Already a major international bestseller, Zeinab Badawi's sweeping and much-needed survey of African history traces the continent's extraordinary legacy from prehistory to the present from the African perspective.
"Equal parts gripping and galvanizing. . . . Researched across more than 30 countries, it brings the dazzling civilizations of pre-colonial Africa vividly to life. A book that feels both long-overdue—and wholly worth the wait." —British Vogue
Everyone is originally from Africa, and this book is therefore for everyone.
For too long, Africa's history has been dominated by western narratives of slavery and colonialism, or simply ignored. Now, Zeinab Badawi sets the record straight.
In this fascinating book, Badawi guides us through Africa's spectacular history—from the very origins of our species, through ancient civilizations and medieval empires with remarkable queens and kings, to the miseries of conquest and the elation of independence. Visiting more than thirty African countries to interview countless historians, anthropologists, archaeologists and local storytellers, she unearths buried histories from across the continent and gives Africa its rightful place in our global story.
The result is a gripping new account of Africa: an epic, sweeping history of the oldest inhabited continent on the planet, told through the voices of Africans themselves.
This landmark history, told from an African perspective, reveals:
- Pre-colonial Civilizations: Journey from the origins of humankind to the dazzling medieval empires of Kush, Aksum, and Great Zimbabwe, long ignored by Western accounts.
- Legendary Rulers: Meet the remarkable warrior queens and kings—like Mansa Musa and Queen Njinga—who shaped the continent long before European arrival.
- An On-the-Ground Account: Discover a new narrative built from the author’s travels across 30+ countries and countless interviews with local historians, elders, and storytellers.
- Slavery, Conquest, and Liberation: Go beyond the Western narrative to understand the true legacy of conquest and witness Africa’s fight for independence, told through the voices of its own people.