An African History of Africa: From the Dawn of Humanity to Independence : Badawi, Zeinab: Amazon.com.au: Books

An African History of Africa: From the Dawn of Humanity to Independence : Badawi, Zeinab: Amazon.com.au: Books


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An African History of Africa: From the Dawn of Humanity to Independence
by Zeinab Badawi (Author)  
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars (870)

==

Introduction

1 Our Family and Other Hominins

2 Gift of the Nile

3 The Kingdom of Kush

4 Ezana of Aksum and the Rise of a Christian Kingdom

5 The Cross and the Crescent

6 Ifrikiya and the Amazigh

7 Islam and the Dynasties of North Africa

8 Mansa Musa and the Kingdoms of West Africa

9 Tippu Tib and the First Enslavers

10 Cast in Bronze

11 Southern Kingdoms

12 Asante Ascent: Osei Tutu and Abena Pokou

13 Asante Courage: Prempeh and Yaa Asantewaa

14 Slavery and Salvation

15 Land, Gold and Greed

16 The Kingdom of Kongo and the Scramble for Africa

17 Africa's Resistance and Liberation

Epilogue: A New Africa

Notes

==
Zeinab Badawi, award-winning broadcaster and President of SOAS, tells an epic story of the oldest inhabited continent in the world from an African perspective, for fans of William Dalrymple, David Olusoga and Peter Frankopan.

Discover the ground-breaking, must-read history of Africa, the Sunday Times bestseller charting the epic story of the oldest inhabited continent in the world from the perspectives of Africans themselves. Shortlisted for the Nero Book Awards

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
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제이나브 바다위의 저서 <아프리카인이 쓴 아프리카의 역사: 인류의 여명부터 독립까지>에 대한 요약과 평론입니다.

도서 요약

<인류의 요람과 고대 문명의 태동> 인류의 역사는 아프리카 대륙에서 출발했다. 동아프리카 리프트 밸리에서 출토된 오스트랄로피테쿠스와 초기 호모 사피엔스의 화석은 아프리카가 모든 인류의 유전적 고향임을 증명한다. 그러나 아프리카의 역사적 위상은 이러한 기원론에만 머물지 않는다. 나일강 유역을 따라 번영한 쿠시 왕국과 누비아 문명은 고대 이집트와 대등하게 경쟁하고 교류하며 독자적인 문자 체계, 정교한 철기 제련 기술, 고유한 피라미드 건축 문화를 발전시켰다. 이집트 제25왕조를 통치한 검은 파라오들은 누비아 출신이었으며, 북아프리카와 에티오피아 고원의 악숨 왕국은 홍해와 인도양을 잇는 글로벌 무역망의 중심축으로 기능했다.

<황금 제국들과 중세의 번영> 서아프리카의 사헬 지대에서는 가나, 말리, 송가이 제국이 잇달아 융성했다. 사하라 종단 무역로는 소금과 황금을 매개로 지중해와 아프리카 내륙을 긴밀히 연결했다. 말리 제국의 통치자 만사 무사는 14세기 메카 순례길에서 막대한 황금을 유통해 카이로의 금 시세를 수년간 폭락시킬 정도로 부유했다. 톰북투는 단순한 교역 도시를 넘어 산코레 대학을 중심으로 수만 권의 아랍어·현지어 필사본을 보관한 세계적 학문과 지성의 거점으로 기능했다. 남부 아프리카에서는 돌을 정교하게 다듬어 쌓아 올린 대짐바브웨 석조 건축물이 번영했고, 동아프리카 해안가에서는 스와힐리 문명이 발달해 인도양 무역풍을 타고 아라비아, 인도, 중국과 도자기, 향신료, 직물을 교환했다.

<대서양 노예무역과 식민 분할의 폭력> 대서양 횡단 노예무역의 본격화는 아프리카 대륙의 유기적 발전 경로를 근본적으로 왜곡했다. 수천만 명에 달하는 젊은 노동 인구가 강제로 유출되었고, 대륙 내부에서는 총기와 전쟁 물자를 확보하기 위한 부족 간 갈등이 인위적으로 촉발되었다. 1884-1885년 베를린 회의는 유럽 열강이 현지의 민족적, 언어적, 지리적 맥락을 철저히 무시한 채 자와 컴퍼스로 국경선을 긋는 '아프리카 분할'의 기점이 되었다. 콩고 자유국에서 자행된 레오폴드 2세의 잔혹한 고무 착취, 나미비아에서 독일군이 저지른 헤레로·나마족 집단학살 등 식민 지배는 극단적인 폭력과 자원 약탈로 점철되었다.

<저항과 탈식민화, 그리고 독립> 식민 통치는 순응 속에 진행되지 않았다. 에티오피아는 1896년 아드와 전투에서 이탈리아 침략군을 격파하며 아프리카에서 식민 지배를 받지 않은 유일무이한 국가로 주권을 지켜냈다. 아샨티 왕국의 야 아산테와 여왕이 주도한 황금 의자 전쟁, 케냐의 마우마우 봉기 등 대륙 전역에서 끊임없는 무장 저항과 문화적 투쟁이 이어졌다. 제2차 세계대전 이후 범아프리카주의 운동과 지식인들의 독립 요구가 결합하면서 탈식민화의 물결이 일었다. 1957년 가나의 콰메 은크루마가 이끈 독립을 필두로 아프리카 국가들은 잇달아 깃발을 올렸고, 이는 대륙이 스스로의 주권을 되찾고 자결권을 선언하는 대전환점이 되었다.

평론

<서구 중심적 서술에 대한 근본적 전복> 제이나브 바다위의 저술이 지닌 가장 강력한 성취는 역사의 '주체성'을 회복한 데 있다. 오랫동안 아프리카사는 유럽 탐험가가 대륙 내부로 들어서거나 식민 지배를 시작한 시점부터 기록되는 왜곡을 겪었다. 암흑 대륙이라는 명명 자체가 서구의 무지와 편견을 투영한 결과였다. 바다위는 대륙 전역을 직접 발로 뛰며 현지 역사학자, 고고학자, 종교 지도자, 그리고 구전 전통을 보존해 온 그리오(Griot)들의 목소리를 집대성한다. 이는 외부 관찰자의 시선이 아닌 대륙 내부의 기억과 기록을 바탕으로 축조한 진정한 의미의 '내재적 역사학'을 구현한다.

<문명 건설자로서의 정체성 복원> 이 책은 아프리카인을 노예무역과 식민주의의 수동적 피해자로만 박제해 온 전통적 도식을 과감히 걷어낸다. 톰북투의 도서관, 베닌의 청동 예술품, 대짐바브웨의 웅장한 석벽, 악숨의 거대한 오벨리스크는 아프리카가 고유한 기술과 제도를 갖춘 고도 문명의 산실이었음을 선명하게 웅변한다. 저자는 찬란했던 과거를 미화하는 데 그치지 않고, 복잡한 사회 구조와 종교적 다양성, 정치적 합의 기구들을 조명함으로써 서구 문명화 사명이라는 제국주의적 이데올로기의 허구성을 설득력 있게 폭로한다.

