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About The Battle Of Karagbe: The Forbidden History

The Battle of Karagbe: The Forbidden History by Terhemba T. Ngorngor is a sweeping historical epic that resurrects Africa’s buried memory and reclaims its voice from centuries of distortion. Drawing from the oral traditions of the Tiv people and the legacy of griots like Ortamen Ayem Fela, the book unveils a powerful narrative of resistance, spirituality, and identity that redefines how African history must be told.

At its heart lies the legendary Battle of Karagbe, where Tiv warriors confronted invading Europeans—not as helpless victims, but as organized, spiritual, and ingenious defenders of their land. Through the stories of ancestral heroes like Ancanacupa, whose artistry and sacrifice inspired revolutionary tactics, and the Or Hemen Ityav, who unified decentralized armies into an unstoppable force, the book challenges the colonial myth of European superiority. It asserts that Africans not only resisted conquest but had already discovered, engaged, and at times defeated the so-called “Red People” (Iôr Nyian).

Structured across twenty-one chapters, the book blends myth, memory, and historical analysis. It explores the origins of the Tiv and their migration, the alliances of the Middle Belt, the fall of Ibenda, the deceptive narratives of slavery, the manipulation of African spirituality, and the infiltration of colonial systems that undermined post-independence governments. Later chapters confront modern slavery, mineral resource exploitation, and the ongoing battles for sovereignty, linking past struggles to present crises of displacement, illegal mining, and terrorism. The story culminates in a call for awakening—a Black Uprising of memory and identity that honors ancestors while empowering the next generation.

Throughout, Ngorngor frames Africa’s story not as one of loss but of resilience, brilliance, and continuity. The Tiv democratic system, spiritual traditions, music, and art are celebrated as both shields against oppression and beacons for the future. The narrative also situates Africa’s struggles within a global Black context, connecting the Karagbe resistance to the wider fight for justice, from the Middle Belt of Nigeria to the diaspora’s cultural and political movements.

More than a chronicle, The Battle of Karagbe: The Forbidden History is a manifesto of remembrance and resistance. It dares readers to unlearn colonial lies, to embrace Africa’s sacred heritage, and to recognize that the true battle is not only against external oppressors but against forgetting. This is history retold in Africa’s own rhythm—bold, spiritual, and deeply human.

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