INTRODUCTION

Everyone is originally from Africa, and this book is therefore for everyone.

Africa is the birthplace of humankind itself, yet little of its ancient and modern history is widely known. It has an extraordinary past: engrossing narratives of warrior queens, kings, chiefs, priests and priestesses; of mighty civilisations blooming on the banks of rivers or in the shade of sacred mountains; of lavish buildings hewn out of rock, exquisite libraries bursting with discovery, bustling caravan routes and market squares thick with the voices of traders, travellers, farmers and entertainers.

But for many, the history of Africa begins only a few centuries ago, with the arrival of the Europeans. It has been dominated by the subjects of slavery, imperialism and colonialism, and written mostly by Western historians, missionaries and explorers. And while these are of critical importance, Africa's history is more than that.

I wanted to write this book because it is the kind of work I wish I had been able to find and read myself many years ago. As a person born under the African sun, I had long been aware of the continent's rich history. But it was a fragmented knowledge, and I searched in vain for an accessible and relatively comprehensive history of Africa, highlighting key chapters in its story—and told by Africans themselves.

At last, I had the opportunity to embark on such a project myself, and it is one that has engaged me for the best part of a decade. Over a period of about seven years I visited more than 30 African countries, and travelled across these nations in pursuit of a first-hand experience of Africa's history from the perspective of Africans. This book draws on my conversations and the interviews I conducted with dozens of people, ranging from academics to ordinary engaged citizens, who enlightened me about their culture, history and the amazing sites I visited. Some of these were off the beaten track, such as the ancient ruins of Eritrea, or Chinguetti in Mauritania, while some were tricky or risky to get to, such as Timbuktu in Mali, or the Hausa parts of northern Nigeria. I used just about every means of transport known to humankind, from modern sleek 4x4 vehicles, to riding on camelback and donkey carts. I was awestruck by the beauty of the continent: the natural wonders such as the Falls of the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe, or the vast territory of Katanga in the Congo and the Virunga Mountains of Rwanda.

I wish to introduce the history of Africa to all readers who want to dispel the myopia of a post-imperial education and especially to young students with an African background seeking to learn more about their history. Most people would struggle to name an African king beyond Tutankhamun, and few of them would even be able to give the years of his reign. One former African president told me he was better able to list the names of English medieval kings than those in Africa. This is not an academic book, nor is it about 'contested history'—setting one narrative against another in a confrontational framework. Nor does it seek to make comparisons between civilisations. I aim to provide a counter-balance to the many negative perceptions of the continent and its people, improve our collective understanding of its history by ventilating African scholarship that has been occluded, and in this way reveal a different and more honest history of Africa.

This book is an overview of the continent from the beginning of humanity to the modern era. It is by no means comprehensive, and there is plenty of history that I could not include. As much as possible, the focus is on pre-colonial history rather than on what occurred in the twentieth century, since contemporary history and current events have received more attention and coverage. I have selected personalities who helped shape the continent because I believe history is most easily understood when it is seared into the imagination. The figures examined are predominantly rulers, since sources drawn from African oral tradition consist largely of the lives and deeds of leaders. To those who will admonish me for omitting certain individuals, I apologise in advance. I could not do justice to everyone in a single book. I have strived to cover all regions of Africa and emphasised the significant role that women play.

We begin with the origins of humankind: what makes us unique, and how human societies and culture developed. I celebrate our common and shared beginnings. In chapter 2 we move to ancient Egypt, the best-known aspect of Africa's history, for a comprehensive overview. Less famous are the histories of ancient Sudan, Ethiopia and Eritrea—civilisations that gave rise to magnificent monuments and which are the focus of chapters 3, 4 and 5. In chapters 6 and 7, I explore the early story of North Africa and the strong impact the region had on the three major monotheistic religions. The fabulously wealthy Mansa Musa, the fourteenth-century king of the Mali Empire, is the centrepiece of chapter 8, in which we will also examine the kingdoms of West Africa. The lesser-known Indian Ocean trade in enslaved Africans that lasted a thousand years is the topic of chapter 9, while in chapter 10 we look at Benin, whose bronzes have been the focus of efforts to repatriate looted and stolen African artwork, 90 per cent of which is found outside of the continent. The southern kingdoms of Africa are the focus of the following chapter, including Great Zimbabwe, a civilisation that Europeans refused to believe was built by Africans. The Asante people, and in particular Queen Mother Yaa Asantewaa, are the subject of chapters 12 and 13. In chapter 14 we revisit the tragic topic of slavery, this time examining the impact of the transatlantic trade on Africans and their continent. European invasions and occupation underscore chapters 15, 16 and 17, but the protagonists are always African, including King Shaka Zulu, Queen Njinga and the heroic communities who resisted European rule and fought for liberation. Finally, the Epilogue reflects on the future of the continent, and how it is being shaped by Africa's youth.

