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A revelatory history of how post-colonial African Independence movements were systematically undermined by one nation above all: the US. In 1958 in Accra, Ghana, the Hands Off Africa conference brought together the leading figures of African independence in a public show of political strength and purpose. Led by the charismatic Kwame Nkrumah, who had just won Ghana’s independence, his determined call for Pan-Africanism was heeded by young, idealistic leaders across the continent and by African Americans seeking civil rights at home. Yet, a moment that signified a new era of African freedom simultaneously marked a new era of foreign intervention and control. In White Malice, Susan Williams unearths the covert operations pursued by the CIA from Ghana to the Congo to the UN in an effort to frustrate and deny Africa’s new generation of nationalist leaders. This dramatically upends the conventional belief that the African nations failed to establish effective, democratic states on their own accord. As the old European powers moved out, the US moved in. Drawing on original research and recently declassified documents, and told through an engaging narrative, Williams introduces readers to idealistic African leaders and to the secret agents, ambassadors, and even presidents who deliberately worked against them, forever altering the future of a continent. Read more

An NPR Best Book of the Year The incredible true story of the last ship to carry enslaved people to America, the remarkable town its survivors founded after emancipation, and the complicated legacy their descendants carry with them to this day—by the journalist who discovered the ship’s remains.Fifty years after the Atlantic slave trade was outlawed, the Clotilda became the last ship in history to bring enslaved Africans to the United States. The ship was scuttled and burned on arrival to hide evidence of the crime, allowing the wealthy perpetrators to escape prosecution. Despite numerous efforts to find the sunken wreck, Clotilda remained hidden for the next 160 years. But in 2019, journalist Ben Raines made international news when he successfully concluded his obsessive quest through the swamps of Alabama to uncover one of our nation’s most important historical artifacts. Traveling from Alabama to the ancient African kingdom of Dahomey in modern-day Benin, Raines recounts the ship’s perilous journey, the story of its rediscovery, and its complex legacy. Against all odds, Africatown, the Alabama community founded by the captives of the Clotilda, prospered in the Jim Crow South. Zora Neale Hurston visited in 1927 to interview Cudjo Lewis, telling the story of his enslavement in the New York Times bestseller Barracoon. And yet the haunting memory of bondage has been passed on through generations. Clotilda is a ghost haunting three communities—the descendants of those transported into slavery, the descendants of their fellow Africans who sold them, and the descendants of their American enslavers. This connection binds these groups together to this day. At the turn of the century, descendants of the captain who financed the Clotilda’s journey lived nearby—where, as significant players in the local real estate market, they disenfranchised and impoverished residents of Africatown. From these parallel stories emerges a profound depiction of America as it struggles to grapple with the traumatic past of slavery and the ways in which racial oppression continue to this day. And yet, at its heart, The Last Slave Ship remains optimistic—an epic tale of one community’s triumphs over great adversity and a celebration of the power of human curiosity to uncover the truth about our past and heal its wounds. Read more

"Brings the nineteenth century to life, with its attendant disease, violence, and colonial machinations.”—Jewish Book Council “In Rovner's deeply researched biography, the adventurer's swashbuckling memoirs are. . . . a crowbar of sorts, used to pry open a window onto an era of possibility, prejudice and burgeoning colonial avarice.”—NPRThis vivid reconstruction of one man’s life reveals the harsh realities and moral ambiguities of colonial power.  The Jew Who Would Be King tells the story of Nathaniel Isaacs—a nineteenth-century British Jew who helped establish the Zulu kingdom only to become a ruthless warlord and slaveholder. Isaacs’ thrilling journey begins with his shipwreck on the shores of Zululand and proceeds to ports across West Africa, including Freetown, Sierra Leone. There, tasked by the colonial governor to end the local slave trade, Isaacs brokered deals that reinforced his own power.   Adam Rovner's meticulous archival research in England, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and St. Helena, coupled with his own travels to the remnants of Isaacs’ island stronghold in Guinea, brings this complex figure to life. Through Isaacs’ story, Rovner exposes the entangled forces of Jewish emancipation and antisemitism, slavery and abolition, the stark dichotomies of civilization and “savagery,” and the creation of whiteness versus Blackness.   Read more

