The book "Africa: Mother of Western Civilization" by Dr. Yosef Alfredo Antonio Ben-Jochannan, also known as Dr. Ben, is dedicated to the African Nationalist “Street-Corner Speakers” who kept the flame of Africa’s history and culture ever present in the mind of African peoples in the “Western” hemisphere. Published in 1997, this work challenges conventional historical narratives and posits Africa as the origin of Western civilization.
The uniqueness of this book lies in its structure, balancing academic presentation with socio-political and histo-anthropological reading, benefiting both students and the general public. The lecture-essays are arranged to allow everyone to relay historical findings of antiquity to present-day happenings. The author cites many authorities on Africa and their works, pointing out the racism and religious bigotry they have applied to the detriment of the African peoples all over the world.
Key Arguments and Themes
In lecture/essay format, Dr. Ben identifies and corrects myths about the inferiority and primitiveness of the indigenous African peoples and their descendants.
Every effort has been taken to assure everyone of the authenticity of the information. The author has continually tried to secure the original document or book, rather than use a revised version or a facsimile of the same.
The African origins of world civilization being referred to in this work predates the Hebrews “Adam and Eve” and their “Garden of Eden” spoken of in the first book of Moses (Exodus). It shows the difference between myth and historical fact and heavily documents “Western” (European and European -American) civilization’s earliest philosophical experiences from its origin in Alkebu-lan (Africa). In so doing the entire basis for “Western philosophical thought”, called erroneously “Greek Philosophy,” has been demonstrated to be African and Asian heritage adopted by the Europeans. The same being true for so-called “Judeo-Christian Religion” and “Islamic Culture and Religion” out of the philosophical teachings of the indigenous Africans of the African Greek Lakes region and the Nile Valleys mysteries system.
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Even the origin of the so-called “Christian Cross” and the Hebrew Mogen David” Star of David are shown to have existed in central-east Africa thousands of years before the birth of Jesus Christ and King David of Palestine and/or Israel.
Structure and Content
The lecture-essays are carefully arranged before and after certain chapters. Each chapter has its own documentary notes at the rear of the book; whereas, all lecture-essay notes are placed at the bottom of the page in which the references occur.
There are detailed maps of Africa during different time periods that are fascinating and terrifically detailed. There are endnotes as well a Chapter notes to add to the information of each of the chapters. The bibliography is replete with sophisticated notes and references that really add to the body of knowledge.
Here's a table summarizing some of the key arguments presented in the book:
| Claim | Description |
|---|---|
| African Origin of Western Philosophy | "Greek Philosophy" is rooted in African and Asian heritage. |
| Religious Origins | "Judeo-Christian Religion" and "Islamic Culture and Religion" stem from the philosophical teachings of indigenous Africans. |
| Symbolic Origins | Symbols like the "Christian Cross" and "Star of David" existed in Africa long before their association with Western religions. |
Dr. Ben Jochannan and the African Origin Of Western Civilization
About the Author
Also known as Dr. Ben, Yosef Alfredo Antonio Ben-Jochannan claimed to have been born on December 21, 1918 to a Beta Israel lawyer named Kriston Ben-Jochannan and a Puerto Rican Jewish midwife mother of Yemenite ancestry named Julia Matta-Cruz in Gondor, Ethiopia.
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Dr. Ben-Jochannon taught at City College in New York City and from 1973 to 1987, he was an adjunct professor at Cornell University. He wrote and published 49 books and papers, mainly about how in his mind the Ancient Egyptians and Israelites were black Africans. Two of his better-known works: “Black Man of the Nile” and “Africa Mother of Major Western Religions."
He was eulogized by controversial black supremacist religious leader Louis Farrakhan, "as the last of a great list of scholars of ancient black civilizations and black history.
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