Kushitic Tetracycline — By Ogu Eji Ofo Anu

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Black African Pharmacopoeia — Kushitic Tetracycline

By Ogu-Eji-Ofo Anu

For more than two decades, a group of researchers led by George Armelagos an anthropologist from Emroy University Atlanta Georgia have studied bones dated to between A.D. 350 and 550 from Kush (Nubia), another ancient African kingdom south of ancient Egypt along the Nile River.

The researchers are puzzled by the bones of these ancient Kushites because they contain traces of the antibiotic tetracycline. These traces of tetracycline have been found in more than 90 percent of the bones the team examined, including those of 24-month-old infants. The researchers also believe that the tetracycline protected the Kushites from bone infections, as all the bones examined are infection free

Until now antibiotic has been generally assumed to be one of these ultra modern inventions that brought the 20th century man into advanced civilization. Antibiotic use was supposedly invented during the years of the first world war. It was hailed as a revolutionary life saver particularly those involving battle injuries.

Prior to its intoduction, gangere, a life threatening infection of open wounds was one of the biggest killers of soilders wounded in battle field. Today tetracycline is used to treat ailments and infections of different kinds ranging from acne flare-ups to urinary-tract infections. The million dollar question is thus this: since antibiotic only came into commercial use half a century ago how did tetracycline get into the Kushitic bones?

The Egyptians to the north of Kush had amazing knowledge of the human body because of their pervasive practice of mummification of cadavar which required the removal of internal bodily organs. They were renowned for their strong and effective medicines which supposedly could cure any affliction known to man kind.

The medical foundation of the modern world could be traced to Egypt in an unbroken line. The so-called Hypocrates, the Greek father of modern medicine was actually a follower of the original and true Black African father of modern medicine…the prince of peace Imhotep.

Egyptians and Kushites

The first developed societies appeared in the nile valley region developed around Karthoum (modern Sudan, Old Nubia) before the time of the first dynasty of Egypt (3100-2890 BC). For most of the long history of Egypt, Kush was always considered as the motherland, the birth place of the Gods and true Royalties of Egypt. Kush was the cradle of Egypt. Throught their long history, the Egyptians and the Kushites remained kindred nationalities.

Kush is a very ancient nation whose roots extend back into the dim origins of mankind. By the year 2500 BC, it is known that Egyptians had extensive settlements in Kush. A symbiotic form of political relationship and spiritual connection developed between Egypt and Kush (which hack Euro-centered historians are quick to call colonization) and persisted from 1500 to 1000 BC. This relationship collapsed by 1000BC and Kush became more assertive as a separate cultural polity. It virtually re-discovered itself as New Kush.

The new Kush was a glorious and proud ancient Black African civilization which developed along the upper reaches of the Nile about 200km north of Khartoum between 1000 BC and 350 AD. It was sophisticated and cosmopolitan host to a wide selection of immigrants and traders. It played hosts to people of Greek, Persian, Indian and Hebrew nationality — skilled men and merchants. It was the gold and iron center of the ancient world. It was also a major exporter of spices and incense which were much sought after in the ancient times. It had a major presence at sea and its merchant navy traded throughout the mediterranean sea as far as India. By the 8th century BC Kush had come to dominate Egyptian culture and politics.

For many hundred of years, the nobles of ancient Kush thought of themselves as Egyptians. They dressed like Egyptians. Their culture, religion, and philosophy were similar. The kings and nobles lived in riverside palaces much like Egyptians. There were sailboats on the Nile. As in ancient Egypt, many of their leaders were great Queens, not Kings.

Given the range of matters covered in a whole series of Egyptian pharmacopoeias [medicine books], which is still exploited by modern pharmaceutical companies, can one then suppose that the Kushites had somehow discovered tetracycline and clinically applied its properties? In light of the foregoing narrative, it is not far fetched to believe so and to suppose that Africans first discovered and applied tetracycline.

Ancient Kushitic written language is yet undeciphered for the most part. Who knows what other gem lies buried in the soil of ancient Kush waiting to be re-discovered?

Ogu-Eji-Ofo-Anu

19 September 2006

Reference:

“Antibiotic” Beer Gave Ancient Africans Health Buzz

Jean Leclant. “The empire of Kush: Napata and Meroe” UNESCO General History of Africa.

A. Hakem with I. Hrbek and J. Vercoutter. “The civilization of Napata and Meroe” UNESCO General History of Africa.

P.L. Shinnie. “The Nilotic Sudan and Ethiopia c. 660 BC to c. AD 600” Cambridge History of Africa – Volume 2 Cambridge University Press, 1978.


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8 thoughts on “Kushitic Tetracycline — By Ogu Eji Ofo Anu”

  1. You give the Egyptians too much credit. Yet have failed to descern the lie. what is this lie?

    the ancient Kush did not think of themselves as Egyptians. This is not why they dressed like Egyptians, or that their culture, religion, and philosophy were similar.

    The Egyptians civilization was founded by the the ancient Kushites. The Nile Valley, northwards to the Delta, the mediterranean sea as far as India were the Kushites frontiers added by conquest, and these cultures were influenced by the Kushites culture, religion, and philosophy.

    Do not let them fool you!!!!!

    In addition the Kushites were not led by an ordinary queen. They were ruled by Aset, the Queen of hevean, and her son. They are the Europeans inspiration behind Mary and Christ.

    Becasue of the lies that we have been programmed with ‘we’ cannot even begin to imagine our glorius Divine heritage.

    em hotep and Love….

    1. how can the ancient kushite be inspirated by Europeans by Mary and christ peace and blessing be up on isaa the son of Mary if the ancient kushitic families are BC (before christ ) come on but i agree with you some of this people are giving a wrong informations but you are saying some thing that don’t make seance too i am from kush family to i am from people that is call oromos that live in Ethiopia and i am sure that my ancient people from nubian are very intelligent people auk and at that time i don’t think European people even know what royalty means

  2. I like the article about ancient africans like the kushites and thier great discoveries in science.
    I HAVE TO disgree however with a few points.kushites always saw themselves as kushites.THE COSTUMES were almost the same during certain periods but its was still kushite,later costumes of meroe and late napata were more clearly nubianized in kush.
    another point,most of the great leaders of kush were men,because most were the rulers.most of the women rulers had male rulers that rule with them.THEY WERE GREAT AND one of the greatest rulers of kush was a kushite king in the first cen. a.d.,he rule kush with his wife.taharqa was most likely the second greatest ruler of kush.THE greatest hero was piye.

  3. FOR Some info on kush get the book,the kingdom of kush the napatan and meroitic empires by derek a. welsby

  4. Antibiotic has been generally assumed to be one of these ultra modern inventions that brought the 20th century man into advanced civilization.
    antibiotic saved lots of lifes.

  5. i say if nubians are the births if nations then the egyptians are the one that copy the religions and culture to and so on if you found some thing first that means it is yours right i think it make seance hahahah and i love my African brothers and sisters i hope all of you Africans love each others not fight each others be united it as one we don,t care if your light skin or dark skin your African and your black. i don,t even know what they call europeans people white they are not white paper and snow and your hair when you get old are white not europeans people i don,t believe that they are white they are pink or pealed skin or just call it red people i am not saying as a racist people i am just pointing out the truth you know

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