Uncover one of the darkest parts of history: The Transatlantic Slave Trade.The Atlantic Slave Trade is a crucial examination of one of history’s most horridly significant epochs, detailing its impact on the world, particularly in West Africa. You will be taken on an emotional and intellectual voyage, examining the horrifying ocean passages suffered by millions, the sociopolitical tides in West Africa, and the ultimate act of abolition.Echoes from the Hold: Experience the chilling reality of Africans captured and placed into the bowels of slave ships, where they endured unspeakable horrors.Chains of a New World: Witness the transformation of pain into the foundation of an exploitative new economy in the Americas, where every day was a battle for survival.Profit from Pain: Explore how the slave trade sculpted the economic landscapes of African kingdoms and European empires. Discover how the slave trade sowed seeds of injustice that echo into the present.Legacy of Suffering: Delve into the depths of the human spirit confronted by the inhumanity of slavery and the multigenerational trauma that followed.Dawn of Freedom: Stand alongside the titans of abolitionism, whose relentless battle dismantled this institution and rekindled hope for a brighter future.Transform your understanding of history from a passive recall to an active engagement in shaping a more just future. This is more than just a book; it is a way for you to connect to the past and discover history’s impacts on the present.What are you waiting for? Scroll up and click the “add to cart” button to learn more about the Transatlantic Slave Trade! Read more

“Intensely vivid story of war and the peculiar breed of warriors who fight in 21st-century Africa . . . and tribute to an extraordinary comrade-at-arms.” —Kirkus Reviews   In February 2002, British journalist James Brabazon set out to travel with guerrilla forces into Liberia to show the world what was happening in that war-torn country. To protect him, he hired Nick du Toit, a former South African Defence Force soldier who had fought in conflicts across Africa for over three decades. What follows is an incredible behind-the-scenes account of the Liberian rebels—known as the LURD—as they attempt to seize control of the country from government troops led by President Charles Taylor.   In this gripping narrative, James Brabazon paints a brilliant portrait of the chaos that tore West Africa apart: nations run by warlords and kleptocrats, rebels fighting to displace them, ordinary people caught in the crossfire—and everywhere adventurers and mercenaries operating in war’s dark shadows. It is a brutally honest book about what it takes to be a journalist, survivor, and friend in this morally corrosive crucible.   “A classic story of intrigue, greed, and violence in one of the most dysfunctional countries in the world. It is a gripping story that I couldn’t read fast enough.” —Sebastian Junger, New York Times–bestselling author Read more

“Mom, are you still keeping my letters? Please do. One day they will serve as a reminder of all God has done.” The year was 1981. Shirley Cropsey was your typical wife and mother from Michigan, except for one thing: God called her family to medical missions in Togo, West Africa. As they prepared to follow God’s lead, Shirley and her family caught the flu. Her family recovered, but Shirley’s health continued to decline. As the date of their departure came nearer, Shirley found herself asking: Will my health impact my family’s call to serve?Follow along as Shirley pours Scripture and insight into letter after letter to her mom. Between buying groceries in a foreign country and protecting her sons from African snakes, Shirley shares about her daily struggles of homesickness, cultural adjustments, political strife, and chronic illness. Through Shirley’s story, see all that God can do with a willing, open heart. Read more