INTRODUCTION

Everyone is originally from Africa, and this book is therefore for everyone.

Africa is the birthplace of humankind itself, yet little of its ancient and modern history is widely known. It has an extraordinary past: engrossing narratives of warrior queens, kings, chiefs, priests and priestesses; of mighty civilisations blooming on the banks of rivers or in the shade of sacred mountains; of lavish buildings hewn out of rock, exquisite libraries bursting with discovery, bustling caravan routes and market squares thick with the voices of traders, travellers, farmers and entertainers.

But for many, the history of Africa begins only a few centuries ago, with the arrival of the Europeans. It has been dominated by the subjects of slavery, imperialism and colonialism, and written mostly by Western historians, missionaries and explorers. And while these are of critical importance, Africa's history is more than that.

I wanted to write this book because it is the kind of work I wish I had been able to find and read myself many years ago. As a person born under the African sun, I had long been aware of the continent's rich history. But it was a fragmented knowledge, and I searched in vain for an accessible and relatively comprehensive history of Africa, highlighting key chapters in its story—and told by Africans themselves.

At last, I had the opportunity to embark on such a project myself, and it is one that has engaged me for the best part of a decade. Over a period of about seven years I visited more than 30 African countries, and travelled across these nations in pursuit of a first-hand experience of Africa's history from the perspective of Africans. This book draws on my conversations and the interviews I conducted with dozens of people, ranging from academics to ordinary engaged citizens, who enlightened me about their culture, history and the amazing sites I visited. Some of these were off the beaten track, such as the ancient ruins of Eritrea, or Chinguetti in Mauritania, while some were tricky or risky to get to, such as Timbuktu in Mali, or the Hausa parts of northern Nigeria. I used just about every means of transport known to humankind, from modern sleek 4x4 vehicles, to riding on camelback and donkey carts. I was awestruck by the beauty of the continent: the natural wonders such as the Falls of the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe, or the vast territory of Katanga in the Congo and the Virunga Mountains of Rwanda.

I wish to introduce the history of Africa to all readers who want to dispel the myopia of a post-imperial education and especially to young students with an African background seeking to learn more about their history. Most people would struggle to name an African king beyond Tutankhamun, and few of them would even be able to give the years of his reign. One former African president told me he was better able to list the names of English medieval kings than those in Africa. This is not an academic book, nor is it about 'contested history'—setting one narrative against another in a confrontational framework. Nor does it seek to make comparisons between civilisations. I aim to provide a counter-balance to the many negative perceptions of the continent and its people, improve our collective understanding of its history by ventilating African scholarship that has been occluded, and in this way reveal a different and more honest history of Africa.

This book is an overview of the continent from the beginning of humanity to the modern era. It is by no means comprehensive, and there is plenty of history that I could not include. As much as possible, the focus is on pre-colonial history rather than on what occurred in the twentieth century, since contemporary history and current events have received more attention and coverage. I have selected personalities who helped shape the continent because I believe history is most easily understood when it is seared into the imagination. The figures examined are predominantly rulers, since sources drawn from African oral tradition consist largely of the lives and deeds of leaders. To those who will admonish me for omitting certain individuals, I apologise in advance. I could not do justice to everyone in a single book. I have strived to cover all regions of Africa and emphasised the significant role that women play.

We begin with the origins of humankind: what makes us unique, and how human societies and culture developed. I celebrate our common and shared beginnings. In chapter 2 we move to ancient Egypt, the best-known aspect of Africa's history, for a comprehensive overview. Less famous are the histories of ancient Sudan, Ethiopia and Eritrea—civilisations that gave rise to magnificent monuments and which are the focus of chapters 3, 4 and 5. In chapters 6 and 7, I explore the early story of North Africa and the strong impact the region had on the three major monotheistic religions. The fabulously wealthy Mansa Musa, the fourteenth-century king of the Mali Empire, is the centrepiece of chapter 8, in which we will also examine the kingdoms of West Africa. The lesser-known Indian Ocean trade in enslaved Africans that lasted a thousand years is the topic of chapter 9, while in chapter 10 we look at Benin, whose bronzes have been the focus of efforts to repatriate looted and stolen African artwork, 90 per cent of which is found outside of the continent. The southern kingdoms of Africa are the focus of the following chapter, including Great Zimbabwe, a civilisation that Europeans refused to believe was built by Africans. The Asante people, and in particular Queen Mother Yaa Asantewaa, are the subject of chapters 12 and 13. In chapter 14 we revisit the tragic topic of slavery, this time examining the impact of the transatlantic trade on Africans and their continent. European invasions and occupation underscore chapters 15, 16 and 17, but the protagonists are always African, including King Shaka Zulu, Queen Njinga and the heroic communities who resisted European rule and fought for liberation. Finally, the Epilogue reflects on the future of the continent, and how it is being shaped by Africa's youth.