Great Kingdoms of Africa

"Illustrated with fantastic images of artefacts and landscapes, Great Kingdoms of Africa enlightens readers on the rich history of the continent before the brief period of European colonisation."

— Geographical

“I used to think, until fairly recently, that the methods available to historians of the distant African past were of a different sort than those within the reach of their European counterparts. As a citizen of a country once colonized by the British, I felt it was perhaps impossible to know of an African past without looking at it through the meddlesome empires of Europe. . . . What changed my perspective—and lifted the fog of ignorance—is the recent book Great Kingdoms of Africa, edited by John Parker.”

— Book Post

"Pageantry and intrigues, imperial wars and despots lavishly coercing their rivals with violence all figure in these studies, written by a diverse group of scholars from North American, African and European institutions. African monarchs were often seen to have mystical or divine powers, yet these writers focus on earthly power perpetuation. They cite archaeological findings and oral traditions as sources – in part because many kingdoms were not literate and left few, if any, archival materials – giving these essays a fresh, interdisciplinary spirit."

— Times Literary Supplement