Embark on a transformative journey of spiritual warfare and deliverance with "Ahithophel Unmasked." In this groundbreaking book, renowned author delves into the depths of deception, exposing the cunning tactics of the enemy and equipping readers with the tools they need to break free from manipulation and conquer the enemy within.Unveil the hidden schemes of the enemy: Discover the subtle tactics employed by Ahithophel to deceive and manipulate God's people, and learn how to discern and expose his lies.Break free from the chains of manipulation: Gain practical insights and strategies for breaking free from the grip of manipulation and reclaiming your identity and purpose in Christ.Conquer the enemy within: Learn how to confront and overcome the internal battles that wage war against your soul, including self-doubt, insecurity, and fear.Arm yourself with spiritual weapons: Equip yourself with the powerful spiritual weapons of prayer, fasting, and the Word of God, and learn how to wield them effectively in spiritual warfare.Walk in victory: Experience the freedom and victory that are yours in Christ as you learn to stand firm against the schemes of the enemy and walk boldly in the truth of God's Word.With compelling insights, practical wisdom, and inspiring stories of deliverance, "Ahithophel Unmasked" will empower you to break free from deception, overcome manipulation, and live victoriously in Christ. Don't miss out on this life-changing journey to spiritual freedom and empowerment. Get your copy today and embark on the path to victory! Read more

A fearless act of journalism in 1960s Nigeria and the true story behind the international bestselling novel The Dogs of War.   The Nigerian civil war of the late 1960s was one of the first occasions when Western consciences were awakened and deeply affronted by the level of suffering and the scale of atrocity being played out in the African continent. This was thanks not just to advances in communication technology but to the courage and journalistic skills of foreign correspondents like Frederick Forsyth, who had already earned an enviable reputation for tenacity and accuracy working for Reuters and the BBC.   In The Biafra Story, Forsyth reveals the depth of the British Government’s active involvement in the conflict—information which many in power would have preferred to remain secret. General Gowon’s genocide of the Biafran people was facilitated by a ready supply of British arms and advice. Still tragically relevant in its depiction of global affairs, this powerful book also launched Frederick Forsyth to literary stardom by providing him with the background material for The Dogs of War.   The dramatic events and shocking political exposures, all delivered with Forsyth’s bold and perceptive style, makes The Biafra Story a compelling lesson in courage. Read more

Revealing the central yet intentionally obliterated role of Africa in the creation of modernity, Born in Blackness vitally reframes our understanding of world history.Traditional accounts of the making of the modern world afford a place of primacy to European history. Some credit the fifteenth-century Age of Discovery and the maritime connection it established between West and East; others the accidental unearthing of the “New World.” Still others point to the development of the scientific method, or the spread of Judeo-Christian beliefs; and so on, ad infinitum. The history of Africa, by contrast, has long been relegated to the remote outskirts of our global story. What if, instead, we put Africa and Africans at the very center of our thinking about the origins of modernity?In a sweeping narrative spanning more than six centuries, Howard W. French does just that, for Born in Blackness vitally reframes the story of medieval and emerging Africa, demonstrating how the economic ascendancy of Europe, the anchoring of democracy in the West, and the fulfillment of so-called Enlightenment ideals all grew out of Europe’s dehumanizing engagement with the “dark” continent. In fact, French reveals, the first impetus for the Age of Discovery was not—as we are so often told, even today—Europe’s yearning for ties with Asia, but rather its centuries-old desire to forge a trade in gold with legendarily rich Black societies sequestered away in the heart of West Africa.Creating a historical narrative that begins with the commencement of commercial relations between Portugal and Africa in the fifteenth century and ends with the onset of World War II, Born in Blackness interweaves precise historical detail with poignant, personal reportage. In so doing, it dramatically retrieves the lives of major African historical figures, from the unimaginably rich medieval emperors who traded with the Near East and beyond, to the Kongo sovereigns who heroically battled seventeenth-century European powers, to the ex-slaves who liberated Haitians from bondage and profoundly altered the course of American history.While French cogently demonstrates the centrality of Africa to the rise of the modern world, Born in Blackness becomes, at the same time, a far more significant narrative, one that reveals a long-concealed history of trivialization and, more often, elision in depictions of African history throughout the last five hundred years. As French shows, the achievements of sovereign African nations and their now-far-flung peoples have time and again been etiolated and deliberately erased from modern history. As the West ascended, their stories—siloed and piecemeal—were swept into secluded corners, thus setting the stage for the hagiographic “rise of the West” theories that have endured to this day.“Capacious and compelling” (Laurent Dubois), Born in Blackness is epic history on the grand scale. In the lofty tradition of bold, revisionist narratives, it reframes the story of gold and tobacco, sugar and cotton—and of the greatest “commodity” of them all, the twelve million people who were brought in chains from Africa to the “New World,” whose reclaimed lives shed a harsh light on our present world. Read more

