Book Club: African History

For our next meeting we have decided to read books on African History. Suggested reading:

• An African History of Africa by Zainab Badawi
• Blood River by Tim Butcher
• Or choose your own book on the subject
• If you are too busy to read a book, read articles, listen to a podcast or watch a documentary on the subject

Whatever you read, join us for a lively and stimulating discussion with like-minded people in a relaxed atmosphere.

For too long, Africa’s history has been dominated by western narratives of slavery and colonialism or simply ignored. Now, Zeinab Badawi sets the record straight in An African History of Africa, From the Dawn of Humanity to Independence.

Badawi guides us through Africa’s spectacular history – from the origins of humanity, through ancient civilisations and medieval empires, to the miseries of conquest and the elation of independence. Visiting more than thirty African countries to interview countless historians, anthropologists, archaeologists and local storytellers, Badawi weaves together a gripping new history of the oldest inhabited continent on the planet, told through the voices of Africans themselves.

You can find reviews Blood River on Goodreads: An African History of Africa

Blood River: A Journey to Africa's Broken Heart is a 2007 book by British journalist and writer Tim Butcher.

A compulsively readable account of a journey to the Congo — a country virtually inaccessible to the outside world — vividly told by a daring and adventurous journalist.

Ever since Stanley first charted its mighty river in the 1870s, the Congo has epitomized the dark and turbulent history of a failed continent. However, its troubles only served to increase the interest of Daily Telegraph correspondent Tim Butcher, who was sent to cover Africa in 2000. Before long he became obsessed with the idea of recreating Stanley’s original expedition — but travelling alone.

Despite warnings Butcher spent years poring over colonial-era maps and wooing rebel leaders before making his will and venturing to the Congo’s eastern border. He passed through once thriving cities of this country and saw the marks left behind by years of abuse and misrule. Almost, 2,500 harrowing miles later, he reached the Atlantic Ocean, a thinner and a wiser man.

Butcher’s journey was a remarkable feat. But the story of the Congo, vividly told in Blood River, is more remarkable still.

You can find reviews Blood River on Goodreads: Blood River by Tim Butcher

We have a group on Goodreads from which you can see all the books we're discussing and make comments and recommendations to other members of the group. Goodreads: Reading Humanists group.

For those wishing to participate in our discussion, we have a WhatsApp group which you can join at Reading Humanists Book Club WhatsApp Group.