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, in this work of decolonized history, Zeinab Badawi sets the record straight. In this fascinating nonfiction history 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 shared world history. 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. What happens when Africa’s history is finally told from an African perspective? Pre-Colonial Africa: Journey through the dazzling civilizations and remarkable medieval empires of a continent, based on research across more than thirty countries. - Ancient Civilizations: Go beyond the Nile to discover the magnificent and often overlooked histories of the Kingdom of Kush, Aksum, and more. - The Origins of Humankind: Explore our shared beginnings on the African continent and understand why this story is for everyone. - An African Perspective: Experience the continent’s epic, sweeping history not as a Western narrative, but as a story told by African historians, archaeologists, and storytellers. "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 “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 “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 "Important. . . . . Brilliantly connects different parts of Africa into a common historical timeline, highlighting conflicts, trade, flows of ideas, and other interactions that knit the continent together." - Foreign Affairs “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 "A refreshing corrective to narratives imposed on the continent by others . . . Ambitious in scope and refreshing in perspective . . . the very act of telling African history from an African perspective and by making this history accessible to a wide audience is an assertion of dignity and an invitation to learn more. . . . As Badawi puts it: '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.' She most certainly has." - Simukai Chigudu, The Guardian "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) “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 “Invaluable . . . Badawi illuminates swathes of history that have gone under-researched and under-recognized in a book that is sure to become essential.”