Burkina Faso is at a turning point, and Ibrahim Traore stands at the center of its transformation. Rising from the ranks of the military to become one of Africa’s youngest leaders, Traoré has challenged the status quo, rejected foreign interference, and reignited the spirit of Pan-Africanism. But who is the man behind the revolution? What drives his vision for Burkina Faso and Africa’s future?In "IBRAHIM TRAORE: The Revolutionary Leader Who Reshaped Burkina Faso’s Political Landscape And Inspired A New Era Of Pan-Africanism," author Simon C. Batson takes you on a deep exploration of Traoré’s rise to power, his fight against terrorism, and his mission to break free from neocolonial influence. From pushing out foreign military forces to forging alliances with African nations, Traoré is not just leading a country he’s shaping a movement.This book unpacks his bold leadership, economic strategies, and commitment to self-reliance. It also examines the challenges he faces, from international sanctions to internal resistance, and what his leadership means for the future of Africa.Traoré’s story is one of courage, defiance, and hope, a call for Africans to reclaim their destiny. Whether you are a student of history, a supporter of African independence, or simply curious about one of today’s most influential leaders, this book is a must-read.Get your copy today and discover how one leader is reshaping the future of Burkina Faso and inspiring a new era of Pan-African unity. Read more

"Catch Me if You Can meets Coming to America in this epic tale of one of the greatest scammers of all time."-NPRShortlisted for the Mark Lynton History Prize * A New York Times Notable Book of the Year * A New Yorker, NPR, Newsweek, The Economist, TIME, Slate, and WIRED Best Book of the YearThe astounding, never-before-told story of how an audacious Ghanaian con artist pulled off one of the 20th century's longest-running and most spectacular frauds.When Ghana won its independence from Britain in 1957, it instantly became a target for home-grown opportunists and rapacious Western interests determined to snatch any assets that colonialism hadn't already stripped. A CIA-funded military junta ousted the new nation's inspiring president, Kwame Nkrumah, then falsely accused him of hiding the country's gold overseas. Into this big lie stepped one of history's most charismatic scammers, a con man to rival the trickster god Anansi. Born into poverty in Ghana and trained in the United States, John Ackah Blay-Miezah declared himself custodian of an alleged Nkrumah trust fund worth billions. You, too, could claim a piece--if only you would “invest” in Blay-Miezah's fictitious efforts to release the equally fictitious fund. Over the 1970s and '80s, he and his accomplices-including Ghanaian state officials and Nixon's former attorney general--scammed hundreds of millions of dollars out of thousands of believers. Blay-Miezah lived in luxury, deceiving Philadelphia lawyers, London financiers, and Seoul businessmen alike, all while eluding his FBI pursuers. American prosecutors called his scam “one of the most fascinating--and lucrative--in modern history.” In Anansi's Gold, Yepoka Yeebo chases Blay-Miezah's ever-wilder trail and discovers, at long last, what really happened to Ghana's missing wealth. She unfolds a riveting account of Cold War entanglements, international finance, and postcolonial betrayal, revealing how what we call “history” writes itself into being, one lie at a time.Winner of the Jhalak Prize * Winner of the Plutarch Award for Biography Read more

