BBC's "The Story Of Africa"

[SonOfIsis]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/af...storyofafrica/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/sp...ca/index.shtml

^^This is actually a few years old, but a genuinely unparalleled classic nonetheless, and probably the best program released in audio format that I've ever had the pleasure of listening to. Just thought I'd share and spread the love.. Also, for anyone who is interested, I took the liberty(initially for my own benefit) to record all 24 programmes from the "Story of Africa" series in Mp3 format, and I have uploaded them here in a zip folder(The links below are all "real player" audio streams).

The Story of Africa tells the history of the continent from an African perspective. Africa's top historians take a fresh look at the events and characters that have shaped the continent from the origins of humankind to the end of South African apartheid. See the rise and fall of empires and kingdoms, experience the power of religion, the injustices of slavery, and chart the expansion of trade between Africa and other continents. Hear what it was like to live under colonialism, follow the struggle against it, and celebrate the achievement of independence.

BBC World Service has produced two major series, along with two discussion programmes, all providing an in-depth look at African history

Tracks and info below(need Real Player):

"Africa in History" looks at six historical debates including the Origin of Ancient Egypt and Africa's Role in the Slave Trade (30 minutes duration each)

1. Ancient Egypt and the Nile Valley: Listen Here


2. Religion in Africa: Listen Here


3. Legacy of Great Empires: Listen Here


4. Slavery: Listen Here


5. Colonialism: Listen Here


6. Independence: Listen Here

"The Story of Africa" is a twenty four part narrative history of the continent, taking listeners from the Dawn of Man to Independence. (30 minutes duration each.)

Note: Some of these links it seems, are unstable and may not work from time to time.. Anyone who runs into such problems can either refer to one of the above links at the top of the page or download the Mp3 files that I've uploaded..

1. Origins of Humankind:
How humanity emerged in East Africa and spread from the continent to populate other parts of the world. Listen Here



2. Africa & the Nile Valley:
Looking at the great civilisations of Egypt and Kush and assessing the links between the Nile Valley and other parts of Africa. Listen Here



3. The Berbers:
How the original peoples of North Africa reacted to wave upon wave of colonisation at the hands of Phoenicians, Romans and Arabs. Listen Here



4. The Bantu Migrations:
One of the most extraordinary population movements in history - how the Bantu spread into East and Southern Africa transforming the culture and linguistics of the continent. Listen Here



5. Traditional Religions:
How African traditional beliefs, the veneration of ancestors and the power of taboos has affected history. Listen Here



6. The Coming of Christianity:
The rise of Christianity in Egypt and the establishment of powerful Christian states in Axum and Nubia. Listen Here



7. The Coming of Islam:
The rise of Arabic dynasties, and the spread of Islam throughout north and sub-Saharan Africa. Listen Here



8. The Empire of Ancient Ghana:
How early settlements developed into vital commercial centres growing rich on Saharan trade. Listen Here



9. The Kingdoms of Mali and Songhay:
The emergence of Timbuktu as a centre of learning and the glories of an empire built on gold. Listen Here



10. The Swahili Coast:
The development of coastal communities from small trading settlements to city-states and the emergence of the Swahili language and peoples. Listen Here



11. Central Africa & the Coming of the Portuguese:
The Kingdoms of Great Zimbabwe and Kongo, and the impact of Portuguese trading on inland Africa. Listen Here



12. The Art of Ife and Benin:
An extraordinary cultural flowering which reaches its peak in the twelfth century. And the role of artistic expression in Africa's history. Listen Here



13. Hausa City States & the Fulani Jihad:
The role of Usman dan Fodio, and the foundation of the city-states of Hausaland. Listen Here



14. Roots of African Slavery:
A look at the concept of slavery in Africa before the arrival of Europeans. Listen Here



15. The Transatlantic Slave Trade:
Eyewitness accounts of slave raids on African towns and villages and the horror of the Middle Passage. Listen Here



16. East African Slavery:
Accounts from Zanzibar and Bagamoyo on the Arab slave trade and the role of African traders such as Tippu Tip. Listen Here



17. Africa on the Eve of Colonialism:
Looking at urban and rural societies, pan-African trade and culture on the eve of European exploitation. Listen Here



18. The Mfecane:
African resistance to the Boers, the rise of the Zulu peoples and their expansion northwards at the expense of other Bantu groups. Listen Here



19. Partition & Resistance:
How the Scramble for Africa led to an arbitrary redrawing of the map of Africa by European diplomats at the Congress of Berlin. Listen Here



20. Life under Colonialism:
Eyewitness accounts from throughout the continent on what it was like to live under British, French, German and Portuguese rulers. Listen Here



21. The Challenges to Colonialism:
The beginnings of resistance and the emergence of anti-colonial religious, cultural and political movements. Listen Here



22. Independence:
Looking at how a variety of colonies achieved independence - some peacefully, some through violence. Listen Here



23. Apartheid:
The struggle against the racist white government and the eventual overthrow of apartheid culminating in the release and election of President Nelson Mandela. Listen Here



24. The Nation State:
The emergence of independent states and the political, social and economic challenges facing those who led them. Listen Here

Historians from Africa and America in conversation

1. Talkabout History:
The importance of African History (half an hour). Listen Here



2. Talkabout History:
The future of African History (half an hour). Listen Here