Months in the African Cultural Calendar
The African Cultural Calendar (Africalendar) combines both our history and the purpose of a calendar to tell our people’s story in time. A year in the Africalendar is a journey through our history from the Nile Valley to the diaspora. The months in the Africalendar represent our history from the beginning to the current time. The first month is called Kemet. Kemet is from our beginning; it is one of the first great societies our ancestors built. The year in the Africalendar ends with a renewal period called Kwanzaa. With the African Cultural Calendar, we journey through our history and cultures as time flows from Kemet to Kwanzaa.
Afrimonth: Kemet (Jan. 2 to Jan. 31)
The africalendar starts from almost at the beginning of the people’s history. The first month in the afriyear is Kemet. The word Kemet means black. It is the name that Africans in ancient Egypt called themselves and their country. Egypt has been called “the light of the world” and Kemet is the light that starts the year. The history of Kemet is the history of civilization and it is an achievement of the people. Our history cannot properly be written without starting with Kemet. Our people from the Ashantis to the Zulus place their origin in the Nile valley, where Kemet flourished. Kemet reflects the beginning and that is the reason that the africalendar begins each year with the month Kemet.
Afrimonth: Nubia (Feb. 1 to Feb. 28/28)
Nubia is the second month in the African cultural calendar. It is similar to February, in that it has 28 days or 29 days in a leap year. Nubia is one of the great civilizations that form the foundation of the people. It was located south of Kemet but it preceded and may have even given birth to Egypt. Nubia and Egypt shared many similarities. Egypt adopted symbols of royalty similar to those of Nubia.
Afrimonth: Meroe (Mar. 1 to Mar. 30)
Meroe rose to prominence after Nubia. It was a capital city of the well known empire of Cush. It was located along the Nile valley, close to modern day Sudan. It shared similarities with Nubia and Egypt including writing styles.
Afrimonth: Axum (Mar. 31 to Apr. 29)
The afrimonth Axum got its name from the society that existed on the east coast of Africa. Axum is an old civilization that predates biblical times. This highly developed society existed for thousand of years and became known to the outside world as a Christian society. This was the home of Queen Sheba mentioned in the bible. Axum is still alive today. The Ethiopia we know today is a part of Axum, Queen of Sheba’s empire.
Afrimonth: Ghana (Apr. 30 to May 29)
The afrimonth Ghana recalls the empire of the same name from the west coast of the continent. The empire of Ghana existed for over 1200 years. It extended from the Atlantic Ocean to the west bank of the Niger River and south from the Sahara.
Afrimonth: Mali (May 30 to Jun. 28)
After Ghana comes Mali in the africalendar, in the same way that Mali rose after Ghana had shown the way. Mali is the second of the great empires in West Africa. Its boundaries stretched from the Atlantic Ocean to Gao on the east side of the Niger River and south from the Sahara to the tropical forest. This was the country of Mansa Musa. Mali was known internationally and maintained commercial and diplomatic ties with foreigners.
Afrimonth: Songhai (Jun. 29 to Jul. 28)
The afrimonth Songhai and all of the months before it are from the "before the diaspora" (btd) period. They are apart of the foundation of Africans everywhere. Songhai was the last of our great empires on the continent before the year of the push and pull. Songhai rose after Mali and extended further east to include parts of Chad and northward into the Sahara. The renowned centre of learning, Timbuktu was one of Songhai's well known cities.
Afrimonth: Nzinga (Jul. 29 to Aug. 27)
Afrimonth Nzinga recalled one of Africa’s greatest daughters, Queen Nzinga, the unconquerable. Nzinga was queen of Ndongo and Matamba in modern day Angola. She waged a long fight against the slave trade and the invading colonizers and their religion. Her fight for freedom and independence exemplifies the struggle of the people since the year of the push and pull.