"Short History of Senegal is a concise and engaging guide to the rich history of Senegal, from its ancient kingdoms to its modern independence. Discover the cultural heritage, key historical events, and influential figures that shaped this vibrant West African nation. Perfect for history enthusiasts, travelers, and anyone curious about Senegal's past and present." Read more

“[An] informative and readable account of the growth of the politically motivated and extremely violent Mau Mau in Kenya.” —Military Historical Society    The Second World War forever altered the complexion of the British Empire. From Cyprus to Malaya, from Borneo to Suez, the dominoes began to fall within a decade of peace in Europe. Africa in the late 1940s and 1950s was energized by the grant of independence to India, and the emergence of a credible indigenous intellectual and political caste that was poised to inherit control from the waning European imperial powers.   In Kenya, however, matters were different. A vociferous local settler lobby had accrued significant economic and political authority under a local legislature, coupled with the fact that much familial pressure could be brought to bear in Whitehall by British settlers of wealth and influence, most of whom were utterly irreconciled to the notion of any kind of political hand over. Mau Mau was less than a liberation movement, but much more than a mere civil disturbance.   This book covers the emergence and growth of Mau Mau, and the strategies applied by the British to confront and nullify what was in reality a tactically inexpert, but nonetheless powerfully symbolic black expression of political violence. That Mau Mau set the tone for Kenyan independence somewhat blurred the clean line of victory and defeat. The revolt was suppressed and peace restored, but events in the colony were nevertheless swept along by the greater movement of Africa toward independences, resulting in the eventual establishment of majority rule in Kenya in 1964. Read more

This work is mainly an editorial compilation of excerptsfrom different authors, yours truly included. As such, I do notclaim original authorship of some of the content. I want to thank ProfSimon Ehiabhi, Mr. Iseribhor Okhueleigbe, Mr. Sylvester Omosun,Dr. Ayodele Akinrinwale and Dr. Tamuno Takena for their permissionand excitement upon being broached to use some of their works in thiseditorial piece. They are truly great sons of Esan land. Thanks to Dr.Francisca Isi Asowa-Omorodion for her very insightful article. Thisis a big shout-out to the ESAN PROGRESSIVE ASSOCIATION OFATLANTA, GA, for their participation in writing this book, in particular,Mrs. Bridget Oghina and my mother, Mama R.B IKUENOBE. Read more

Written from a digital humanities perspective, this book combines historical sources, maps, and a walking cartography to create new perspectives on the nineteenth-century history of Lagos, West Africa’s most populous city. What traces do people leave in the places where they live, and even where they die? This book addresses the spatial history of nineteenth-century Lagos, rebuilding its past as a series of encounters: between men and women, between past and present, between enslaved and free, between living and dead, and finally between land and lagoon. In Imagine Lagos, Ademide Adelusi-Adeluyi argues that the invention, destruction, and reinvention of spatial markers in Lagos—the streets, markets, roads, squares, palaces, and lagoons where these encounters occurred—was crucial to negotiations over identity, power, and freedom. Research for this book combines oral and archival sources from three countries with the experience of three summers of walking the streets of Lagos. Contrary to historical interpretations that render the physical city as a blank, featureless space in desperate need of constant repair, this book offers a variety of visual and textual narratives to push readers to imagine the old city. Throughout Imagine Lagos, historical maps join other texts—including colonial correspondence and reports, missionary letters, oríkì (Yoruba praise poetry), and newspaper articles—to create a complex collage of urban life in Lagos. Streets emerge as sites of historical memories, and Adelusi-Adeluyi’s maps of the mid-nineteenth-century city reveal and catalog layers of change. A focus on the city as a whole—as both a physical and social landscape—brings us closer than ever to understanding the lives of Lagosians between 1845 and 1872. In old Lagos, the streets keep their histories. The story maps and full-resolution maps for this book are available at https://newmapsoldlagos.com. Read more

