The Three Wise Men: All of Them Were Black

For centuries, nativity scenes and Christmas pageants have shown the Magi — the wise men who came bearing gifts for the newborn Christ — as pale-skinned men from faraway lands. But history tells us something far more powerful: the Magi were African.

Africa and the Roots of Wisdom

The Bible doesn’t give us their exact names or origins, but ancient tradition places the wise men in the lands of Africa and Arabia. Ethiopia, Nubia, and surrounding regions were centers of trade, knowledge, and spiritual depth. It would not have been unusual for men of learning, wealth, and influence to emerge from these places, carrying both the wisdom of their people and the resources of their land.

The Gifts and Their Meaning

Gold, frankincense, and myrrh were not random treasures. All three were abundant in African regions — Ethiopia and southern Arabia especially. They symbolized kingship, divinity, and sacrifice. These were gifts from Africa to the Christ child, affirming not only His holiness but also Africa’s eternal connection to the sacred story.

Why Representation Matters

When we remember the Magi as Black men, we restore truth and reclaim dignity. Too often, Western art has erased African presence from the story of Christ, but wisdom has always looked like us. These were not outsiders gazing in — they were family, kinfolk bringing honor and recognition to the divine.

A Season of Representation

This is why, at The Seasoned Greetings, our ornaments celebrate Blackness in all its beauty. When you hang a Black wise man on your tree, you’re not just decorating — you’re teaching your family the truth: that wisdom, royalty, and holiness have always been African.