<저항과 역동성의 재발견> 폭압적인 식민 지배 속에서도 굴복하지 않았던 민중의 저항사는 이 책의 핵심 동력이다. 아드와 전투의 승리는 백인 우월주의의 신화를 산산이 깨부순 세계사적 쾌거였으며, 식민 분할의 경계선을 뛰어넘는 문화적 연대와 독립 투쟁은 오늘날 아프리카 국가들이 지닌 회복탄력성의 근원이다. 바다위는 비극의 나열에 갇히지 않고, 언제나 역사의 주체로서 스스로의 운명을 개척하려 했던 아프리카인들의 주체적 실천을 전면에 내세운다.

<현대적 한계와 총평> 독립 쟁취 시점에서 서술이 마무리됨으로써 독립 이후 대륙이 마주한 독재, 내전, 신식민주의적 경제 종속 같은 구조적 난제를 깊이 있게 다루지 못한 점은 일부 아쉬움으로 남는다. 또한 수많은 지역과 천년의 역사를 한 권에 담아내다 보니 각 문명에 대한 심층적 분석보다는 파노라마식 개괄에 머문 측면도 존재한다. 그럼에도 불구하고 이 책은 유네스코의 <아프리카 일반사> 프로젝트가 지닌 방대한 지적 유산을 대중의 언어로 가장 탁월하게 번역해 낸 역작이다. 서구의 왜곡된 렌즈를 벗겨내고 인류 역사의 거대한 한 축을 올바른 제자리로 되돌려 놓았다는 점에서 지대한 의의를 지닌다.

==

<An African History of Africa: From the Dawn of Humanity to Independence>

자이납 바다위(Zeinab Badawi) — 1,000단어 요약·평론

자이납 바다위의 <An African History of Africa>(2024)는 제목 그대로 “아프리카인의 시각에서 다시 쓴 아프리카사”를 표방하는 책이다. 수단에서 태어나 영국에서 성장한 바다위는 BBC와 Channel 4에서 오랫동안 활동한 언론인이며 현재 SOAS University of London의 총장을 맡고 있다. 이 책은 그가 제작했던 BBC의 9부작 아프리카 역사 다큐멘터리 작업에서 발전했으며, 약 7년에 걸쳐 30개국 이상을 방문해 역사학자·고고학자·인류학자·지역의 구전 전승자들을 인터뷰한 결과이다.

바다위가 처음부터 제기하는 문제는 단순하다. 우리가 알고 있는 “아프리카 역사”는 너무 자주 노예무역, 식민주의, 빈곤과 전쟁에서 시작한다는 것이다. 그러나 인간 자체가 아프리카에서 출발했다면 아프리카사는 세계사의 주변부가 아니라 세계사의 출발점이다. 그래서 저자는 “Everyone is originally from Africa, and this book is therefore for everyone”이라는 명제로 책을 시작한다.

인간의 탄생에서 고대 아프리카 문명으로

책의 첫 부분은 동아프리카에서 출현한 호미닌과 현생 인류의 기원을 다룬다. 여기서 중요한 것은 “아프리카에도 문명이 있었다”는 식의 방어적인 주장이 아니다. 오히려 인간의 역사를 아프리카에서 시작하면 유럽이나 중동을 중심에 놓고 아프리카를 나중에 등장시키는 기존 세계사의 시간표 자체가 뒤집힌다는 점이다.

그 다음 바다위는 나일강 문명으로 간다. 고대 이집트를 아프리카사에서 떼어내어 지중해·근동사의 일부로만 보는 관습을 비판하고, 이집트와 남쪽 누비아·쿠시(Kush)의 지속적인 상호관계를 강조한다. 쿠시는 이집트의 주변부에 있던 “야만인” 사회가 아니라 한때 이집트를 정복하여 제25왕조를 세운 독자적 국가였다. 피앙키(Piye), 타하르카(Taharqa) 같은 쿠시계 파라오가 그 증거이다.

이어 에티오피아·에리트레아 일대의 악숨(Aksum)이 등장한다. 에자나(Ezana) 왕의 기독교 개종을 통해 바다위는 아프리카 기독교가 유럽 선교의 부산물이 아니라 로마제국 말기부터 존재했던 매우 오래된 전통임을 보여준다. 에티오피아 정교회, 누비아 기독교 왕국, 이후 이슬람의 확산을 함께 서술하면서 기독교와 이슬람이 아프리카에서 단순히 “외부에서 들어온 종교”가 아니라 수세기에 걸쳐 현지 사회와 결합하여 아프리카적 형태로 변형되었음을 강조한다.

북아프리카도 아프리카다

이 책의 장점 가운데 하나는 북아프리카를 사하라 이남 아프리카와 분리하지 않는다는 데 있다. 이프리키야(Ifrikiya), 아마지그(Amazigh·베르베르), 카히나 여왕, 이슬람 왕조들의 역사를 아프리카사 내부에 위치시킨다.

이것은 상당히 중요하다. 서구 역사서에서는 이집트·카르타고·마그레브가 “지중해사” 또는 “중동사” 속에 들어가고, ‘진짜 아프리카’는 사하라 이남에서 시작되는 경우가 많다. 바다위는 이 구분 자체에 식민주의적 시선이 남아 있다고 본다. 아프리카 내부에는 사막이라는 장벽만 있었던 것이 아니라 사하라 횡단 교역로라는 연결망도 있었다.

서아프리카의 제국과 세계경제

책의 중반부에서 가장 인상적인 부분은 가나·말리·송가이 제국이다. 특히 만사 무사(Mansa Musa)가 중심인물로 등장한다. 그의 1324년 메카 순례는 흔히 “세계에서 가장 부유한 사람”이라는 흥미로운 일화로 소개되지만, 바다위는 그 배경에 있던 금 생산과 사하라 횡단 무역, 이슬람 학문 네트워크를 강조한다.

팀북투는 변방의 신비로운 도시가 아니라 사하라 남북을 연결하는 상업·학문의 중심이었다. 따라서 중세 아프리카는 세계경제에서 고립되어 있지 않았다. 오히려 유럽·북아프리카·중동을 연결하는 금과 상품의 흐름에서 중요한 위치를 점했다. <Guardian>의 서평도 이 책이 중세 유럽이 흑사병의 충격을 겪고 있을 무렵 서아프리카 왕국들이 세계경제에서 상당한 역할을 했다는 사실을 효과적으로 보여준다고 평가한다.

