Kingdoms of Africa: Exploring the Continent’s Pre-Colonial Pasts

Before colonial borders and foreign conquest, Africa thrived with kingdoms and civilizations that shaped the world. From the golden wealth of Mali to the artistry of Benin, from Ethiopia’s ancient resilience to the military genius of the Zulu, Africa’s past is far richer, more formidable, and often more unsettling than the fragments we are usually told. Kingdoms of Africa uncovers these stories with clarity and insight. It challenges myths, highlights forgotten achievements, confronts the misdoings of the ancestors, and restores pride in the continent’s heritage. Much of this history sits buried in academic texts. This book brings it to life for the wider public—clear, accessible, and engaging—so Africans and non-Africans alike can see the continent’s past with fresh eyes.