J. D. Fage (1921–2002)

http://nhw.livejournal.com/1025592.html

I found it a pretty fascinating guide to the interlocking ebb and flow of kingdoms and empires across the continent up to the colonial period. The particular strength is in West Africa south of the Sahara, which I have been long fascinated by despite knowing very little about it, but he's good on the rest as well. Two things I was particularly interested to read about: i) The first massive external colonialist intervention, based on greed and collapsing show more in mismanagement and ignominious withdrawal, seems to have been the Moroccan destruction of the Songhai empire based on the Niger river in 1591, which resulted in the impoverishment of the whole of West Africa. ii) The rape of southern central Africa ("Bantuland", as Fage calls it) by slave traders at the start of the nineteenth century, and its subsequent easy penetration by European colonialists, was mainly due to the exploratory, trading and colonising efforts of Sayyid Said, the Sultan of Oman, who got so engaged with his successful African trade that he moved the seat of his Arabian sultanate to Zanzibar.

However, it's probably not the best place to start for today's reader; published in 1978, it therefore misses the crucial transitions in Zimbabwe and South Africa, and covers less than the first half (in many cases not even the first third) of most countries' post-independence history. The unresolved Rhodesia and apartheid questions I think also make it more difficult for the author to assess the colonial and post-colonial eras in the round, and of course the Portuguese and Spanish had only just disengaged. A more recent book would probably be more useful. show less

A useful overview, especially until around the end of the 1800s, but the tone and focus are sometimes shockingly mushy and bland when describing events that were, by all other accounts, quite horrific. Do read with [b:King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror and Heroism in Colonial Africa|347610|King Leopold's Ghost A Story of Greed, Terror and Heroism in Colonial Africa|Adam Hochschild|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1173937358s/347610.jpg|937922] and [b:The Challenge for show more Africa|5167050|The Challenge for Africa|Wangari Maathai|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320542961s/5167050.jpg|5234087] for balance. This is the white-bread version of the seizing and exploitation of Africa. show less

The second volume moves the series beyond the realm of conjecture based on scant evidence firmly into the era of written history. Unfortunately, the written records are not evenly distributed, but heavily focused on the Mediterranean coast. The long period witnessed the rise and fall of the Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Islamic hegemony. The area witnessed the rapid spread of Christianity and quick eclipse by Islam. Ethiopia and Sudan have more extensive historical records, due in show more large part to their proximity to Northern Africa. The rise of an independent Christian state in Ethiopia stands out in an areas that became increasingly dominated by Islamic expansion. Areas south of the Sahara in particular resemble the evidence and analysis present in the first volume for the prehistory of the continent and its inhabitants. show less

2257 A Short History of Africa Sixth Edition, by Roland Oliver and J. D. Fage (read 17 Dec 1989) This book goes up to 1986 and is by two British professors. It is well done, and while it covers a lot of time over a few pages I thought it worth reading. I wasn't too interested in African history before 1600 but the chapters on the period since were very interesting--especially the last two: "The Road to Independence" and "Independent Africa: The Early Years." It has a good "Suggestions for show more Further Reading." This was a good book, which should be followed up with more specific reading. show less