Precolonial Black Africa [Paperback]

Cheikh Anta Diop (Author), Harold Salemson (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1988

This comparison of the political and social systems of Europe and black Africa from antiquity to the formation of modern states demonstrates the black contribution to the development of Western civilization.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Cheikh Anta Diop was a Senegalese historian, anthropologist, and scholar of Afrocentricity.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Lawrence Hill Books (August 1, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556520883
• ISBN-13: 978-1556520884
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #69,263 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #18 in Books > History > Africa > Central Africa

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is scholastically revolutionary., May 29, 1999

By 

Muata Hondo Nantambu Diop ([e-mail]) (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Precolonial Black Africa (Paperback)

This book juxtaposes medieval West African societies with their European counterparts. Diop utilizes primary souces (e.g., "Tarikh-as-Sudan" and "Tarikh-al-Fettash") to illustrate the fundamental components of medieval West African civilization and political organization. Aspects of African culture that are generally regarded as "non-African" are discussed, such as the existence of indigenous African scripts, the use of armor in African military regiments, in-depth university curricula, and even the possiblity of pre-Columbian navigation to America. This book is a must read for student of precolonial West African history.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars www.sportofdistraction.com, November 5, 2005

By 

D. Garcia "www.sportofdistraction.com" (Bronx, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Precolonial Black Africa (Paperback)

Some of Cheikh Anta Diop's findings prove to be controversial to some who choose to look at the issue through biased lenses. The information presented within this book is capitivating for anyone interested in learning more of the Africa that existed prior to and during the early stages of Black Afica.

The frustrating aspect is that more can not be known, or researched due to the loss of artifacts & oral history. Looking into "Precolonial..." definitely cracks the window open for all parties interested in understanding, or being exposed to, this rich history.

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing!!, March 6, 2004

By 

A .J. Casper (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Precolonial Black Africa (Paperback)

Cheikh Anta Diop is amazing. I have read ALL his books, and as always, this one is excellent. In "Pre-Colonial Black Africa", (unlike all his other books) he takes a small step out of Ancient Egypt and explores more of his own home region (West Africa). His work is prolific and clearly exposes the fact that West African history can be accurately traced thousands of years, thanks to all the myriad historical texts already at our disposal ("Tarikh-as-Sudan", "Tarikh-as-Fettash", etc).

Senegal should be extremely proud of producing such a quality scholar like Diop! I would like to see his works translated to other languages (African, especially). It is important that Africans read their history from an objective (and native!) viewpoint. I would give the book more than 5 stars if it was possible. I have to add that it's a lot easier to comprehend and appreciate for an African-born/raised person. Diop (as always) shined on this one!