또한 베냉 왕국과 유명한 베냉 브론즈를 통해 아프리카의 정치 조직과 예술 수준을 설명한다. 오늘날 런던·베를린 등의 박물관이 소장한 아프리카 유물이 원래 어떤 사회에서 만들어졌으며 어떤 과정을 통해 유럽으로 갔는가라는 반환 문제도 자연스럽게 제기된다.

동아프리카와 남부 아프리카

바다위는 스와힐리 해안도 아랍인이나 페르시아인이 세운 식민도시로 설명하지 않는다. 아프리카인들이 인도양 무역에 능동적으로 참여하면서 아랍·페르시아·인도 문화와 결합해 만든 코스모폴리탄 문명으로 본다.

그레이트 짐바브웨(Great Zimbabwe) 역시 중요하다. 유럽 식민주의자들은 오랫동안 거대한 석조 유적을 아프리카인이 건설했다는 사실을 인정하려 하지 않았다. 이것은 고고학적 오류라기보다 “흑인은 고도의 문명을 건설할 수 없다”는 인종주의적 선입견에서 나온 것이었다. 바다위에게 그레이트 짐바브웨는 아프리카사를 복원하는 작업이 왜 단순한 학술 문제가 아닌지를 보여주는 상징적인 사례다.

노예무역 — 유럽만의 이야기는 아니다

책이 특히 균형을 잡으려 노력하는 부분은 노예제다. 대서양 노예무역에서 유럽과 아메리카의 책임을 분명하게 다루면서도 아랍·이슬람권의 노예무역과 아프리카인들 사이의 노예 포획과 판매 역시 외면하지 않는다. 잔지바르와 티푸 팁(Tippu Tib)의 이야기가 대표적이다.

따라서 바다위의 “아프리카 중심주의”는 아프리카를 무조건 피해자로 미화하자는 이야기가 아니다. 아프리카 지배자와 상인들도 노예무역에 참여했다. 다만 유럽의 대서양 노예무역은 규모와 세계 자본주의 체제와의 결합에서 새로운 차원을 만들었고, 이후 식민주의와 인종주의를 정당화하는 구조로 이어졌다는 점이 중요하다.

식민주의와 ‘Scramble for Africa’

19세기 후반에 이르면 책의 분위기가 크게 변한다. 유럽 열강은 기존 아프리카 정치체들의 주권을 무시하고 영토를 분할한다. 콩고, 아산테, 줄루, 수단 등의 사례가 등장한다.

그러나 바다위는 “유럽인이 와서 아프리카를 쉽게 정복했다”는 식으로 쓰지 않는다. 아산테의 야 아산테와(Yaa Asantewaa), 앙골라의 은징가(Njinga) 여왕 등 여성 정치·군사 지도자들의 저항도 상당한 비중으로 다룬다. 여성의 역할을 지속적으로 복원하는 것은 이 책의 뚜렷한 특징 가운데 하나다.

식민지 지배는 단순한 정치적 통치가 아니었다. 토지 수탈, 광산 개발, 강제노동, 인종적 위계, 유럽식 교육과 행정제도, 인위적 국경을 남겼다. 따라서 독립 이후의 여러 문제를 단순히 “아프리카 지도자의 실패”로 설명해서는 안 된다는 것이 저자의 기본 입장이다.

독립 — 역사의 끝이 아니라 새로운 문제의 시작

마지막 부분은 20세기 민족주의와 탈식민화를 다룬다. 콰메 은크루마(Kwame Nkrumah)를 비롯한 독립운동가, 범아프리카주의, 식민지 해방운동 그리고 남아프리카공화국의 아파르트헤이트 종식까지 이어진다. 책의 전체 시간 범위가 사실상 인류의 탄생에서 20세기 말까지 뻗어 있는 셈이다.

그러나 독립은 단순한 해피엔딩이 아니다. 독립국가들은 식민주의가 설정한 국경, 경제구조와 행정기관을 물려받았다. 자유를 획득했지만 세계경제에서의 종속적 위치까지 자동으로 사라진 것은 아니었다.

평론 — 이 책의 가장 큰 공헌

이 책의 가장 큰 장점은 새로운 사료를 발굴했다는 데 있지 않다. 전문 아프리카사 연구자에게 쿠시, 악숨, 말리, 베냉, 그레이트 짐바브웨 자체가 새로운 이야기는 아니다. <Guardian>의 서평 역시 이 책의 광범위한 시야가 독창적인 하나의 역사이론을 제시하기보다는 일종의 풍부한 종합사(compendium)에 가깝다고 지적한다.

하지만 바로 그 점이 일반 독자에게는 강점이다. 바다위는 지금까지 서로 분리되어 있던 이집트·누비아·에티오피아·마그레브·서아프리카·콩고·스와힐리 해안·짐바브웨·남아프리카의 역사를 하나의 대륙사로 연결한다.

더 중요한 것은 “누가 아프리카를 설명하는가”라는 문제다. 그는 유럽인 탐험가나 식민지 관리들의 기록만을 중심으로 놓지 않고 아프리카 학자, 고고학자, 구전 전통의 보존자들의 목소리를 적극적으로 집어넣는다. 이것이 제목의 “An African History”라는 말이 뜻하는 핵심이다.

다만 한계도 있다. 50여 개 국가와 수천 년의 역사를 한 권에 담으니 지역별 깊이가 매우 불균등하다. “아프리카인의 시각”이라는 표현 자체도 주의할 필요가 있다. 아프리카에는 하나의 관점이 있는 것이 아니라 수백 개의 언어·민족·종교·역사적 기억이 존재하기 때문이다. ‘서구의 아프리카관’을 비판하다가 역으로 ‘아프리카’라는 하나의 통일된 주체를 만들어낼 위험도 있다.

그럼에도 이 책이 가진 교육적 효과는 매우 크다. 우리가 흔히 가진 아프리카의 연상 순서를

노예제 → 식민지 → 빈곤 → 독재 → 내전

에서

인류의 기원 → 고대 국가 → 종교와 교역 → 제국과 도시 → 세계경제 → 노예무역 → 식민주의 → 저항 → 독립

으로 바꾸기 때문이다.

바다위의 가장 중요한 주장은 결국 “아프리카에도 역사가 있었다”가 아니다. 그런 표현부터가 유럽 역사를 기준으로 아프리카의 자격을 심사하는 방식이다. 더 정확한 결론은 <아프리카를 빼놓고는 세계사를 이해할 수 없다>는 것이다.

세진 선생님께서 최근 읽으시는 동아시아사와 연결해 보면 이 점이 특히 흥미롭다. 조선사를 단지 “일본에 의해 식민지가 된 나라의 역사”에서 시작하면 조선을 이해할 수 없듯이, 아프리카사를 19세기 유럽의 침략에서 시작하면 아프리카를 이해할 수 없다. 그러나 동시에 식민지배를 단순한 외부의 사고로만 보아서도 안 된다. 식민 이전의 국가체제·계급·교역망과 식민주의가 어떻게 접합했는지를 함께 보아야 한다.

