Did you know that the University of Sankore in Timbuktu, Mali, was one of the world's first universities, flourishing as a center of learning in the 14th century, attracting scholars from Africa, the Middle East, and Europe?

Did you know that Wangari Maathai, a Kenyan environmentalist, founded the Green Belt Movement in 1977, empowering women to plant over 51 million trees across Kenya, combating deforestation and promoting sustainable development, and earning her the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004?

Did you know that the Kingdom of Kush in ancient Nubia (modern-day Sudan) was a major iron producer, independently developing iron smelting technology as early as the 8th century BCE, contributing to their military and economic power?

Did you know that Ghana's Tetteh Quarshie introduced cocoa farming to the country in the late 19th century, which has since become a cornerstone of the Ghanaian economy and a major export, contributing significantly to global chocolate production?

Did you know that Igbo Landing is the historical site where a group of enslaved Igbo people in 1803 chose death over slavery, collectively drowning themselves rather than submit to bondage?

Did you know that Mansa Musa, the 14th-century ruler of the Mali Empire, was so wealthy that his pilgrimage to Mecca caused a decade-long gold deflation in Cairo?

Did you know that Kenya pioneered mobile money transfer with M-Pesa, revolutionizing financial inclusion and empowering millions previously excluded from traditional banking systems?

Did you know that the Ge'ez script, originating in the Horn of Africa, is one of the oldest alphabets still in use today and serves as the liturgical language for Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox Christians?

Did you know that ancient Egyptians performed complex surgeries, including brain surgery, as early as 3500 BC?

Did you know that ancient Egyptians were pioneers in prosthetic technology, crafting functional artificial limbs as early as 3000 years ago?

Did you know that African women revolutionized cassava processing by inventing methods for making 'garri', a staple food that eliminates cyanide and provides a safe and nutritious source of sustenance?