Background
Blyden was born on 3 August 1832 in St. Thomas, Danish West Indies (now known as the US Virgin Islands), to Free Black parents who claimed descent from the Igbo of the area of present-day Nigeria
(This historic book may have numerous typos and missing te...)
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1873 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VI. On Monday, July 2nd, at four o'clock a.m., we. . arrived at Gibraltar. On account of quarantine, nobody was suffered to go ashore. The town of . Gibraltar, situated at the base of an abrupt pro- . .. montory at one end of an immense horse-shoe bend, presents a very beautiful appearance. This promontory rises boldly from the sea, and directly . opposite, on the African side, is another frowning and rugged precipice, both suggesting the idea that they had been by some violent convulsion torn asunder. It is easy to conceive that the two countries were once joined, and if they were not separated by the might of Hercules, some equally . potent cause doubtless contributed to the severance. .The lofty ranges of mountains on both sides of the strait--which appeared much narrower than I had supposed it would--and the innumerable shipsentering and leaving the Mediterranean, presented a sight to be seen, perhaps, nowhere else in the world. My eye rested upon two continents at the same time-- the far-famed Pillars of Hercules. The rugged and bold sea-coast on the African side seemed to me grand and solemn. About ten o'clock a.m., we steamed away from Gibraltar. For several hours we kept near the coast of Spain on the left, and saw the high mountains of Granada, with their snow-covered tops glistening in the sunlight. We had scarcely lost sight of the Spanish territories when the elevated coast of Africa again appeared in sight, of the same height apparently as those on the opposite side. For several days we kept in sight of these mountain ranges, resembling gigantic stone fences erected for the purpose of effectually separating the habitation of Ham from that of Japheth. "God hath made of one blood all nations of...
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(This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curat...)
This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts - the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally important and have elected to bring the book back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. This text refers to the Bibliobazaar edition.
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(African Life and Customs is an essential collection of Ed...)
African Life and Customs is an essential collection of Edward Wilmot Blyden's articles that examines the socioeconomic structure of African society. A native of St. Thomas, West Indies, Blyden (1832-1912) lived most of his life on the African continent. He was an accomplished educator, linguist, writer, and world traveler, who strongly defended the unique character of Africa and its people. In African Life and Customs, Blyden examined the culture of "pure" Africans-- those untouched by European and Asiatic influences. He identified the family as the basic unit in African society and polygamy as the foundation of African families. He described African social systems as cooperative; everyone worked for each other. No one went without work, food, or clothing. Blyden challenged white racial theorists who held Africans were inferior and whose arguments supported their preconceived ideas. He assumed Africans to be "distinct" rather than inferior, and he analyzed African culture within the context of African social experiences. Although some regarded Blyden's views as controversial during his time, today, upon reevaluation, his work is seen by many as an important attempt to perform a holistic analysis of African society. African Life and Customs is an impressive African-centered interpretation of African culture.
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(The other portion of the civilized world, who think and s...)
The other portion of the civilized world, who think and speak of A frica, are divided in their views and feelings with regard to that land and in the motives which actuate them, to be at all interested. Some regard it as a place with which a lucrative trade ma) be driven ;where the articles of commerce, palm oil, camwood, ivory, and ether rare productions, may he obtained. These speak of Africa only in connection with these things. Ad their interests in tlie land are of ;i commercial nature. Others, with souls more sordid an I heartmore avaricious, who are never once troubled by any sentiment of humanity, are interested in Africa only as a scene for plunder and carnage. From these, Africa has had the most frequent and the most constant visits, during the last three centuries. They have spread all along the coast of that peninsula formerly the abode of peace and plenty, of industry and love arrows, firebrands, and deuth. n their pursuit of blood, (-not beast s, but human gore, )they have scattered desolation, and misery, and degradation into all parts of the land whither they have had access; so that not unfrequently has it occurred that some unfortunate and lonely sufferer, standing amid a scene of desolation, having escaped the cruel chase of the slaver, whose ruthless hands have borne away his relatives and acquaintances, has earnestly cursed civilization, and has solemnly prayed, as he has stood surveying the melancholy relics of his home, that an insurmountable and impenetrable barrier (some wall of mountain height) might be erected between his country and all civilized nations. Only a few, very few. have regarded Africa as a land inhabited by human beings, children of the same common Father, travellers to the same judgmentrseat of Christ, and heirs of the sanie awful immortality. These few have endeavored to hold up that land as the object of the sympa (Typographical errors above are due to OCR software and don't occur in the book.)
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(Trustees of Donations in Boston in electing me to the Pre...)
Trustees of Donations in Boston in electing me to the Presidency of Liberia College, gives me the opportunity of appearing before you and this large and respected audience, on this important occasion, to discuss what I conceive to be the work which lies before this institution, and to indicate the manner in which it shall be my endeavor to discharge the responsible duties which the situation imposes. A college in West A frica, for the education of African youth by African instructors, under a Christian government conducted by Negroes, is something so unique in the history of Christian civilization, that wherever, in the civilized world, the intelligence of the existence of such an institution is carried, there will be curiosity if not anxiety as to its character, its work, and its prospects. A college suited in all respects to the exigencies of this nation and to the needs of the race cannot come into existence all at once. It must be the result of years of experience, of trial, of experiment. Every thinking man will allow that all we have been doing in this country so far, whether in church, in state, or in school, (our forms of religion, our politics, our literature such as it is) is only temporary and transitional. When we advance into Africa truly, and become one with the great tribes on the continent, these things will take the form which the genius of the race shall prescribe. (Typographical errors above are due to OCR software and don't occur in the book.) About the Publisher Forgotten Books is a publisher of historical writings, such as: Philosophy, Classics, Science, Religion, History, Folklore and Mythology. Forgotten Books' Classic Reprint Series utilizes the latest technology to regenerate facsimiles of historically important writings. Careful attention has been made to accurately preserve the original format of each page whilst digitally enhancing the aged text.