그래서 이 책은 전문적인 아프리카 통사라기보다는 <아프리카를 바라보는 우리의 역사적 시야를 재설정하는 입문서>로 읽을 때 가장 뛰어나다. “유럽인이 아프리카에 무엇을 했는가”에서 출발하지 않고, “유럽인이 대규모로 들어오기 수천 년 전부터 아프리카인들은 무엇을 하고 있었는가”에서 출발한다. 그 질문의 순서를 바꾸는 것 자체가 이 책의 가장 큰 성취이다.

특히 지금까지 우리가 검토해 온 <식민주의를 어떻게 역사화할 것인가>라는 문제에서 보면, 바다위의 책은 꽤 좋은 비교 대상이다. 동아시아에서 일본제국주의 이전의 조선·청·일본을 먼저 복원해야 식민주의의 충격을 제대로 측정할 수 있듯이, 아프리카에서도 ‘식민지 이전의 아프리카’를 충분히 역사 속에 되돌려 놓아야 유럽 식민주의가 무엇을 파괴하고 무엇을 변형했는지 비로소 보이기 때문이다.

==

==

From Australia

Eddie Ozols

5.0 out of 5 stars A Grand History

Reviewed in Australia on 23 September 2025

Format: KindleVerified Purchase

Badawi's objective in writing this book is stated as follows in the final chapter:

"Before I turn to the last chapter, an epilogue on Africa today, I would like to say to the non-African reader of this book that I hope I have demonstrated that Africa has a history, that it is a fundamental part of our global story, and one that is worthy of greater attention and respect than it has so far received. And to African readers, I hope I have managed in some small way to increase your knowledge of – and pride in – the great history of your continent. My project was inspired by the memorable words of the late Kenyan environmentalist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai: ‘You cannot enslave a mind that knows itself, that understands itself, that values itself.’"

As the saying goes, history is written by the victors , generally of wars and conflicts. Africa's history has been written by Western Europeans because Africa's history is one of conquest, exploitation and murder. The British, French, Germans, IArabs, Dutch and notably Belgians literally raped, enslaved and pillaged people with amazing histories and cultures.

As a descendant of Sudanese Badawi starts us in Egypt and works her way across the continent. What has been unearthed archaeologically in Egypt may only be the beginning as she describes pyramids in Sudan and the discoveries yet to be found underground after centuries of sand settling above previous civilisations.

Her interviews are like a travel guide across the continent describing histories handed down orally.

It's a grand book which will provide an alternative understanding of African history. Further reading is required as she only skims the surface of the history of the 54 countries which make up modern Africa

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Jane Killar

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent History of Africa

Reviewed in Australia on 13 February 2025

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This is the first book that I have found to give such a detailed and unbiased history of the entire continent of Africa. An amazing achievement.

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Ryan Watson

1.0 out of 5 stars Revisionist history but not in a good way

Reviewed in Australia on 20 January 2025

Format: Kindle

Nothing but a Manipulation of historical facts for ideological purposes.

Author denies well-documented historical events and has distorted evidence to support a particular agenda.

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From other countries

Amazon Customer

5.0 out of 5 stars super read

Reviewed in India on 31 May 2024

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I have reached 30 pages, great read on Africa

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Mimi

5.0 out of 5 stars A new perspective on African history

Reviewed in Italy on 29 June 2024

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This is a must read for everyone, as it addresses African history while removing the misrepresentations and stereotypes created by Western colonialism to justify their crimes in Africa

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Mongi

1.0 out of 5 stars Great book. Poor Condition.

Reviewed in South Africa on 5 December 2025

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

The book is a great investment for any history knowledge lover. I bought the book as a suprise gift for one of my family members and was disappointed as I received it in an undesirable condition. The book looks second hand and has dirt marks on the sides of the book.

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Juordan S.

5.0 out of 5 stars Entrega rápida

Reviewed in Brazil on 28 August 2026

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Perfeito. Entrega super rápida.

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Ellie Brookes

5.0 out of 5 stars Great and pleasant introductory read into Africa.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 August 2026

Format: KindleVerified Purchase

I can’t say enough about this book. Its a great introduction to the motherland, a great jumping off point for if you want to read about a particular area. Very well written.

Her documentary series on BBC is also great!

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Mitra Acheampong

5.0 out of 5 stars Re-writing our own

Reviewed in Sweden on 8 January 2026

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Mycket välskrivet och lätt läst och lärorikt. Värt pengarna och jag kommer rekommendera den till alla.

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Chanté

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely amazing

Reviewed in France on 24 November 2025

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As an African, we have learned our history through a European lense. Reading this book has been insightful, educational and thought-provoking. The writing is perfect for those who do not frequently read academic writing and makes the book accessible. I am so pleased to have read this and highly recommend this read.

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Amazon Customer

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent

Reviewed in Canada on 26 July 2024

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Excellent book! Highly interesting and informative.

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Amazon Customer

5.0 out of 5 stars Masterpiece

Reviewed in Germany on 1 April 2026

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This book is chalk full of insightful information, powerful connections, and fascinating realizations. I can’t recommend this enough for any and all peoples of African ancestry, and as Badawi said, we all heil from Africa. This is exactly what people need to read in order for us all to form a better, more complete understanding of that tantalizing continent.

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Mohamed Emad

5.0 out of 5 stars Fast shipping

Reviewed in Saudi Arabia on 21 May 2024

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I received the book perfectly and before delivery time.

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Miguel Molina Foncerrada

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant book

Reviewed in Mexico on 30 May 2025

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Excelent book

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Oscar Gonzalez Camaño

5.0 out of 5 stars Una visión "africana" de la historia de África, como dice el título.

Reviewed in Spain on 18 July 2024

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Un espléndido libro, desde la divulgación, que permite conocer África desde dentro a lo largo de su historia, por períodos y por zonas geográficas.

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Brooks

5.0 out of 5 stars awesome

Reviewed in Canada on 6 July 2024

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Awesome

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Lady Justine

4.0 out of 5 stars A thoughtful and interesting slice of history

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 October 2024

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This was thoughtful, interesting - and, as all history should be perhaps, as challenging to read as you might expect in places. Plus, it does a good job of taking an entire continent's long history and treating it evenly. I can't imagine how hard it would be to do that. Of course, it also made me very sad and embarrassed too, not to know much beyond Egyptian history. It was more gentle than you might have expected about the tyrannies of those cultures who have exploited Africa.

