An African History of Africa
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Description
Picked as a best paperback by the Sunday Times, Guardian and I paper
Radio 4 Book of the Week
As recommended on The Rest is Politics
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, award-winning journalist and broadcaster Zeinab Badawi sets the record straight. In this fascinating book, Badawi guides us through Africa's spectacular history - from the origins of humanity, through ancient civilisations and medieval empires, 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, Badawi weaves together a gripping new history of the oldest inhabited continent on the planet, told through the voices of Africans themselves.
Praise for An African History of Africa:
'Fascinating, thought-provoking and entertaining' Sunday Times
'Dazzling . . . A book that feels long-overdue' Vogue
'Authoritative and compelling' BBC History
'Both a tour d'horizon and a tour de force, marvellously readable and beautifully written . . . I cannot recommend it too strongly or praise it too highly' Professor Sir David Cannadine
'Remarkable' Margaret Busby CBE
'Epic, magnificent, brilliant' Professor Kate Williams
Book Information
Posts
Do you know Africa?
I admit that my knowledge of African history was meagre (and probably still is), but I have a much broader perspective now. All that history and most, if not all, other continents and countries are not even interested. It's a shame. I was especially excited to learn about the strong African women and about the pre-colonial era. In the beginning, I was a bit confused by the structure of the book. Zeinab Badawi slips in passages during which she describes her impression of African scholars, monuments or locations, and I thought they didn't belong in such a book, but to be honest: It absolutely does. The book is not trying to be a dry chronic, instead it tries to evoke images, a sense of culture, pride, dignity and an eye for African achievements to battle the stereotypes "we europeans" have of Africans and their culture. It worked for my part and while I still feel a bit ignorant about some facts (goddamit yes, Egypt is on the African continent), I now want to know even more.
Description
Picked as a best paperback by the Sunday Times, Guardian and I paper
Radio 4 Book of the Week
As recommended on The Rest is Politics
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, award-winning journalist and broadcaster Zeinab Badawi sets the record straight. In this fascinating book, Badawi guides us through Africa's spectacular history - from the origins of humanity, through ancient civilisations and medieval empires, 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, Badawi weaves together a gripping new history of the oldest inhabited continent on the planet, told through the voices of Africans themselves.
Praise for An African History of Africa:
'Fascinating, thought-provoking and entertaining' Sunday Times
'Dazzling . . . A book that feels long-overdue' Vogue
'Authoritative and compelling' BBC History
'Both a tour d'horizon and a tour de force, marvellously readable and beautifully written . . . I cannot recommend it too strongly or praise it too highly' Professor Sir David Cannadine
'Remarkable' Margaret Busby CBE
'Epic, magnificent, brilliant' Professor Kate Williams
Book Information
Posts
Do you know Africa?
I admit that my knowledge of African history was meagre (and probably still is), but I have a much broader perspective now. All that history and most, if not all, other continents and countries are not even interested. It's a shame. I was especially excited to learn about the strong African women and about the pre-colonial era. In the beginning, I was a bit confused by the structure of the book. Zeinab Badawi slips in passages during which she describes her impression of African scholars, monuments or locations, and I thought they didn't belong in such a book, but to be honest: It absolutely does. The book is not trying to be a dry chronic, instead it tries to evoke images, a sense of culture, pride, dignity and an eye for African achievements to battle the stereotypes "we europeans" have of Africans and their culture. It worked for my part and while I still feel a bit ignorant about some facts (goddamit yes, Egypt is on the African continent), I now want to know even more.