Explore the Alkebulan Bioregion at Bioregiones.org — journey through the ecological wealth and ancestral knowledge systems of Africa, from the Sahel to the savannas, from coastal rainforests to highland plateaus, guided by Indigenous wisdom, endemic species, and biocultural resilience.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Bioregion Name | Alkebulan (“Mother of Mankind” – ancient Indigenous name for Africa) |
| Location | Entire African continent, including surrounding islands such as Madagascar, Comoros, Seychelles, São Tomé, and Cape Verde |
| Approximate Extension | ~30,370,000 km² |
| Primary Indigenous Cultures | Berber, Yoruba, Zulu, Igbo, Amhara, Tamasheq (Tuareg), Maasai, San, Akan, Dinka, Himba, Oromo, Bantu nations, and many more |
| Dominant Ecosystems | Savannah, tropical rainforest, deserts (Sahara, Kalahari), montane forests, mangroves, wetlands, dry woodlands, coral reefs |
| Endangered Species | African wild dog, pangolin, Grevy’s zebra, Ethiopian wolf, black rhino, giant ground pangolin, West African lion |
| Representative Fungi | Termitomyces, puffballs, bracket fungi, chanterelles, split gill mushrooms |
| Representative Mammals | African elephant, lion, hippopotamus, giraffe, zebra, leopard, okapi, aardvark, cheetah |
| Representative Birds | Secretary bird, shoebill, lilac-breasted roller, African grey parrot, ostrich |
| Representative Reptiles | Nile crocodile, chameleon, puff adder, African rock python, flap-necked chameleon |
| Representative Plants | Baobab, acacia, shea tree, enset, rooibos, moringa, frankincense, sorghum |
| Traditional Foods & Medicinals | Millet, teff, yam, fonio, baobab fruit, tamarind, kola nut, shea butter, hibiscus, myrrh, aloe vera |
The Alkebulan Bioregion Library spans the diverse ecological and cultural territories of the African continent, known ancestrally as Alkebulan, meaning “Mother of Mankind” or “Garden of Eden” in several ancient Indigenous languages. This bioregion encompasses deserts, lush rainforests, savannahs, highland plateaus, and marine zones, forming the cradle of humanity and biodiversity alike.
Africa is home to over 3,000 ethnic groups and more than 2,000 languages, each carrying unique knowledge systems that interweave ecological stewardship, spiritual cosmologies, and practical technologies rooted in sustainable coexistence with nature.
Ecologically, Alkebulan supports:
- Mammals: African elephant, cheetah, okapi, black rhinoceros, Ethiopian wolf, aardvark
- Birds: Shoebill, turaco, grey crowned crane, hornbills, secretary bird
- Reptiles: Nile crocodile, African rock python, monitor lizard, flap-necked chameleon
- Amphibians and Fish: Goliath frog, African lungfish, Nile perch, tilapia, clawed frog
- Fungi: Termitomyces (muti mushrooms), edible puffballs, split gill mushrooms
- Plants: Baobab, rooibos, acacia, enset, moringa, African blackwood
- Medicinal & Edible Species: Shea, tamarind, kola nut, fonio, teff, hibiscus, aloe, frankincense
Traditional food systems—such as milpa-like companion planting, forest gardening, and terraced highland agriculture—remain widespread. Indigenous African medicines derived from barks, roots, and fungi continue to be primary health systems for millions and are increasingly studied for pharmacological value.
Spirituality and ecology are inseparable throughout Alkebulan: trees like the baobab are considered ancestors; rivers are personified; and rituals align with lunar cycles, migratory patterns, and harvests. Cosmological frameworks such as Ubuntu (“I am because we are”) emphasize collective responsibility, while others—such as Ma’at in ancient Kemet or the Dogon star calendars—reflect profound ecological timekeeping and ethics.
The Alkebulan Bioregion Library provides interdisciplinary resources for understanding, protecting, and reactivating Africa’s biocultural landscapes:
- Ecological and botanical field studies
- Ethnomycological and medicinal archives
- Oral histories, proverbs, and Indigenous languages
- Agroecological practices, permaculture models, and seed-saving traditions
- Music, ritual, cosmologies, and spiritual ecology
- Restoration and Land Back projects by Indigenous and pastoralist groups
Current conservation and regeneration movements include the Great Green Wall Initiative (reforestation across the Sahel), community-led elephant corridors in southern Africa, mangrove restoration in Madagascar and Senegal, and the defense of sacred forests in Ethiopia, Benin, and Ghana.
Alkebulan is both the origin and the present—the memory of deep time and the urgency of climate and cultural repair. Its library invites youth, scholars, elders, spiritual leaders, scientists, and activists to walk together toward ancestral futures of dignity, regeneration, and reverence for the land.
Key Features
:
- Location: African continent and surrounding islands (Madagascar, Zanzibar, Canary Islands, etc.)
- Ecosystems: Tropical rainforests, deserts, montane woodlands, freshwater lakes, coral coasts
- Cultural Heritage: Yoruba, Maasai, Zulu, Tamasheq, Igbo, Akan, San, Dinka, Bantu, Amhara, Berber, and more
- Keystone Species: Elephant, lion, giraffe, baobab tree, Termitomyces mushrooms, Nile river species
- Conservation Themes: Reforestation, sacred grove protection, community-managed reserves, Indigenous ecological justice, anti-desertification projects
Bibliography and References
:
- African Biodiversity Network. (2023). Indigenous Knowledge and Ecological Stewardship in Africa. https://africanbiodiversity.org
- FAO Africa. (2021). Traditional Agricultural Systems and Food Sovereignty. https://www.fao.org/africa
- IPBES. (2022). Africa Regional Assessment on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. https://ipbes.net
- African Union. (2020). Great Green Wall Initiative – Restoration Across the Sahel. https://www.greatgreenwall.org
- UNESCO Africa. (2023). Sacred Natural Sites in Indigenous Africa. https://en.unesco.org
- National Museums of Kenya. (2022). Ethnobotany and Cultural Heritage in East Africa. https://museums.or.ke
- African Indigenous Women’s Organization. (2021). Traditional Medicine and Land Rights. https://aiwo.org
- World Agroforestry Centre. (2020). Agroecology in the African Highlands. https://www.worldagroforestry.org
- Ecological Society of Eastern Africa. (2023). Community-Based Conservation Practices. https://esea.org
- Cultural Survival. (2022). Land, Language, and Life in Alkebulan. https://www.culturalsurvival.org