An African History of Africa - by Zeinab Badawi

Book Synopsis

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.

Review Quotes

"Both a tour d'horizon and a tour de force, marvelously readable and beautifully written. This is a book that should be read by anyone who is interested in Africa, by anyone who thinks they know all they need to know about Africa, and above all by anyone who has no interest in Africa at all. It will transform their views of the continent, its peoples and its histories. I cannot recommend it too strongly or praise it too highly." -- Sir David Cannadine, Dodge Professor of History, Emeritus, at Princeton University, and author of Ornamentalism: How the British Saw Their Empire

"Zeinab Badawi's remarkable new book lives up to her dependable standards of excellence. It takes the reader on an up-close-and-personal journey across this unique continent, seemingly holding your hand while uncovering extraordinary gems of truth as she allows previously untold stories to be heard." -- Margaret Busby, editor of Daughters of Africa

"Equal parts gripping and galvanizing. . . . Zeinab Badawi reclaims her home continent's past in her sprawling An African History of Africa. 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

"This is a book we have needed: a clear account of the fascinating history of Africa from an African perspective. I learned something on every page. It will leave everyone who reads it better informed and more thoughtful about the vast opportunity that can now be found in a continent we have often misunderstood." -- William Hague, author of William Wilberforce: The Life of the Great Anti-Slave Trade Campaigner

"A fascinating, thought-provoking, and entertaining romp through several thousand years of history. . . . This book is for everyone not only in the sense that we are all, ultimately, from Africa, but also because it is highly readable." -- Sunday Times (London)

"Local figures and female leaders loom large in Badawi's corrective history of Africa, in which continental experts and cultural custodians offer a 'counterbalance' to Western perceptions." -- New York Times Book Review

"One of the greatest strengths of this wonderful African History of Africa and what makes it so engaging is the way Zeinab Badawi narrates the great sweep of this continent's rich history as a personal voyage of discovery, and in doing so is able to portray her feelings of the experience, be it touching humanity's most ancient bones or venturing into the dungeons of slave castles."
-- Kevin Shillington, author of History of Africa

"In a world where narratives about Africa have often been shaped by non-African perspectives, Zeinab Badawi's An African History of Africa stands as a reimagination of the continent's intricate and storied past. . . . A must-read for anyone interested in a more comprehensive and authentic view of African history." -- Amsterdam News

"Invaluable . . . Badawi illuminates swathes of history that have gone under-researched and under-recognized in a book that is sure to become essential." -- Booklist (starred review)

"As Badawi adroitly proves, Africa's story is far richer than the West chooses to believe. . . . An African History of Africa is a long overdue corrective that should be studied in every school and available in every library across the West." -- BookPage, starred review