Now I have noticed thata lot of african-descended people(born outisde of Africa) have been taking an afrocentric role, influenced by their pan-african predecessors, especially Jamaicans, I have to say. My interest to find out about Africa prior to slave trade era has been influenced by many Afro-Jamaicans who have shown me the pictures and information on what I need to know; being a family friend, my friend's boyfriend's friend and a man I was talking to.Is it something about someJamaican people that make them so determined to reconcile themselves with Africa? To be honest it has kind of shocked me and exhilarated me at the same time. One would expect AFRICANS to teach people aboutTHEIROWNhistory but when I confront them with what I know they don't have a clue. I was surprised to find that one Nigerian boy didn't know that there were black people living in Brazil. And yet descendants of african 'slaves'inBrazil and elsewhereknow much about Africa in the past and in the present. I even bet this website was set up by black person not born directly in Africa.

Do they even have books like 'black women in antiquity', or 'african presence in early Asia' in parts of Africa?

I am not gonna talk about ALL Africans but I sense a denial of culture when I come across many Nigerians. Many are so engrossed in following the contradicting values of Christianity. They seem to know little of what happened before slavery, the rich civilizations that flourished, kingdoms,etc. Why do wehave to be tellin them about their history?

And then I wonder why do so many afro-americans, afro-caribbeans and other african-diasporan groupseven botherto unify with these Africans, when they don't even want to know? Some spend their time dissing mainly Jamaicans, while we celebrate that we came from the same place?

It's a shame because I am SURE our ancestors didn't act the waymany are doing now.

I know this is a long post but i was itching to let it out.

Not only is Religion playing a huge part in the ignorance of OUR people because of the passivity it produces but also those who are educated in Africa are subjected to a colonial education system. You would be shocked at the amount of european teachers that reside in Africa and teach european nonsense.They aren't taught about even slavery because I know some continental Africans who didn't even know it existed till they got here.

That said I do not agree with the way you have said "why should we teach them their history". It is why should we teach them our story and the simple answer is that they have been miseducated just like you. It is quite disturbing when a person who alligns themselves with our history starts speaking about them and us when if they knew their history and truly believed it they would know that they are us.

No disrespect intended, just my observation.

Black Beauty

this thread doesn't make too much sense..... for a bunch o freasons.....

there are millions of jamacians.....brazilians, and nigerians.... you dealt with a FEW INDIVIDUALS from these places.... and it formed opinions about entire nationalities of people based on that?

there are people of all levels of understanding/consciousness through the continent and the diaspora....

I think some people on the continent can take certain things for granted.......an unbroken link to their original true heritage/culture ..for example...that some in the diaspora will spend lifetimes trying to learn about or re-connect to...

don't allow the ignorant comments by a handful of individuals to sway your opionion of an entire country full of black people......also.....don't presume that people SHOULD know certain things...... it will only disappoint you .....

you can only control what you know

When it comes toteaching Africans about diasporan history, the ball is more in your corner to educate continentals on something that they didn't really experience. Just as many diasporans are ethnocentric and care nothing for what goes on, on the continent, there are Africans who think that diasporan history has nothing to do with them.If you take things inthis context, you're not really teachingAfricans their history, you're telling them your story.

White people have all the time in the world to tell people their story, so why do you have such a problem with educating an ignorant African on diasporan history? I doubt that you've ever had to tell a Nigerian about history that's specific to Nigeria; what you are reallycomplaining about is how Africans lack knowledge of disaporans. If this is the case, then who better to educate these ignoramous people than you? When I meet Jamaicans and other disaporans who ask me about Ghana, I don't mind telling them what I know.You can't expect people to know everything.

Blackbeauty365 wrote: And then I wonder why do so many afro-americans, afro-caribbeans and other african-diasporan groupseven botherto unify with these Africans, when they don't even want to know? Some spend their time dissing mainly Jamaicans, while we celebrate that we came from the same place?

You are right blackbeauty365, this link below showsa typical Nigerian dissing and stereotyping Jamaicans. Enjoy reading:

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/colum...Y_NIGERIA_.asp

Black_power wrote: cos some are lazy simple...

Africans are lazy in the United Kingdom? Can you clarify?

Like many AA think that theere is nother worth learning outside of american soil some african think they only need to know about there little corner of africa.

So do West Indians based on silly comments like "we Jamaicans are 90% mixed with East Indians, Orientals, Spanish and Native Indians" etc. Dont look further than blackchat.

you tend to find these people are racist and the last thing on there mind is unity...they would rather use there feel to hold a fellow blackman down while simultaniously licking the whitemans booty crack.

Africans are racist and lick whiteman's ass? So do your fellow west indians like Frank Bruno, Chris Eubank, Diane Abbottto mention but a few. I look forward to seeing your clarity with regards to how lazy Continental Africans are.

@BlackBeauty,The question is can any black people anywheresurvive with such divisions you advocate?

BlackBeauty365/24/7 wrote: