The African ExperiencexStories

What does a Christmas ballet about dancing sweets have to do with the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte? And what does either of them have to do with the forgotten story of the son of an enslaved African woman who became the highest ranking general of African descent in European history?

Find out in this episode!

sources:

https://archive.org/details/cu31924088381086

https://blackpast.org/global-african-history/alexandre-dumas-1824-1895/

https://www.google.com/search?q=books+and+plays+written+by+alexandre+dumas&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari#wgvs=e

file:///var/mobile/Library/SMS/Attachments/77/07/173370C0-682C-4459-BBE5-EF4A5204FCF6/the-black-count-glory-revolution-betrayal-and-the-real-count-of-monte-cristo.pdf

New episodes and conversations to expect.

In this episode of Reflections Beyond Borders and Human Perspectives, I explore the illusion of passivity and how it shapes the way we live, both online and offline. Too often, people assume a powerless role in their own lives, blaming external forces like social media or circumstances while neglecting the immense power they hold to create change.

I dive into the concept of Iradah—our human will to act on intentions—and how it connects to everything from our spiritual lives to our daily choices. Social media becomes a key example: your For You Page isn’t just random; it’s a reflection of your interactions, energy, and engagement. The content you consume and share doesn’t just appear—it’s amplified by your own habits.

This episode challenges you to rethink the way you interact with the world, reminding you that intentionality and accountability are essential tools for shaping your reality.

Here’s what I cover:

• The power of Iradah and how it influences your internal and external world.

• How social media reflects your habits and the energy you put into it.

• Why your external reality mirrors your internal state—and how to shift it.

• Practical ways to live intentionally and reclaim your agency in life.

Clarification for listeners : In this episode, I use the terms “king,” “ruler,” and “emperor” interchangeably, but this isn’t entirely accurate when discussing the empire of Mali. The correct term is “emperor” or “Mansa”, because it reflects the scale and complexity of the empire’s governance and influence at the time. I apologize if this caused any confusion—it’s important to understand the distinction to fully grasp the historical context.

Regarding the deceased Moroccan ruler mentioned, he was a sultan, which is the specific term used for rulers in Islamic polities like Morocco during Ibn Battuta’s time. While the term “sultan” can loosely translate to “king” in English, he was not considered an emperor.

In this episode, I explore the writings of Ibn Battuta, focusing on his accounts of medieval Africa. Through detailed research and analysis, I examine what his observations reveal about the societies he encountered and the biases in his perspective. I also share my own interpretations and how his descriptions shaped historical narratives about the continent. This is part one of a deeper look into medieval African histor

Relevant links : 

https://resources.saylor.org/wwwresources/archived/site/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Ibn-Battuta-Travels-in-Asia-and-Africa-1325-1354.pdf

Manden Charter (Kurukan Fuga), an oral declaration of rights and law developed in the thirteenth century.1 “Manden” refers to the region between modern Guinea and Mali, in the northern Niger River basin, and was then part of the Mandingo Empire which was constituted by various Malinke clans and peoples.

Article 16: Women, apart from their everyday occupations, should be associated with all our managements.

https://human.libretexts.org/Courses/The_Westminster_Schools/The_Manden_Charter