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BOOKS,
LECTURES & ARTICLES
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NOTE: Most of the works below are readily available via
the Web, at All
Black Books, or Cush
City or any of the usual online bookstores based in
North America and around the world. A few of the older works
are harder to locate online (they can occasionally be
located via the MX
BookFinder gateway), but are always available directly
from the indicated publishers or reprinters such as
Black
Classic Press.
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Continental
& Diasporan
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This section lists books which cover multiple regions of
the Continent & the Diaspora.
The books by the late Dr. Cheikh Anta Diop that are
listed here represent just part of a larger body of work by
this Senegalese author who set a very high standard for
modern scholarly research on indigenous African peoples,
cultures & civilisations, not merely in the Nile Valley
but across the entire Continent. Diop, who died in 1986, was
quite the latter-day Imhotep or "Renaissance Man". He was a
nuclear physicist, anthropologist / archaeologist,
Egyptologist, linguist, historian and philosopher. In his
books, he rigorously demonstrated the kinship between the
indigenous civilisations of Africa, especially North-East
and West. For an overview of his work, see John Henrik
Clarke's 1974 article "Cheikh
Anta Diop and the New Light on African History".
Dr. Théophile Obenga is one of the better-known
protégés of the late Dr. C.A. Diop. This
Congolese author has continued in the spirit of his
predecessor. He is the author of several scholarly works on
indigenous African peoples, cultures & civilisations, as
well as the influence of the Nile Valley on the Hellenic
world. He is one of the driving forces in ANKH,
a groundbreaking jorunal in the French-speaking world, with
scholarly articles on African Antiquity and more.
Prof. Ivan Van Sertima's (Edited) journal is one of the
highest-calibre ones of its kind in the English-speaking
world. Prof. Van Sertima is of Guyanese origin. He currently
teaches in the African
Studies Dept. at Rutgers University in New Brunswick,
NJ, USA. Prof. Van Sertima and the many scholars who
contribute to the JAC series have been heavily influenced by
Diop. Of course, Prof. Van Sertima is also a well-known
author in his own right. Two of his best-known books discuss
the African presence in Early America (the so-called
"Pre-Colombian" period):- "They Came Before Columbus" (New
York: Random House, 1976), and the follow-up "Early America
Revisited" (New Brunswick: Transaction Publishers,
1998).
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AUTHOR
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TITLE
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PUBLISHER
& YEAR
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NOTES
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Clarke,
John Henrik
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(The)
African in the New World: Their Contribution to Science,
Invention and Technology {Lecture}
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In
NBUF's
Virtual Museums of the MASTERS
series, The John Henrik Clarke Virtual Museum,
The
African in the New World,
1986.
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Overview of achievements by people of African descent in
the Americas, particularly the US Diaspora.
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African
People in World History {Lecture}
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Baltimore:
Black Classic Press; 1993
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Overview of Nile Valley and other African
civilisations.
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Education
for a New Reality in the African World
{Lecture}
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In
NBUF's
Virtual Museums of the MASTERS
series, The John Henrik Clarke Virtual Museum,
Education
for a New Reality in the African
World,
1994.
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Contributions of African people to human progress, and a
plan of action for restoration via education.
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Diop ,
Cheikh Anta
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African
Origin of Civilisation
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New York:
Lawrence Hill & Co.; 1974 [Transl.]
Also in the
original French as two related works:- "Nations
nègres et Culture" (Paris: Présence Africaine;
1954), and "Antériorité des Civilisation
Nègres: Mythe ou Vérité Historique?"
(Paris: Présence Africaine; 1967)
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Monumental work, providing evidence for a Black African
origin of the Nile valley civilisations, especially Kemet.
Essential reading.
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Black
Africa: The Economic and Cultural Basis for a Federated
State
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New York:
Lawrence Hill & Co.; 1978 [Transl.]
Also in the
original French as:- "Les Fondements Culturels, Techniques
et Industriels d'un Futur État Fédéral
d'Afrique Noire" (Paris: Présence Africaine; 1960),
or the newer edition "Les Fondements Economiques et
Culturels d'un État Fédéral d'Afrique
Noire" (Paris: Présence Africaine; 1974)
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A little book with a big idea:- a schematic blueprint for
an "African Union" focused on self-help, decades before
today's New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD).
Essential reading.
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Civilisation
or Barbarism
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New York /
Westport: Lawrence Hill & Co., 1991
[Transl.]
Also in the
original French as:- "Civilisation ou Barbarie" (Paris:
Présence Africaine; 1981, 1988 [2nd
Ed.])
