Land of Lion King celebrates 100 years

ISSUE 34– STEVE KOVACS FUN WITH MAPS

By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)

LOVELAND, OH (July 23, 2020) – In Issue 34 of Steve Kovacs Fun with Maps feature we head to the land of Safari adventures.

Centennial Kenya

Today is the 100th anniversary of Kenya’s establishment, formerly known as British East Africa.  Kenya remained under British rule as a colony until gaining independence in 1963.

While the “sun has set” on the colonialist British Empire, many of its former colonies are still voluntarily associated with Britain and each other, through the Commonwealth of Nations.  The Commonwealth is comprised of 54 sovereign nations, including Kenya, from six continents.  They even have their own Olympics of sorts every 4 years, The Commonwealth Games.

This highly decorative map of Africa is by the French cartographer Levasseur from 1856.   If you look closely, you’ll see that much of the central portion of the continent is largely blank as westerners were still in the process of discovering the interior.

Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps.

Click here to visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Steve Kovacs: Antique Maps & Fun Facts here on Loveland Beacon.

Map of Africa by the French cartographer Levasseur from 1856 (Credit Steve Kovacs)