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(This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curat...)
This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts - the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally important and have elected to bring the book back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. This text refers to the Bibliobazaar edition.
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Diplomat educator politician writer
Blyden was born on 3 August 1832 in St. Thomas, Danish West Indies (now known as the US Virgin Islands), to Free Black parents who claimed descent from the Igbo of the area of present-day Nigeria
Once in Liberia, Blyden entered school and prepared himself for a leadership role. His education was enhanced by travels to Europe, the Middle East, and throughout Africa.
He went to the United States in May 1850 and sought to enter a theological college but was turned down because of his race.
Edward Wilmot Blyden continued his formal education at Alexander High School, Monrovia, whose principal he was appointed in 1858.
Blyden went to Liberia in 1851. He liked the country and immediately developed an active professional and religious life. He became a protégé of the Rev. D.A. Wilson, the school principal, and became exposed to a wealth of newly found knowledge and information about classic Western works and African history and culture. Blyden graduated in 1853 and became a non-ordained minister. His educational progress was great and he worked at the school part-time tutoring and helping with administration. By 1855, Blyden was editor of the newspaper Liberia Journal. He believed that newspapers were one of the most important vehicles for spreading the African plea for development. When Rev. Wilson left his position in 1858, Blyden was appointed to replace him and was ordained as a Presbyterian minister that same year.
Although Blyden had only a high school education, he devoted his spare time to learning and in a relatively short period of time became a self-taught scholar who studied African history, religion, and culture, eventually developing signifi-cant expertise in these areas. Biographer Hollis R. Lynch noted that Blyden spoke all romance languages fluently, as well as Hebrew and Arabic. He had a solid grasp of mathematic and the sciences as well as the classics (Lynch 1971).
Blyden's erudition led him to take a leadership role in the organization of Liberia College. The institution was the first English-speaking non-religious university in Africa. Blyden started a long association with the college and taught classics there between 1862 and 1871. He was appointed to the presidency of the college in 1880. Because of his expertise in the area of higher education, Blyden also helped to establish the Lagos Training College in Nigeria.
Blyden also served Liberia in many' other positions. He became Liberia's secretary of state in 1864 and served in the position for two years. He acted as a mediator of the conflicts between Liberia and Sierra Leone, believing that the two countries needed to work together for the benefit of the black race. Between 1880 and 1882 he was the minister of the interior. Blyden also became one of Liberia's first diplomats. He represented Liberia in missions to the United States, France, Great Britain, and Nigeria. He was appointed ambassador to Great Britain on three separate occasions, and in 1885 ran unsuccessfully for the presidency of Liberia.
After losing the presidential bid, Blyden became unwelcome in Liberia. He had developed antagonism with some of Liberian leaders who by virtue of having a lighter skin tone could not relate to the combativeness of Blyden's ideas and his
interest in seceding from Western societies and cultures. Blyden moved to Sierra Leone in 1885, where his expertise in Islam allowed him to become a director of Muslim education. He gained the respect and admiration of the people of Sierra Leone who treated him as an erudite scholar and as an elder statesman. Although he returned to Liberia in 1900 and took over the directorship of Alexander High School, he had to leave again when his teachings favoring polygamy created problems. Blyden returned to Sierra Leone, where he died on February 12,1912.
(Trustees of Donations in Boston in electing me to the Pre...)
(The other portion of the civilized world, who think and s...)
(African Life and Customs is an essential collection of Ed...)
(Blyden offers an early African-centered perspective on ra...)
(This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curat...)
(This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curat...)
(This historic book may have numerous typos and missing te...)
His major work, Christianity, Islam and the Negro Race (1887), promoted the idea that practicing Islam was more unifying and fulfilling for Africans than Christianity. He argues that the latter was introduced chiefly by European colonizers. He believed it had a demoralizing effect, although he continued to be a Christian. He thought Islam was more authentically African, as it had been brought to sub-Saharan areas by people from North Africa.
Blyden's political goals were the establishment of a major modern West African state which would protect and promote the interests of peoples of African descent everywhere.
Blyden traveled frequently to North America and Europe to raise money for Liberia and to speak about his religious and political philosophies. During many of these visits, Blyden called on American blacks to look to Africa in search of their roots. He condemned slavery and believed that if American slaves and blacks were to develop and gain independence, they needed to learn their history and create institutions similar to those institutions that existed during the early days of African civilization. He believed that racial equality' needed to be preceded by social, political, and economic equality'.
Blyden thought that it was going to be easier for blacks to develop these institutions in Africa. He also thought that if blacks throughout the world were to reach equality, they needed to have their own businesses and representation in government. His provocative arguments provided the philosophical underpinnings for people like Marcus Garvey, who in the beginning of 20th century asked blacks to become self-reliant and to resettle in Africa. These beliefs came to be the essential assumptions of the movement known as Pan-Africanism.
Blyden's educational and philosophical work gave him a great deal of credibility and respectability in Liberia and in other African countries. He was appointed Liberian educational commissioner in 1861, a position that he held simultaneously with his teaching and administrative responsibilities at Liberia College.
Blyden was married to Sarah Yates, an Americo-Liberian from the prominent Yates family. Blyden and Sarah had three children together.