In this clip from 1968, poet and civil rights activist Dr. Maya Angelou shares valuable insights during one of her episodes of the series “Blacks, Blues, and Black.” She discusses how African culture and art have significantly influenced European arts since the early 1900s, highlighting the importance of Africa’s rich cultural history.
Dr. Angelou uses the ancient city of Timbuktu as an example, it was an intellectual and spiritual capital and a center for the spread of Islam throughout Africa in the 15th and 16th centuries. She notes that scholars from around the world traveled to Timbuktu to study at its renowned university, a hub for those seeking knowledge. Several hundred thousand priceless manuscripts still exist from this period.
Additionally, she points out that famous artists like Picasso found inspiration in ancient sculptures from Benin and Nigeria. Undeniably, Africa is the blueprint. Do you agree?
video credits 1968 called Blacks, Blues, Black series