I have a history BA, from a decent size school. Every year I looked for classes on African history that weren’t Egypt. Over five years, nothing. Tiptoed around the continent in a southern hemisphere survey class, but no “History of the Mali Empire,” no “West Africa in the 20th century,” nothing even resembling a introductory survey of the continent.
I have massive gaps in my understanding of the continent, and it drives me crazy. I have a couple of books I’ve collected to piecemeal something akin to an understanding, but it’s so goddamn frustrating that the US education system, even up to the collegiate level, simply omits an entire continent of people.
Same, though from a dinky little local uni instead. I majored in international history - all I ever got was a briefly-offered class on the general history of the African continent - including Egypt, spanning some 4000 years, and with a focus on the colonial and post-colonial periods.
A shame how understudied it is. Unfortunately, I’m given to understand that it’s not just US universities that ignore it.
And ironically, even the things listed here on the lower levels arent obscure or anything, they’re just lesser known because even history nerds often overlook African history
On the bottom three levels, I only know the Roman related points (Vandal Kingdom, Roman coins in Mozambique)
FUN FACT: The furthest regular trading port frequented by the Romans in Africa was in Tanzania, which took nearly two months to travel to from Roman Egypt by sailing ship, and then two months to return - assuming ideal winds!
Is this the syllabus of African Studies 101 or something? Total amateur hour. At the absolute least where are:
Dahomey kingdom
Kanuri Empire
Toubou knifesmithing
Tuareg people
Sarrounia Mangou and the use of traditional religion in the resistance of European Colonialism
Ouidah and use of traditional fetish altars
Afropop
Under appreciated by WHITE academia.
If it’s not European colonialism even the left doesn’t care.
