I found this book while listening to a Hardcore History: Addendum (podcast) episode, wherein Dan Carlin (the host) interviews Zeinab Badawi. He wanted to talk about the Kushite kingdom and she had written this book: An African History of Africa.
I suppose my interest in this book stems from a conversation I had in 2006. I was part of an international volunteer group and one evening the topic turned to the German invasion of Poland, which kicked off World War II. We had Japan (me), England, Poland, Germany, Russia, Latvia and South Africa represented. Everyone’s recollection of school lessons were slightly different: politics, reasoning, actions and reactions. It was a good time. At least, I had a good time. Others got very heated about it, especially the English, Polish, German and Russian.
I found it all very intriguing how each country taught it’s children what happened, and why. (Needless to say, none of us had gone through World War II personally.)
Zeinab Badawi says she wrote this book because some of the BBC programs that she was working on had cut a lot of this content, and she wanted the Africans’ perspective and history told to the wider world.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable read, especially when it covered the parts of Africa that I have worked in. So it was not totally new to me.
I recommend this book for people who love history, and also politics. Enjoy!