Political correctness aside, the only non-Northern African (Horn of Africa is a borderland between Northern Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa or more precisely Eastern Africa) civilization (that can truly be called a civilization) is the Ethiopian/Eritrean one or more precisely the Southern Semitic-speaking/Habesha speaking one.
Ancient Ethiopia indeed has a rich civilization (even for world standards) which several World UNESCO Heritage Sites confirm and their historical ties to ancient civilizations in the Arab world (oldest in the world), in particular in Southern Arabia and Egypt and trade ties with Rome, Persia, Pakistan/India and far away China even.
No wonder that Ethiopia was the only African country not to become a colony and was ruled (until not long ago) by one of the oldest royal dynasties in the world.
However like in every African country (almost) there are 100's of ethnicities in Ethiopia and great difference between people.
For instance best exemplified with the Habesha/Semitic speaking lot that inhabit the beautiful highlands of Ethiopia and the other lot.
Most Habesha people have around 50% (sometimes more) percentage of Semitic/Arab ancestry from Western Asia.
They look nothing alike your regular Sub-Saharan African (obvious Caucasian features) and even racist European anthropologists 100+ years ago admitted to this and noticed it and wrote and spoke about it.
If you ask me and many others (in this little world) they are a quite good-looking bunch on average although some might prefer the Nigerian lot for instance. Each to his or her own.
Now compare that with this:
Congo:
Nigeria:
Angola:
Oh, I forgot the Nubians (with show a significant percent of Western Asian admixture too). They had a proper civilization as well although much influenced by Egypt but it still counts.
Axum were semitic people who are part of caucasian race. The negroid people of Africa are different people.
Correct.
BTW, I expect Ethiopia to be a quite big success story in the future due to their strategic location, large population and historical depth. If they had the oil that Nigeria has, they would be the by far most successful African nation.
Amazing World Heritage Sites In Ethiopia
Jan 4, 2016
There are at least nine
UNESCO World Heritage sites in Ethiopia that complement Africa’s ancient creations. They include;
- Simien National Park
- Lower Valley of the Awash
- Lower Valley of the Omo
- Aksum
- Lalibela
- Tiya
- Fasil Ghebbi
- Harar Jugol, the Fortified Historic Town
- Konso Cultural Landscape
Simien National Park
Located in Amhara Region is
Simien Mountains National Park, one of the first sites to be included in the list of World Heritage Sites in 1978. The park has spectacular landscape and it also plays host to some extremely rare animals that are endemic to Ethiopia such as the Gelada baboon, the Simien fox and the Walia ibex.
Lower Valley of the Awash
The Lower Valley of Awash is found in Afar Regional State. Tremendous findings are registered in the area in search for human origin and evolution. The most spectacular
discovery of Lucy paved the way for more achievements in the study of human origin. The Lower Valley of Awash was included in the list of World heritage sites in Ethiopia in 1980.
Read more at:
Jovago.com
They also developed their own script (although derived from Southern Arabian ones) much earlier than most civilizations and people on the planet.
So they cannot be compared with your usual Sub-Saharan African lot.
Lastly, people of Sub-Saharan African origin
OUTSIDE of Africa differ from the lot that stayed back. At least those in the Arab world (Afro-Arabs). That community, although it has its challenges and negatives like every community in the world, are overall a good community that is relatively trouble free. Unlike the lot in the US for instance or Brazil where the largest African diaspora outside of Africa is located.