Honouring Banknotes

Have you ever felt like there are different versions of you fighting for control? Maybe there’s the "Professional You" who loves spreadsheets, the "Weekend You" who just wants to hike, and the "Philosophical You" who stays up until 3 AM questioning the meaning of life. Now, imagine if all those versions were actually different people—with their own names, birth dates, handwriting, and even astrological charts. next...

Have you ever looked closely at the 25-rupee banknote in Mauritius? The dignified face looking back at you belongs to Sir Moilin Jean Ah-Chuen, a man whose life story reads like a masterclass in resilience and vision. next...

If you were to walk down the streets of Monrovia in the humid, salt-tinged air of the 1950s, you would eventually encounter a presence that seemed as permanent as the tides and as inevitable as the tropical rain. He might be found waving from a convertible, holding court at his farm in Totota, or staring down from a portrait in a government office, invariably dressed in a tailcoat and Homburg hat, a cigar often clamped firmly between his teeth. This was William Vacanarat Shadrach Tubman—"Uncle Shad" to the masses, "The Old Man" to his inner circle, and the undisputed President of Liberia for twenty-seven years.1 next...

It’s not every day you hear about a man who starts life as a barber’s apprentice in Virginia and ends up as the first president of an entirely new African republic. But then again, Joseph Jenkins Roberts was anything but ordinary. next...

If you look at the history of the American Midwest in the early 19th century, you don’t often hear stories about Black men becoming real estate tycoons and then sailing off to become heads of state. But that is exactly what Edward James Roye did. next...

If you look at the pantheon of Cuban national heroes, you’ll usually find the poet (Martí) and the titans of war (Maceo, Gómez). But standing tall among them—often with a riding crop in hand and a legal text in the other—is Ignacio Agramonte y Loynaz. next...

Picture this: It’s 1868. You are a wealthy landowner in Cuba, born into comfort, educated in the finest schools of Europe, and you have everything to lose. Most people in your position would keep their heads down and enjoy their wealth. But Carlos Manuel de Céspedes wasn't most people. next...

When we imagine a soldier, we typically picture a uniformed figure marching in lockstep within a regimented army. But history is equally shaped by a different kind of fighter: the Partisan. next...

If you think Game of Thrones has the monopoly on political intrigue, underdog battles, and legendary warriors, think again. History has given us figures who make fiction look tame, and sitting comfortably at the top of that list is Gjergj Kastrioti, better known to the world as Skanderbeg. next...

Marcus Garvey remains an iconic figure in the annals of history, celebrated for his pivotal role in advocating for black empowerment and unity. As a leader, he inspired millions with his vision of a self-sufficient and self-reliant black community. His legacy is etched in the hearts of many who view him as a symbol of resilience and a beacon of hope for the African diaspora. next...