removed the king and other Ashanti leaders to the Seychelles Islands in an effort to acquire the Golden Stool.
While remaining leaders within the community debated on how to best respond to the British threat, Asantewaa held her ground and rallied the troops. Her leadership and passion led to her role as Commander in Chief of the Ashanti army. In turn, the Anglo-Ashanti wars’ fifth and final war against the British became known as the Yaa Asantewaa War of Independence (or the War of the Golden Stool), which began on March 28, 1900.
Who is Dr Atar?
Originally from Torit, a town in southern South Sudan, Dr Atar completed his medical training in Egypt. In 1997, as war ravaged Sudan’s Blue Nile State, Dr. Atar volunteered to help those in desperate need of medical assistance. He established his first hospital from scratch and working at the heart of a large-scale conflict, often under direct aerial bombing.
Dr Atar and his team deliver vital care in extremely challenging conditions: the hospital has no general anaesthesia, x-ray machines, operational theatre lighting, or blood bank. Yet their resourcefulness and dedication means they carry out almost 60 operations per week.
His commitment to treating all people in medical need regardless of their background has earned him the respect of both refugee and local communities. His work shows the difference that one person can make, even when facing incredible odds.
