The Intellectual Traditions of Pre-Colonial Africa [Paperback]

Constance B. Hilliard (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1997 | ISBN-10: 0070288984 | ISBN-13: 978-0070288980 | Edition: 1st

This text is a collection of sources (both written and oral), detailing the rich intellectual tradition of Ancient Africa to the mid-19th Century. It focuses solely on the work of Africans, and provides excerpts of sufficient length to expose readers to the breadth of indigenous intellectual traditions. Many of these works are translated here for the first time.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Constance Hilliard received her Ph.D. from Harvard University in the areas of African History and Semitic Historiography. She is spending 1997/1998 at Wellesley College as a Visiting Professor. Ms. Hilliard rejoined academia after serving for several years as a foreign policy staff analyst for the U.S. Senate and as a columnist for the Dallas Morning News. She is Assistant Professor at the University of North Texas.

Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Mcgraw-Hill College; 1st edition (September 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0070288984
• ISBN-13: 978-0070288980
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #489,959 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ground-breaking work!, August 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Intellectual Traditions of Pre-Colonial Africa (Paperback)

Dr. Hilliard, transcends the limitations of academia to provide viable insight into a people with stark honesty and innate wisdom. Often misrepresented and misunderstood, she avoids this trap by presenting the traditions as a representation of an intellectual system....without extraction, for the Western mind to perceive. A remarkable accomplishment, and generous gift.

Y.Dubel

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Blows away myths about Africa, November 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Intellectual Traditions of Pre-Colonial Africa (Paperback)

Intellectual Traditions of Pre-Colonial Africa is the most comprehensive representation of Africa's rich cultural heritage that I have seen in print. This is the Africa that white history books try to pretend doesn't exist! Dr. Hilliard completely destroys the myth of Africa as a backward, uncivilized and illiterate continent of savages. Africa has long been considered to be the cradle of civilization. With such a long history it makes sense that Africa would be full of rich oral and intellectual traditions, many of which Dr. Hilliard has addressed in her book. Its a wonder that no one has written a book like this before. Anyone with more than a passing interest in Africa's cultural heritage should read this book. It is the ultimate reference on African culture.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Book And A must Read, June 27, 2005

By 

Joseph O. Asagba (Denton,TX,USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Intellectual Traditions of Pre-Colonial Africa (Paperback)

The Intellectual Traditions of Pre-Colonial Africa is one if the best books written that l have read about the early history of Africa.The editor [Dr.Hilliard] undertook a history long overlooked and brought to light a remarkable ancient history of Africa.This extraordinary book gives the readers knowledge of Africa pasts as who is an African and their early development.Dr.Hilliard was able to examined Africa kingdoms and their earliest populations and religious traditions.The book also pointout one of the most tragic legacies of Africa's slave past and European colonialism of Africa continent.Dr.Hilliard also addresses the early Hausaland history,the development of the Muslim in Northern Nigeria and the proper treatment of women by the Hausa muslim.This is a very rich book about the Africans and an essential read for anyone seeking insight into the Africa unknown past.