- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
About this book
‘Siollun’s books are gripping’ Financial Times
‘An essential book you’ll want to re-read many times – there is no more eloquent and informed guide than Max Siollun’ Sathnam Sanghera, author of Empireland
‘Incredibly necessary, magnificently done’ Remi Adekoya, author of It’s Not About Whiteness, It’s About Wealth
‘Max Siollun has succeeded at making Nigeria’s pre-colonial history accessible without flattening the tremendous diversity of its many peoples’ Alex Thurston, University of Cincinnati
‘An unforgettable read’ Matthew T. Page, former US State Department Nigeria expert
‘Max Siollun brings history to life with a cinematic sweep and intellectual confidence’ Gimba Kakanda, Co-Lead at the Presidential Initiative for Innovation, Policy Evaluation and Research
Much is known about what Europeans did in Africa, yet very little is known about Africa’s history before its colonisation.
In this surprising exploration, Max Siollun uncovers societies that were not part of a backward ‘Dark Continent’, but which instead had rich lore to rival the ancient Greeks and Romans.
Pre-colonial West Africa had a mesmerising cast of revolutionaries, intellectuals, innovators, and villainous assassins. These include the family that overthrew three different 1000-year-old empires, the royal court official who engineered the death of four kings, and the young enslaved boy who became the first Black bishop in history, befriending Queen Victoria along the way.
This story of a dynamic and artistic people is a vital read for those who want to discover a forgotten era of West African history.
Max Siollun is a historian and author. He has written four acclaimed books on Nigeria’s history, most recently What Britain Did to Nigeria: A Short History of Conquest and Rule, which was shortlisted in BBC History Magazine’s 2021 Books of the Year. He has written for the New York Times, Guardian, Independent and Foreign Policy.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Title
- Copyright
- Contents
- Maps
- Dedication
- Preface
- Prelude: In the Beginning – Nok
- 1. The Hausa Seven
- 2. Son of the Learned
- 3. Mohammed from Kanem
- 4. Northern Nigeria’s First Family
- 5. Oduduwa’s Children
- 6. The Men on Horseback
- 7. The Kings from Heaven
- 8. A Remarkable and Mysterious People
- 9. The Masterpieces of World Sculpture
- 10. The God Who Carries the World
- 11. Unknown Characters
- 12. The Black Bishop
- 13. The Sisterhood
- 14. Conclusion
- Illustrations
- Bibliography
- Index