To the man who said this seemed like a feminist history, yikes. Including chapters about women isn't feminism, it's just history. I know you might have thought from the history books you read at school that history was only HIS-story, but I'm surprised you then didn't go on to complain it seems like an anti-racist history too and ask if it didn't focus a bit too much on Africa.

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miguel

3.0 out of 5 stars Pobre

Reviewed in Spain on 12 February 2026

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Parece el guión de un documental de la BBC. Para eso valdría, pero como libro de divulgación, ya no manual de historia, es un poco pobre. Anecdótico y con una narrativa más propia del audiovisual

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Vikram

3.0 out of 5 stars New untouched subject. Can be more tighter

Reviewed in India on 2 May 2026

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I had never heard or even red anything about the African history so I was interested in it though the book is quite long and winding I would have left to have a much more brief one

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ELMI YABEH

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent livre

Reviewed in France on 29 November 2025

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Excellent état.

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Keli Agama

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent must read for every educated person

Reviewed in the United States on 30 May 2026

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I have been looking for a book like this about African history and I have found it. Well written and comprehensive

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Marcelo

5.0 out of 5 stars Well written, fantastic historical overview!

Reviewed in Germany on 27 January 2026

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Great book. Well written and many African sources. An often either forgotten or censured part of the history of humanity and our planet. It provides a great overview of African history opening up many further interesting questions to explore.

If it does matter where we come from, the book offers a significant opportunity to learn about an often neglected part of our history.

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Dan

5.0 out of 5 stars OK.

Reviewed in France on 20 April 2025

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Ok.

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Douglas Beyerlein

4.0 out of 5 stars A big book with a big story to tell

Reviewed in the United States on 16 April 2026

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Africa is a large continent with a long history. “An African History of Africa” by Zeinab Badawi, tackles this complex subject with considerable vigor. She starts at the beginning of civilization with the ancient Egyptians and through some 500 pages of fascinating (but long) narrative arrives at modern day Africa. It is all very readable, but a little overwhelming. I found that I had to take numerous breaks while reading my way across the giant continent. In hindsight I should probably have skipped over the chapters of lesser interest and proceeded straight to some of the histories that most fascinated me. I learned that contrary to the standard Western myths we learned in school, Africa was not the dark continent prior to the Europeans’ arrival. And its riches and resources were not just there for the taking. It had highly organized societies just like what was found in Europe. What it did not have was the Europeans’ gunpowder. Even if you don’t plan on becoming an African history buff, this book is an excellent reference book if you are interested in global affairs.

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J. G. P. Higgs

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant and informative

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 August 2026

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I knew I would get angry with parts of this book, especially the story of the slave trade and evils of colonialism and the mistreatment of so many. But I also found d myself smiling with an alternative name for lucy, a more beautiful name as well, and the story of the respect and honour given to those who led their people against unenviable odds, not all of whom were men, I've a list of subjects in this book I hope to read more on. I highly recommend this book.

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kg

4.0 out of 5 stars Came one time

Reviewed in Germany on 26 December 2025

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Came well on time. Love it

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maria

3.0 out of 5 stars Cover damaged

Reviewed in Spain on 22 May 2025

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The cover was seriously damaged, like it was cut

I'm not returning it because it's a gift for saturday, not enough time

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Flaneur

5.0 out of 5 stars Read this and weep: with admiration as well as sorrow

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 July 2025

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I loved this book, and its bold account of a whole continent. It succeeds admirably in making the crucial point that African history doesn't begin with the notorious scramble for Africa. Like its subject, the book is a story of richness, resilience and vibrancy, as well as the tragedy of imperialist greed and exploitation and jts consequences.

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Iris

5.0 out of 5 stars Africa is strong!

Reviewed in Germany on 16 January 2026

Format: KindleVerified Purchase

Thank you for your inspiration and encouragement - there is no such place in the world with such great history and such a diversity!

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James Barnes

5.0 out of 5 stars This Will Expand Your Knowledge of a Great Continent

Reviewed in the United States on 13 July 2026

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Very well written and researched. Every chapter had information that was important. My knowledge of Africa was greatly expanded by the book. It debunks Western views of African history that tend to begin with the colonial period. It doesn't avoid the bad parts, but it really expands the amazing history going back centuries into great (and now forgotten) kingdoms.

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Blanka Z

5.0 out of 5 stars I have been waiting for this book

Reviewed in Germany on 11 October 2024

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A wonderful introduction into history I admittedly knew very little about, despite being a trained archaeologist. In my time, there was a serious lack of learning material about Africa, unless it was related to Ancient Egypt or early hominids. This book shows the historical richness of the continent, and showcases research by African scholars living in Africa.

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Balvant Patel

4.0 out of 5 stars An african history of Africa review

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 August 2026

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Very informative book. Great to read a book on Africa written by an african. An interesting read.

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Tomij

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book with tons of eye opening facts

Reviewed in the United States on 13 February 2026

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

This book was long over due. Well written and engaging. You can't put it down! Too bad that historians hid, ignored and didn't even spend the time to bring the diverse culture and history about the African continent to light. Dr Badawi did such a great job, but even she couldn't tell the whole story alone.

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Absorbed & Distracted

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing: Read with caution

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 May 2024

Format: KindleVerified Purchase

I wish I could give this book a wholehearted review, but it has real limitations. Firstly, the prose style. This is what is often called "accessible" - which in practice means unsubtle enthusiasm for everything. Every African scholar Bedawi meets is described with a superlative - "the ebullient director of this," or the "charismatic and brilliant historian of that"... Everywhere Bedawi goes, she is at once "welcomed" by local people who share their stories... To say that it lacks detachment and objectivity is, I'm afraid, an understatement. Overall, the writing feels like a Disney documentary, or like something from an old copy of the National Geographic, and it can be quite irritating.

Nor is it altogether reliable. Bedawi states firmly that Cleopatra "was of Greek-Macedonian ancestry" and that is what Herodotus says, but the debate is not concluded, especially with disputes about the ethnicity about her half-sister. Elsewhere, Bedawi refers to the French campaign in Egypt of 1798-1801 as led by "the Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte." But Napoleon was not proclaimed Emperor until 1804. This sort of basic error should have been picked up.

More generally, Bedawi treats most of African history as a succession of colourful characters, pharoahs and chiefs, male and female. But this is a very old-fashioned view of history, and does little more than replace one lot of characters - Stanley, Livingstone, Gordon, Mungo Park, Kruger et al - with a different lot. There is a much more complex history of Africa: the endless rivalries between farmers and pastoralists, for example, competing for land, which has been the nub of conflict for millenia and which is still at the heart of fighting between Arab and Black in Darfur and elsewhere in Sudan.

Lastly: Bedawi announces that by the 1970s Africa was "free" apart from a bit of tidying up to be concluded in the South. "Free" is not how it must seem to the poor of the continent whose lives are in many areas no better at all; they've replaced one lot of oppressors with another, and anyone who thinks that the current dictatorships and corruption are somehow preferable because they're in the hands of black (or Arab) elites needs to go and have a look for themselves.

