This book review was written by Eugene Kernes
“Africa is where it all began for us modern humans. We should be united by our shared beginning in a way that enables us to look beyond race, to a time when such differences did not exist. When one examines the long history of humankind, it becomes apparent that racial differentiation is a relatively recent occurrence; genetics present us with facts that are at odds with the cultural construct of racism.” – Zeinab Badawi, Chapter 1: Our Family and Other Hominins, Page 7
“The trade had an immeasurably detrimental impact on
Africa. It fuelled conflicts between
communities and gave victors the opportunity to sell those whom they defeated;
this meant that communities became suspicious of one another, conflict became
endemic and people increasingly looked to their own ethnic group for
protection, leading to the atomization and polarization of African societies.”
– Zeinab Badawi, Chapter 14: Slavery and Salvation, Page 338
“However, contrary to popular belief, independence was won
mostly through peaceful and organized mass resistance, demonstrations, strikes
and political rallies. Countries that
gained independence through the power of protest, Ghana for instance, went to
enjoy better levels of democracy than those forced to do so through armed
rebellions like Algeria, where violence was used as a form of political
dissent.” – Zeinab Badawi, Chapter 17: Africa’s Resistance and Liberation, Page
422
Is This An Overview?
Humankind began in Africa, before migrating everywhere. The story of Africa has often been told by
foreign powers, that improve their perception of events at the expense of
Africa. This book is a counternarrative
to the foreign power narratives. This is
a history represented by the people of Africa.
A history that represents the variety of societies that developed across
the African continent. The methods that
states used to gain sovereignty, and how their sovereignty was lost. The internal and external power
struggles. The different religious
practices, and the ways religion effected societies. The significant building projects and
influential ideas. When Africa was used
for a supply of labor, the slave trade precipitated in conflicts as each
community became suspicious of other communities for the victors sold the
defeated. Social disfunction fragmented
economic activity and inhibited state development. The end of slavery transitioned into
exploitation of the various resources found in Africa.
Caveats?
This book covers a lengthy history
of Africa, a history of many different African people, cultures, and states. This book acts as an introduction to the
societies, as there is not much information on each society. To understand each society would require more
research.
