Africa First

Immerse yourself in the intricate story of Africa and discover Africa's true place in world history. Spanning more than 200,000 years, from the emergence of the first humans to the rise of megacities, Africa explores the history and cultures of the world's second-largest continent in vivid...

David Livingstone was a Scottish missionary and one of the greatest European explorers who ever lived. He fought all his life against slavery, and is remembered as a national hero for opening up the interior of the so-called "Dark Continent"; his expeditions had a tremendous influence on the colonization of Africa and the relation between Europeans and Africans. The son of a Christian missionary himself, Livingstone felt a spiritual calling to reach people in the interior of Africa in order to find new commercial routes and thus free the Africans from the plague of slavery.

Uncover the untold African history of a golden empire in this epic tale of ancient civilizations and royal power. Perfect for an immersive daily commute, this deep-dive historical narrative transports you directly to the vibrant landscapes of the western Sahel and Sahara. Witness the dramatic...

Explore the epic African history of mighty empires and the fierce fight for independence that shaped a modern nation. Whether you are commuting or settling into a focused listening session, this triumphant narrative transports you across centuries of West African heritage. Witness the...

With gripping anecdotes, Levinson describes her adventures working in some of the most dangerous places on earth, from Somalia to Iraq. But it is her efforts on behalf of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf that form the heart of Choosing the Hero. Levinson chronicles her behind-the-scenes lobbying for the exiled Sirleaf in Washington, DC, as well as her on-the-ground work in Liberia. It took three tries for Sirleaf to finally win the presidency in 2005. President Sirleaf won the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize.

Most scientists believe the evolution of humans has a history as long as life itself. Anatomically modern humans and all other life that has existed on the planet first came about from the single-celled microorganisms that emerged approximately 4 billion years ago. Through the processes of mutation and natural selection, all forms of life developed, and this continuous lineage of life makes it difficult to say precisely when one species completely separates from another.

From award-winning, New York Times bestselling author Ibi Zoboi and artist Juanita Londoño, this lyrical celebration of the first day of school across every continent explores what going back to school looks like for children in countries around the world! How do children around the world spend...

From the National Book Critics Circle Award–winning biographer and pre-eminent scholar, a revelatory new portrait of Cecil Rhodes, the man who built South African apartheid and shaped nineteenth-century colonialism Cecil Rhodes, the tycoon and imperialist who left a wake of tragedy and...

Experience the gripping history of colonization and the relentless fight for liberation that birthed a modern democracy. This immersive narrative transports you from pre-colonial trade networks to the brutal legal architecture of apartheid. Witness the epic clash of empires and the ultimate...

he African American holiday of Kwanzaa is a first fruits festival, inspired by the Zulu celebration Umkhosi Wokweshwama, also known as Umkhosi Woselwa. The story of The First Fruits Festival of Kwanzaa is about a boy named Shaka. He wants to attend the Umkhosi Wokweshwama to sing the ngoma for his ancestors. However, he does not know if he is strong enough to make the trip from America to South Africa because he suffers from sickle cell anemia. As Shaka navigates the festival and his ailment, listeners will be introduced to the Zulu culture and experience the Umkohsi Wokweshwama.