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Tor C.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Lesser Known History

Reviewed in the United States on 16 March 2025

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Zeinab Badawi does a wonder job covering a vast amount of time while breathing life to many of the individuals and stories that make up the threads of a complex social, political, and cultural fabric that comprises the African continent.

I really enjoyed the way she structured the chapters by region, it made it easier to digest and see how they all relate to one another. I always had a clear understanding of where I was, what time it was, who the main actors were, and what their impact was in the bigger picture (even beyond Africa). It never felt overwhelming despite how much information is covers, and I think anyone would find this to be a pleasant read.

A peek into a history that is so beautiful but has seen much ugliness, has experienced many triumphs and many defeats, it holds great lessons for us to learn.

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P.W.

5.0 out of 5 stars Schnelle Lieferung!

Reviewed in Germany on 4 June 2025

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War als Geschenk gekauft! Wurde von der beschenken Person als positiv bewertet!

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Kindle Customer

5.0 out of 5 stars A rare and valuable insight into Africa and its rich history and importance on the global stage

Reviewed in the United States on 28 September 2025

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The author provides a rare insight into the richness and importance of Africa, its history, and likely future in the context of world history and current trends. The author does an exceptional job in bringing forth largely unknown eye witness accounts of important historical events such as the impact of the slave trade on Africans and African communities and the long-lived ripple effects of colonialism in post-colonial Africa. Most importantly, the author underscores the resiliency and vibrancy of an emerging Africa largely being led by its youth. This is a must read for Africans, and especially non-Africans.

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Tamsyn & Nick

5.0 out of 5 stars This book deserves at least 10 stars, as 5 are not nearly enough

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 November 2024

Format: KindleVerified Purchase

An African history of Africa: from the dawn of humanity to independence, by Zeinab Badawi

One of the best history books I've ever read. In fact this might be my favourite history book ever and although I only read for pleasure, I've read quite a lot. I found it fascinating and very absorbing. I'm already looking forward to enjoying it again as only reading it once is not enough.

(The only other historical books that I've enjoyed as much are by William Shirer: 'The rise and fall of the Third Reich' and 'The collapse of the Third Republic'.) He was also a journalist, so maybe that is why I enjoy these authors' books so much. I would also give his books 10 stars, as 5 are not enough.

I liked the mostly short, snappy chapters/sections and particularly appreciated the way Zeinab Badawi skilfully and seamlessly blended current affairs, as well as her visits to the places she's written about, with the historical facts and events. I'm no good at analysis but it might have been partly this style of writing that made it so engrossing and almost impossible to put down.

She avoids frustrating waffle that too many other authors waste pen and paper on, as well as the confusion of pages and pages about 'Henry' without being sure which 'Henry' (whether French or English) is being talked about etc. I was reading a French history book when I came across her book, but was all too happy to lay it aside to read this one, mostly due to the irritating waffle and my continual confusion about who the author was writing about. Her book was so good that I'm in two minds about whether to bother finishing the French history book I had been reading before this one!

Zeinab Badawi also avoided another pitfall by not glorying in gory or nasty details, unlike too many authors I've come across and spoil what could otherwise be good books/documentaries. The historical facts are enough for her, and indeed for me too.

I appreciate that she has many other strings to her bow, but I seriously hope that she will do whatever is necessary to enable her to write more such books, as only one is not nearly enough. If I can find affordable copies in French and Turkish (and if I thought my language skills would suffice) then I'd like to read this book again in those languages, as I enjoyed it that much.

I also hope that her book will inspire others to write similar books and therefore hopefully redress the balance somewhat of books set in Africa written from merely a colonially western point of view.

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Wahalla

4.0 out of 5 stars Book on Africa I never knew i needed !

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 November 2024

Format: KindleVerified Purchase

Imaging looking to at a history of Britian in one volume. What one would be left with is something totally unsatisfactory. Then buying a single volume history on the continent with the longest human habitation. ? However what Ms Bedawi lacks in detail she makes up with a more holistic vision, philosphy and love. Plus the fact i once worked with her brother! I read this after i read a history of Alexandria by Issa Islam, so where as Dr Islam book covered the history of a single city in a 500 page book Ms Bedawi looked at the same history in a couple pages. But each history had a synergetic effect on my personal knowledge bank. Brilliant introduction to African history, that the sources and talking heads are African, it made one appreciate the voices of Africa. (PS Ms Bedawi is wrong and perpetuates the Afro-European myth that man started out in Africa, We Taino knows humanity started in a cave in South Western Jamaica!). Still have 80 pages to go. Great read!

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LR

3.0 out of 5 stars Look elsewhere

Reviewed in the United States on 10 August 2026

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

I was enchanted by the writing style in the introductory chapters, but as I read on it just became a little silly for a history book.

There is too much conjecture, too much discussion of oral history and others’ opinions (these things have their place, just not so much in a history book), and above all, a comically large number of personal anecdotes. I really don’t care where the author’s great-grandma is from, or how the author felt while looking at a monument (how many ways are there to say that you were personally moved by the significance of an ancient artifact, anyway?). This is a history book that goes out of its way to be subjective.

Additionally, I have read other books that somehow manage to tell thousands of years of history with a clearer narrative than this one. Ironic, since it is written in plain (non-academic) English, which I appreciated.

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Ms Colette Nkunda

5.0 out of 5 stars Un African history of Africa

Reviewed in Germany on 28 August 2024

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Book was accurate, concise and focused on prehistoric Africa before Atlantic slave and European colonialism. It is bringing Africa on the forefront with its human civilisation, rich and diverse cultures and heritages and the real motives of the various settlers. African hero’s are painted with African brushes. I hope this book will trigger pride in African youths

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Cautious, in pa

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Interesting Historical/Archeological Book

Reviewed in the United States on 27 January 2026

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Though not African-American myself, I’m always interested in the History of Ancient Civilizations, and how they met their demise, regardless of their geographical location.

I’m still reading it, but can tell how deeply the Author feels about the Ancient History of the African Continent.

She strives to use Archeological Discoveries, and gives a short history of this or that find.

So far, the emphasis has been on skeleton finds, from the long-long past, proving the provenance of all of Humanity came from this African Continent.

At this time, I still have no opinion as to whether I’d recommend this book, or not, as I’m still just in the 1st. Chapter.