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Monumental work, covering many topics drawn from his
lifelong research, including African philosophy and
mathematics. Essential reading.
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(The)
Cultural Unity of Black Africa
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Chicago:
Third World Press; 1974, 1978 [2nd. Ed.]
[Transl.]
London:
Karnak House; 1990 [Transl.]
Also in the
original French as:- "L'Unité Culturelle de l'Afrique
Noire" (Paris: Présence Africaine; 1959, 1982
[2nd Ed.])
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Cultural ties (matrilineal descent, etc.) between the
Nile Valley and the rest of Africa, in comparison with
patriarchy in the Hellenic world, and more.
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Precolonial
Black Africa
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New York /
Westport: Lawrence Hill & Co.; 1986
[Transl.]
Also in the
original French as:- "L'Afrique Noire Précoloniale"
(Paris: Présence Africaine; 1960, 1987 [2nd
Ed.])
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Sudanic civilisations (Mali & Songhai), and more.
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Obenga,
Théophile
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Africa in
Antiquity : Pharaonic Egypt - Black Africa
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London:
Karnak House; 1997 [Transl.]
Also
available in the original French as:- "L'Afrique dans
l'Antiquité: Égypte Ancienne - Afrique Noire"
(Paris: Présence Africaine; 1973)
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Ancient Africa: the Nile Valley and the rest of the
Continent.
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African
Philosophy during the Time of the Pharaohs
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London /
Chicago: Karnak House; 1995 [Transl.]
Also in the
original French as:- "Philosophie Africaine de la
Période Pharaonique, 2780-330 Avant Notre Ère"
(Paris: L'Harmattan; 1990)
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Nile Valley philosophy.
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A Lost
Tradition: African Philosophy in World History
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Princeton,
NJ: Sungai Corp.; 1997
Also in the
original French as:- ____ (Paris: Présence Africaine;
19__)
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Nile Valley philosophy, again; this time in the wider
context of the world, especially the African influence on
Ancient Greek philosophers & philosophy.
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Ancient
Egypt and Black Africa: A Student's Handbook
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London:
Karnak House; 1992 [Transl.]
Also in the
original French as four essays prepared for the 5th Annual
Conference of Afrkan Origin of Civilisation, at the
School of Oriental and African Studies, University of
London, UK, in Oct. 1990
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Kemetic philosophy. African origin of "Greek" philsophy.
Linguistiic connections between Ancient Kemet and other
African peoples. Genger relations in Kemet.
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Pre-colonial
Central Africa
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London /
Chicago : Karnak House; 1995 [Transl.]
Also
available in the original French as:- "Afrique centrale
précoloniale : Documents d'Histoire Vivante" (Paris:
Présence Africaine; 1974)
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Civilisations of the Congo, etc., during pre-colonial
times.
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Van Sertima
, Ivan (Ed.)
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Journal of
African Civilizations {Series}, including:-
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New
Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers; [Various
Years]
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- African
Presence in Early Asia (Vol. 7, No. 2; 1985, 1988
[Rev.])
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African contributions to Ancient China, Ancient India
(Harrapan & Indus Valley), and more.
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- African
Presence in Early America (Vol. 9, No. 1;
1987)
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African influence on the Olmec civilisation, and
more.
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- Black
Women in Antiquity (Vol. 6, No. 1; 1984, 1988
[Rev.])
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Hatshepsut, Ahmes-Nefertari, and more.
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- Blacks
in Science: Ancient and Modern (Vol. 5, Nos. 1 & 2;
1983, 1990 [Rev.])
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Ancient African science (Kenya, Nile Valley, etc.),
African-American science, and more.
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- Egypt:
Child of Africa (Vol. 12, Nos. 1 & 2;
1990)
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Ancient Nile Valley civilisations in depth, again.
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- Egypt
Revisited (Vol. 11, Nos. 1 & 2; 1989, 1991 [2nd
Ed.])
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Ancient Nile Valley civilisations in depth.
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- Great
African Thinkers, Vol. 1: Cheikh Anta Diop (Vol. 8, No.
2; 1986)
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Survey and appreciation of Dr. Diop's life &
work.
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Regional
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This section lists books which cover a single region of
the Continent.
Most of these works are by the current "elder statesmen"
of the Afrocentric scholarly community. In particular, Dr.
Molefi Kete Asante is considered the "father" of
Afrocentrism as a humanist philosophical system.
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AUTHOR
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TITLE
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PUBLISHER
& YEAR
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NOTES
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Asante,
Molefi Kete
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Classical
Africa
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Maywood,
NJ: Peoples Pub. Group; 1994
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Nile Valley civilisations.
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(The)
Egyptian Philosophers: Ancient African Voices from Imhotep
to Akhenaten
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Chicago:
African American Images; 2000
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Kemetic philosophy.
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__: __;
19__
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A reply to the "Eurocentric" critics of Afrocentricity.
[See: Lefkowitz, Mary - "Not Out Of Africa",
below.]
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Kemet,
Afrocentricity and Knowledge
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Trenton,
NJ: Africa World Press, 1990
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Legacy of Nile Valley civilisations.
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ben-Jochannon,
Yosef A. A.
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Africa:
Mother of "Western Civilisation"
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New York:
Alkebu-lan Books Associates; 1970
[Original]
Baltimore:
Black Classic Press; 1988 [Reprint]
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Nile Valley influence on Ancient Greece, and more.
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African
Origins of the Major "Western Religions"
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New York:
Alkebu-lan Books Associates; 1970
[Original]
Baltimore:
Black Classic Press; 1991 [Reprint]
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Nile Valley influence on Judaism, Christian & Islam,
and more.
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Black Man
of the Nile
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New York:
Alkebu-lan Books Associates; 1972
[Original]
Baltimore:
Black Classic Press; 1989 [Reprint]
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Exhaustive history of the Ancient Nile Valley.
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Boahen,
Adu
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Topics in
West African History
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Harlow:
Longman Group UK; 1986 [2nd Edition])
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West African civilisations, and more.
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Carruthers,
Jacob H.
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Mdw Ntr:
Divine Speech
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London:
Karnak House; 1995
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Kemetic writing and sacred philosophy.
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Carruthers,
Jacob H., and Leon C. Harris (Eds.)
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African
World History Project: The Preliminary Challenge
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Los
Angeles: Association for the Study of Classical African
Civilizations (ASCAC); 1997
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In-depth discussion of the Nile Valley civilisations.
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Clegg,
Legrand H.
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A Brief
History of Africentric Scholarship
{Article}
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In
"MAAT
News", Vol. 1. Ed. 2, Jan. 1997
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Overview of the "Africentric" movement.
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Cruse,
Harold
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(The)
Crisis of the Negro Intellectual
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New York:
Morrow; 1967
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The perils of cultural negation, particularly in the US
Diaspora.
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Rebellion
or Revolution?
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New York:
Morrow; 1968
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The need for a "centred" cultural framework.
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DuBois,
William Edward Burghardt
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(The) World
and Africa: An inquiry into the part which Africa has played
in World History
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New York:
International Publishers; 1961
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Classic by one of the foremost African-American scholars
of his time, covering the Nile Valley civilisations, and
more.
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Finch,
Charles S. III, M.D.
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(The) Star
of Deep Beginnings: The Genesis of African Science and
Technology
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Decatur,
GA: Khenti Inc.; 1998
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Kemetic science, and more.
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Garvey,
Marcus Mosiah {Edited/Compiled by Amy Jacques
Garvey}
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(The)
Philosophy and Opinions of Marcus Garvey
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New York:
Universal Publishing House; 1923-25
[Original]
Dover, MA:
Majority Press; 1986 [Centennial Ed.]
[+
several other editions]
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Inspiring words & deeds of a Jamaica-born hero. In
his time, he led one of the biggest mass-movements ever in
the US Diaspora. He was one of the few who actually tried to
implement large-scale economic rebirth for Africans
worldwide (e.g., via the ill-fated 'Black Star Line'
shipping company), and more.
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Houston,
Drusilla Dunjee
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Wonderful
Ethiopians of the Ancient Cushite Empire, Book I: Nations of
the Cushite Empire; Marvelous Facts From Authentic
Records
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Oklahoma
City, OK: The Universal Publishing Co.; 1926
[Original]
Baltimore:
Black Classic Press; 1985 [Reprint]
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Comprehensive overview of Nile Valley civilisations, as
well as the African presence in early Asia, the African
influence on early Europe, and more.
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James,
George G.M.
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Stolen
Legacy: The Greeks were not the Authors of Greek Philosophy,
but the People of North Africa, commonly called the
Egyptians
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New York:
Philosophical Library; 1954
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Controversial classic by a Guyana-born author, discussing
the Nile Valley influence on Ancient Greece. It has recently
come under severe (and not wholly unjustified) criticism, by
mainstream scholars such as Prof. Mary Lefkowitz, for an
over-reliance on dubious secondary sources. