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'Siollun's books are gripping' - Financial Times
'An essential book you'll want to re-read many times - there is no more eloquent and informed guide than Max Siollun' - Sathnam Sanghera, author of Empireland
Much is known about what Europeans did in Africa, yet very little is known about Africa's history before its colonisation. In this surprising exploration, Max Siollun uncovers societies that were not part of a backward 'Dark Continent', but which instead had rich lore to rival the ancient Greeks and Romans.
Pre-colonial West Africa had a mesmerising cast of revolutionaries, intellectuals, innovators, and villainous assassins. These include the family that overthrew three different 1000-year-old empires, the royal court official who engineered the death of four kings, and the young enslaved boy who became the first Black bishop in history, befriending Queen Victoria along the way.
This story of a dynamic and artistic people is a vital read for those who want to discover a forgotten era of West Africa.
'An essential book you'll want to re-read many times - there is no more eloquent and informed guide than Max Siollun' - Sathnam Sanghera, author of Empireland
Much is known about what Europeans did in Africa, yet very little is known about Africa's history before its colonisation. In this surprising exploration, Max Siollun uncovers societies that were not part of a backward 'Dark Continent', but which instead had rich lore to rival the ancient Greeks and Romans.
Pre-colonial West Africa had a mesmerising cast of revolutionaries, intellectuals, innovators, and villainous assassins. These include the family that overthrew three different 1000-year-old empires, the royal court official who engineered the death of four kings, and the young enslaved boy who became the first Black bishop in history, befriending Queen Victoria along the way.
This story of a dynamic and artistic people is a vital read for those who want to discover a forgotten era of West Africa.
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Reviews
"'This is the indispensable book for anyone interested in the pre-colonial history of what now constitutes Nigeria. Incredibly necessary, magnificently done, Siollun charts the characters and events that shaped the political, social, cultural and economic lives of those who inhabited Nigeria's territories centuries before colonization. The Forgotten Era is as important to understanding the past as
Remi Adekoya, author of 'It's Not About Whiteness, It's About Wealth'
"'Anyone who wants to understand the world, needs to understand Nigeria, a country with the largest Black population in the world. And there is no more eloquent and informed guide than Max Siollun. This is a totally essential book that you'll want to annotate, re-read and gift many times'"
Sathnam Sanghera, author of 'Empireland: How Modern Britain is Shaped by its Imperial Past
"'Max Siollun accomplishes what few dare to attempt-a revival of a time when the region now known as Nigeria was alive with vibrant kingdoms, city-states, and complex social dynamics long before European colonisers imposed their narratives. Blending the rigour of a scholar with the captivating depth of a griot, he brings history to life with a cinematic sweep and intellectual confidence. Prepare t
Gimba Kakanda, writer, researcher, and Co-Lead at the PIIPER, Nigeria