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E. Douglas Pratt

4.0 out of 5 stars Four Hundred Thousand Years of African History

Reviewed in the United States on 22 November 2025

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

This is a comprehensive history, written for serious students and scholars. It explains the strengths, needs, and stunning achievements of the tribes, kingdoms, and cultural groups over the span of Homo Sapiens' presence on the African continent. It also includes the histories of relationships among Africa's many cultural, ethnic, and political groups and other Countries over Africa's long history. Most enlightening is the history of colonialism, various slavery systems, the many fights for freedom, and the transgenerational trauma left to be healed now and through many generations to come. Those who have the intellectual curiosity but not the scholarly aptitude might prepare for "An African History of Africa" by reading some shorter histories of specific regions or countries first.

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Benguet Bill

4.0 out of 5 stars good read

Reviewed in the United States on 11 January 2026

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

a different perspective on African history

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Coray Grizzle

5.0 out of 5 stars The world is Africa

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 May 2026

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Good insight into African History

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Sylvester

5.0 out of 5 stars Details

Reviewed in the United States on 9 January 2026

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Excellent. Although I have yet to read it at this time, the author has been providing top notch/ factual information through her documentaries, various outlets. In addition, a person who travels actually living experiences which she references showing discipline, energy and not hard on the eyes, at all!!

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jmwilinski

5.0 out of 5 stars Study African History

Reviewed in the United States on 27 January 2026

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This book was a down a dirty book about the history of the African continent. I do recommend it. It does seem very scripted from the BBC series it was based off of.

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lbrichards

5.0 out of 5 stars Very educational

Reviewed in the United States on 19 March 2026

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Learning more about my ancestors for myself!!!

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Amburs Koon

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice book

Reviewed in the United States on 12 March 2026

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Very well written and it will broaden anyone's knowledge.

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Andrew Fontenelle

4.0 out of 5 stars An African History of Africa

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 February 2025

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Zeinab Badawi offers a comprehensive general introduction to African history in this book from an African perspective. Because the history of so many regions across the continent is covered, it isn't possible to delve into many details, but it indeed held my interest and I found it easy to follow.

Anyone wanting to learn more can reference the notes and sources included, which is another plus. I recommend it as a starting point for anyone new to African history.

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veronica

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to read, information well-refined for pertinence.

Reviewed in the United States on 3 September 2025

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This is a vital text whose details have been wisely selected to educate a curious reader. The text could serve as a succinct source for any one seeking basic information about key facets of the history of Africa. The material is excellently researched and therefore valid, as well as devoid of bias. This is a must for inclusion in school libraries.

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Jim Bond

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book, but very carelessly packaged by Amazon

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 April 2024

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Book clumsily stuffed spine inwards into a cardboard sleeve by the Amazon employee, so that the glue ended up all over the back cover end and some of the pages.

Otherwise a good and easy read, by someone I have admired for many years. As a proud, native African myself, I heartily support all such attempts to rewrite our history outwith the murky lens of colonialist whitewashing. As a Zambian (and now also a Scot), I would have preferred it if she’d used the name: Mosi-oa-Tunya for our shared famous waterfalls with Zimbabwe, but at least she didn’t use the historical British queen’s name.

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Vicki Huckaby

2.0 out of 5 stars Questionable "History"

Reviewed in the United States on 6 April 2026

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

I believe only about half of this book could be considered "history" primarily because most of the information is from oral traditions. There is too many "if", "possibly", "probably", "perhaps", and so forth statements to be historical. Then the statements that are potentially historical are questionable. For example, on p.277 she says in modern day Zambia near the border with Zimbabwe - 150 kilometres north of the capital Lusaka. I have been to Zambia over a dozen times and even a quick check of a map shows the countries don't share a border there. Brings it all into question

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HJ

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read

Reviewed in the United States on 6 September 2025

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This book does a magnificent job of providing a broad historical perspective of Africa from the African point of view. It is a wonderful starting point for those who have an interest in better understanding the continent but don't know where to start. I highly recommend it.

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Richard

5.0 out of 5 stars An outstanding work.

Reviewed in the United States on 22 June 2025

Format: KindleVerified Purchase

An outstanding book which I have read whilst overlanding through the African continent. Above anything else I have been disgusted to read about the way in which Africans have been treated by the rest of the world including my forebears for centuries.

Whilst I have been aware of the history of slaving and colonialism I have not been aware of the extent or lasting legacy.

Well done Zeinab Badawi.

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Marcia Brooks

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative read

Reviewed in the United States on 11 February 2026

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

A Gift

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Deborah

4.0 out of 5 stars Clear writing, easy to read

Reviewed in the United States on 4 June 2024

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A unique and welcome perspective. We are all ultimately from Mother Africa! I was pleased to share information from the book with my partner as I was reading it. Gave us lots to discuss. I'm even more pleased to find there is a BBC Television series that corresponds well to the book. I plan to share the book with a homeschooler who has asked about Africa a few times, and maybe we'll watch some of the videos together, too.

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Trance-Formational Listening

5.0 out of 5 stars A Deep Dive into African History

Reviewed in the United States on 16 September 2025

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

I first became familiar with Zeinab Badawi through her presentations and informed commentary on the BBC World Service, now she focuses her intellect on her home continent, as she was born in Sudan.

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Lindani

5.0 out of 5 stars Eye-opening exploration of an incredible continent...Africa

Reviewed in the United States on 24 August 2024

Format: KindleVerified Purchase

Zeinab Badawi is remarkable! This book deeply resonated with me. It is an eye-opening exploration of the lives of ancient Africans and the advanced social structures and technologies they developed. What struck me most about this book is how it connects the ancient histories of Africa with our shared human experience.

If you’re looking to expand your understanding of Africa’s history, this book is a must-read. It is an enriching journey that I highly recommend to anyone interested in history, culture, or simply wanting to learn more about this incredible continent.

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Ron Welcome

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative

Reviewed in the United States on 27 September 2025

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

The information contained in "An African History of Africa, has ENDARKEN me. Thanks to Zeinab Badawi writing, I've become better educated regarding Africa & it's people.

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james

2.0 out of 5 stars A frustrating waste of such interesting history.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 December 2025

Format: KindleVerified Purchase

One of the worst history books I've read. I enjoyed the more revisionist narrative that tries to rightly place some of the most interesting characters and events on the pedestal they deserve.

But it lacks any sense of analysis or insight so descends into a endless list of brief, limited reviews of huge sweeps of history, interrupted by anecdotes of the writer which felt unnecessary. When the history is this good why place yourself into it.

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JBF

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic and so interesting!

Reviewed in the United States on 25 February 2025

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

This was a gift and I couldn't be more delighted. Interesting, well written - and so enjoyable to read. Sometimes history books can be a bit dense - not this one. Fresh is a great word to describe how this fascinating era of our human history was presented.

So worth the read....truly.

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andrew ferriss

4.0 out of 5 stars It is more historical than archealogical.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 August 2024

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I am only half way through and the history seems to be guided by the religious/belief systems and I was hoping for a bit more insight into how the various civilizations were involved in their infrastructure. But its a very comfortable, easy read.

