brief notes on some of the historical figures mentioned in Kofi Anyidoho's poem "Ancestral

Roll-Call" and their contributions to African peoples either on the African mainland or in the
Diaspora:
1. John Henrik Clarke:
 Origins: American historian, professor, and pioneer in the field of Africana
studies.
 Achievements: Clarke was known for his extensive research and scholarship
on African and African-American history. He emphasized the importance of
reclaiming African history and promoting Pan-Africanism.
2. Pedro Alonzo Nino:
 Origins: Afro-Spanish navigator.
 Achievements: Sailed with Christopher Columbus in 1492 and played a role in
early European exploration, though his specific contributions are often
overshadowed by Columbus's legacy.
3. Estavanico:
 Origins: Moroccan explorer.
 Achievements: Guided Navaez to Florida and Mississippi in 1527 and led
Friar Marcos on a search for the Seven Cities of Cibola in 1538.
4. Saraounia:
 Origins: Queen of the Azna people in the Niger Republic.
 Achievements: Fought against French colonial forces during the early 20th
century.
5. Queen Amina:
 Origins: Queen of the Hausa city-state of Zazzau (now in Nigeria).
 Achievements: Known for her military prowess and leadership, defending her
kingdom against external threats.
6. Queen Ann Nzinga:
 Origins: Queen of the Ndongo and Matamba Kingdoms (present-day Angola).
 Achievements: Led her people in resisting Portuguese colonial forces during
the 17th century.
7. Nana Yaa Asantewaa:
 Origins: Ashanti queen in present-day Ghana.
 Achievements: Led the Ashanti-British "War of the Golden Stool" in 1900,
resisting British colonial rule.
8. Nat Turner:
  Origins: African American slave in the United States.
 Achievements: Led a slave rebellion in Virginia in 1831, challenging the
institution of slavery.
9. Sojourner Truth:
 Origins: African American abolitionist and women's rights activist.
 Achievements: Advocate for the abolition of slavery and women's rights in the
United States.
10. Harriet Tubman:
 Origins: African American abolitionist and Underground Railroad conductor.
 Achievements: Guided enslaved individuals to freedom through the
Underground Railroad during the 19th century.
11. Paul Cuffy, Damon, and Kwamena:
 Origins: Leaders of slave revolts in Guyana.
 Achievements: Fought against enslavement and exploitation during the
colonial era.
12. King Zumbi:
 Origins: Leader of the Quilombo dos Palmares in Brazil.
 Achievements: Fought against Portuguese colonial forces and established a
maroon community.
13. King Miguel and King Bayano:
 Origins: Leaders of maroon communities in Venezuela and Colombia.
 Achievements: Fought against Spanish colonial forces and established
independent communities.
14. King Benkos Bioho:
 Origins: Leader of a maroon community in Colombia.
 Achievements: Fought against Spanish colonial forces and established a free
community.
15. Nanny of the Jamaican Hills:
 Origins: Leader of the Windward Maroons in Jamaica.
 Achievements: Fought against British colonial forces and established a
maroon community.
16. Macandal, Toussant L'Ouverture, and Jean Jacques Dessalines:
 Origins: Leaders of the Haitian Revolution.
  Achievements: Led the successful slave rebellion against French colonial
forces, resulting in the establishment of the independent nation of Haiti in
1804.
17. Chief Albert Sam:
 Origins: Gold Coast (now Ghana).
 Achievements: Brought a shipload of Africans back to Africa, challenging the
prevailing narratives of the time.
18. Marcus Mosiah Garvey:
 Origins: Jamaican political leader and Pan-Africanist.
 Achievements: Founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association
(UNIA) and advocated for the repatriation of African descendants to Africa.
19. Ras Tafarai Haile Selassie:
 Origins: Ethiopian Emperor.
 Achievements: Led Ethiopia to resist Italian invasion during the Second Italo-
Ethiopian War and became a symbol of African resistance.
20. George Padmore:
 Origins: Trinidadian-born Marxist and Pan-Africanist.
 Achievements: Contributed to the Pan-African movement and played a
significant role in the decolonization of Africa.
21. W.E.B. DuBois:
 Origins: American sociologist, historian, and civil rights activist.
 Achievements: Co-founder of the NAACP, influential scholar, and advocate
for civil rights and Pan-Africanism.
22. Dr. Kwame Nkrumah:
 Origins: First President of Ghana.
 Achievements: Led Ghana to independence in 1957 and played a prominent
role in the Pan-African movement.
These figures mentioned in the poem represent a diverse array of leaders, activists, and
historical personalities who played crucial roles in the struggles for liberation, resistance
against oppression, and the promotion of African identity and dignity.