Thomas Sankara: A Revolutionary in Cold War Africa offers the first complete biography in English of the dynamic revolutionary leader from Burkina Faso, Thomas Sankara. Coming to power in 1983, Sankara set his sights on combating social injustice, poverty, and corruption in his country, fighting for women's rights, direct forms of democracy, economic sovereignty, and environmental justice. Drawing on government archival sources and over a hundred interviews with Sankara's family members, friends, and closest revolutionary colleagues, Brian J. Peterson details Sankara's political career and rise to power, as well as his assassination at age 37 in 1987, in a plot led by his close friend Blaise Compaoré. Thomas Sankara: A Revolutionary in Cold War Africa offers a unique, critical appraisal of Sankara and explores why he generated such enthusiasm and hope in Burkina Faso and beyond, why he was such a polarizing figure, how his rivals seized power from him, and why T-shirts sporting his image still appear on the streets today. Read more

“No blessing, no good, can follow in the path trodden by slavery.” - Dorothea Dix. Slave Narrative Six Pack 6 presents six more essential texts: Is Slavery Sanctioned by the Bible? by Isaac Allen. Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Henry Bibb, An American Slave, Written by Himself by Henry Bibb. Portuguese Slavery in the 20th Century by Evelyn Baring. The Iron Furnace; or, Slavery and Secession by John H. Aughey. The Slave Preacher by Charles Thompson. Roman Slavery by William Warde Fowler. Includes image gallery. Read more

Ready to learn about one of the major medieval African empires?Many people know about the Mali Empire and its famous ruler, Mansa Musa. But did you know there was a major empire that came before it?Medieval African history tends to get ignored in favor of medieval European history. However, there is so much rich history to uncover, especially in the region of West Africa.The Ghana Empire is considered one of the greatest empires in African history. There was an abundance of gold in the region, and the Ghana Empire was a powerful trading partner. Advancements were made in administration, allowing it to become a dominant power in the region.History comes alive in these pages. Here are just a few of the things you will learn about in this book:How the Ghana Empire rose to power in the first place;What people groups called the Ghana Empire home;The influence of Islam on the empireWhy trade was such a major factor in the empire’s control of the regionHow the Almoravids impacted the Ghana Empire;The decline and eventual downfall of this mighty power;And so much more!Scroll up and click the “add to cart” button to begin learning about the Ghana Empire today! Read more

"Sheds light on the slave trade, American slave life and the British abolitionist movement." -Daily Press (Newport News, Va.), June 8, 2014"Some Memories of the Life of Job" is one of the earliest and most intriguing slave narratives, being published in 1734. Ayuba Suleiman Diallo (1701-1773), also known as Job ben Solomon, was a famous Muslim who was a victim of the Atlantic slave trade. Born in Bundu, Senegal (West Africa), Job's memoirs were published as one of the earliest slave narratives in Thomas Bluett's 1734 book "Some Memories of the Life of Job." Diallo came from a prominent Fulbe family of Muslim religious leaders. His grandfather had founded the town of Bundu, and he grew up with Samba Geladio Diegui the heir to the Kingdom of Futa-Toro. In 1730, Job became a victim of the ever-growing slave exploitation of the Senegambia region. Job and his interpreter Loumein Yoas were near the Gambia River to trade slaves and paper. While visiting some friends on their return trip, Job and Yoas were captured by invading Mandingoes. Eventually Job was sold to a slave holder in Maryland. Job's story was an extremely rare exception in the slave trade. Due to his intelligence and monetary prowess, and Englishmen's desire to use him to increase their own profits in trade on the coast of Africa, he was able to legally escape the hardships of slavery and return home to Africa. Thomas Bluett (c.1690-1749) was a British judge in Annapolis, Maryland. Bluett gained lasting renown by the encounter with an African slave, Job, in 1731. While in jail in Annapolis, Job was visited by Thomas Bluett. Thomas became impressed with him and, through another slave acting as interpreter, wrote Job's biography. Read more