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Penny L. White

5.0 out of 5 stars Total history of all the peoples of Africa

Reviewed in the United States on 21 July 2025

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

completely thorough history of Africa all humans no matter the color did start in Africa. This book takes you from the beginning to the present time. Fascinating.

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Amazon Customer

5.0 out of 5 stars Great History Book

Reviewed in the United States on 19 August 2025

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We needful history book. Author is a easy to read and picture in your mind.

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Gazza

5.0 out of 5 stars An African History of Africa

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 October 2024

Format: KindleVerified Purchase

Zeinab Badawi’s history of Africa is a fine, readable book about the continent, taking the reader from the origin of homo sapiens (the dawn of humanity) through to African independence. I found it fascinating and highly informative and learned a great deal about Africa that I didn’t know before. It is a book I would recommend to others who want to know more about Africa’s often neglected history.

I hope you find my review helpful.

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Jonah Atogwe Alupungu

5.0 out of 5 stars Good condition

Reviewed in the United States on 1 November 2025

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

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Kanangra

5.0 out of 5 stars Changed my life forever - a masterpiece!

Reviewed in the United States on 21 January 2025

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

This is the best book I have read in 10 years. I now have a completely different view of Africa and the western 'powers'. It will dramatically change my travel plans for the future. Very informative, very easy to read.

A must read masterpiece!

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John Estrada

5.0 out of 5 stars Accurate.

Reviewed in the United States on 13 October 2025

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Excellent book!

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Janet Phillips

5.0 out of 5 stars An African History

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 August 2025

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Excellent read, thorough and very interesting. A good read, especially for readers new to African history; I learned a lot.

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Mrs. J. P. Slotte

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 August 2024

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Zeinab’s book inspired me and has encouraged me to read further into the history of this often maligned continent. It was an ambitious project to capture in 463 pages and beautifully crafted, with Zeinab’s own personal writing style added to the mix. The history of Africa pre- and post-colonisation and slavery needs more exposure and this book goes a long way to making that need a reality. Thank you, Zeinab.

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T.J.

5.0 out of 5 stars This made me cry

Reviewed in the United States on 26 June 2025

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

I wanted to have a book about Africa written by an African. This was so needed by me.

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Silas S

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential history book

Reviewed in the United States on 22 May 2025

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Heard the author on Dan Carlin's Substack and picked up the book. Great and interesting history told in a compelling way.

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Philo

5.0 out of 5 stars Corrective History

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 May 2024

Format: KindleVerified Purchase

Phenomenal read…quite timely…I was inspired by the use of predominantly African scholars and sources. Zeinab also dealt with some difficult issues in a balanced and meaningful way bringing light to topics we do not like to speak about. This book will hopefully lead towards continued research and reporting of the history of a great nation from an African centred perspective. Thank you Zeinab.

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Too Little Space

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book and written BY an African from and African perspective

Reviewed in the United States on 15 May 2025

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Great book written BY an AFrican about the never-discussed amazing civilizations of Africa. Very readable and well-researched.

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Yem Dross

5.0 out of 5 stars I highly recommend

Reviewed in the United States on 22 July 2025

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Great book. I highly recommend it

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Masauso Nzima

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantabulously easy, but eye-opening read

Reviewed in the United States on 28 July 2025

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Enlightening read, worth the investment

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Ed Gurowitz

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing

Reviewed in the United States on 7 November 2025

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Very disappointing. I bought I for a history of Africa, and I got a Muslim-biased history mostly of North Africa. I have spent a great deal of time in Southern Africa and studied its history and culture. This author is more interested in hiliting her family’s roots and less in Africavv

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henk van ritter

5.0 out of 5 stars Sehr lehrsam und öffnet einen den Augen.

Reviewed in Germany on 8 May 2025

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Atemberaubend schön und spannend geschrieben.

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Pascal Koenig

5.0 out of 5 stars Important book

Reviewed in the United States on 5 January 2025

Format: KindleVerified Purchase

Zeinab Badawi's book is smart and well written. While it covers a large continent over a long period of time, it is easy to read. Highly recommended!

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Paul

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 March 2025

Format: KindleVerified Purchase

An African history of Africa has been a fascinating and timely read. It is so refreshing to read a history of a magical continent that is so positive balanced and uplifting thank you Zainab.

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S.Plaum

5.0 out of 5 stars fresh look and long awaited african history by african

Reviewed in Germany on 4 December 2024

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i lived for years in different part of africa

her book is a must for every white man who wants to know the real afrika

hope more books as this will appear

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Just Another Customer

2.0 out of 5 stars Not history, but a thin treatment for a tv documentary

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 April 2025

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It reads too much like a memoir or a treatment for a tv series than a book of history, for me. Too many personal reflections and introductions of this or that contemporary person being interviewed by the author. It’s a trendy writing style among those who want to sell big paperbacks rather than do history. It’s thin gruel at times. By contrast, the idea of an African history of Africa was exactly what I wanted.

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Mrs Janet Hughes

5.0 out of 5 stars A lovely book, simply written with great warmth..

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 April 2024

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This is a lovely book written from the heart, in a simple, easy to feel and understand way. It's long overdue l think, and here is a wonderful version of a history of Africa by an African person. We should all be intrigued and as she says, we all came from there.

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I. Beavis

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderfully informative, fun read

Reviewed in the United States on 24 July 2024

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After watching the recent TV series, I wanted to know more of Africa's history. This companion book fits the bill perfectly. Well written and simply fascinating.

Loved it.

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K. Agbi

5.0 out of 5 stars Review

Reviewed in the United States on 28 April 2025

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

This was a satisfactory purchase—excellent composition of African knowledge.

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Adera misrak

5.0 out of 5 stars Written by the people to the people.

Reviewed in the United States on 19 June 2025

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Great book.

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Richard Sweeney

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book! Awesome author!

Reviewed in the United States on 6 November 2024

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I enjoyed every page, interesting and mind opening. Not a dull moment in this bold and beautiful history book!

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Jehoshephat

2.0 out of 5 stars Coverage wide but superficial

Reviewed in the United States on 29 June 2024

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Read the review by "Absorbed and Distracted," which hits the nail directly on the head. Maybe it's just not possible to write a thorough, thoughtful history of Africa in only ca. 450 pages, but this is like those old "See and Learn All About France in Just 10 days!!!" bus tours. I pounced on the book when I saw it advertised, but found most of what I read to be what I thought was generally known information, packaged for easy consumption. I'll have to keep looking for books that go deeper and work a little harder, and do real justice to the subject.

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Sky

1.0 out of 5 stars Writing style

Reviewed in Germany on 15 October 2025

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The info itself could be very interesting and an important topic but the writing style is so boring on the level of a shopping list.

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