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History of Africa

by The History of Africa Podcast

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Latest episodes

Season 7 Episode 2: Looking for Takrur

June 23, 2026 · 32 min

In this episode, we explore the history of the medieval Western Sahel, and examine what Arabic language sources tell us about the Senegal River Valley during the rise of its first major empire - the Empire of Takrur.
Season 7 Episode 1: Welcome to Senegambia

April 6, 2026 · 25 min

Explore the history of the Wolof Empire with us this season. In this episode we set the stage for what is to come by examining the geography and prehistory of Senegambia. From the evolution of its archaeological cultures to the famous…
Season 6 Episode 18: The Omani Empire

August 11, 2025 · 25 min

Kilwa is brought to its knees by one final foreign invasion, which leads the island into an irreversible decline and the eventual dissolution of the sultanate.
Season 6 Episode 17: The (Brief) Portuguese Conquest of Kilwa

July 21, 2025 · 23 min

The Portuguese have conquered Kilwa. Let's see how much pain their victory causes them in the long run.
Season 6 Episode 16: The Portuguese Arrive

June 30, 2025 · 20 min

The Portuguese arrive in Kilwa. This should go well.

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From the Vault: Zengjiani, the Zanzibari Traveler in China

June 9, 2025 · 12 min

As my voice recovers, please enjoy this "from the vault" episode about Zengjiani, a famous East African traveler who reached numerous impressive destinations.
Season 6 Episode 15: The Unstable 15th Century part 2: Emir Muhammad the Powerful

May 19, 2025 · 20 min

After decades of civil strife and conflict, a powerful leader finally emerges in Kilwa Kisiwani as the 14th century reached its climax. With the power of the sultanate waning, a powerful judge named Muhammad Al Kawab asserts himself as the…
Season 6 Episode 14: The Unstable 15th Century Part 1: Age of the Viziers Arrives

April 28, 2025 · 19 min

Today, we enter into an age of transformation. For a prominent period in Kilwa's history, the city and its many satellites will no longer be under the reign of the centuries-old monarchy. Instead, a new apparatus of bureaucratic elites…
Season 6 Episode 13: The Stone City of Songo Mnara

April 7, 2025 · 20 min

Urban sprawl and social instability leads Kilwa to develop a sister city on a nearby peninsula. Songo Mnara grows rapidly to become a major urban center on the Eastern Coast of Africa.
Season 6 Episode 12: Ibn Battuta’s Kilwa Vacation

March 17, 2025 · 23 min

The great traveler Ibn Battuta arrives in Kilwa, and paints a tale of a country at the peak of its power, wealth, and prestige...but with a potentially bleaker future awaiting.
Season 6 Episode 11: The Father of Gifts

February 24, 2025 · 21 min

Every historic civilization has one or two famous leaders who rise above all others in their fame and prestige. Kilwa's most famous ruler was certainly Abu al Mawahib, the Father of Gifts.
Season 6 Episode 10: The Mahdali Coup

February 3, 2025 · 21 min

The Sultanate of Kilwa influenced Zanzibar. Today, Zanzibar influences Kilwa back.

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About the show

Take a deep dive deep into African history with this in-depth podcast. From Casablanca to Cape Town, tune in to this podcast to learn about the magnificent and oft-forgotten history of Africa. To access more free resources about African history, provide feedback, or support the show, check out our associated website at https://historyofafricapodcast.blogspot.com