DR. CHEIKH ANTA DIOP & THE AFRICAN ORIGIN OF EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION BY RUNOKO RASHIDI

DEDICATED TO DR. THEOPHILE OBENGA

At this point Egypt continues to dominate the focus ofour African oriented studies. These studies haveclearly demonstrated that not only were early Egypt'sorigins African, but that through the whole of Egypt'sDynastic Era (the age of the Pharaohs), and during allof her many periods of national splendor, men andwomen with black skin complexions, broad noses, fulllips, and tightly curled hair, were dominant in boththe general population and governing elite.photoIn the intense and unrelenting struggle to establishscientifically the African foundations of Egyptiancivilization, the late Senegalese scholar Dr. CheikhAnta Diop remains a most fierce and ardent champion.Dr. Diop (1923-1986) was without a doubt the world'sleading Egyptologist and held the position of Directorof the Radiocarbon Laboratory at the FundamentalInstitute of Black Africa in Dakar, Senegal. Instating the importance of the work, Diop notedemphatically and early on that, "The history of BlackAfrica will remain suspended in air and cannot bewritten correctly until African historians dare toconnect it with the history of Egypt."The solid range of methodologies employed by Dr. Diopin the course of his extensive Afro-Egyptian laborsincluded: examinations of the epidermis of the mummiesof Egyptian kings for verification of their melanincontent; precise osteological measurements andmeticulous studies in the various relevant areas ofanatomy and physical anthropology; carefulexaminations and comparisons of modern Upper Egyptianand West African blood-types; detailed Afro-Egyptianlinguistic studies and the corroboration of distinctAfro-Egyptian cultural traits; documents of racialdesignations employed by the early Africansthemselves; Biblical testimonies and references thataddress the ancient Egyptian's ethnicity, race andculture; and the writings of early Greek and Romantravelers and scholars describing the physicalcharacteristics of the ancient Egyptians.There is no doubt that Ancient Egypt was an African civilization.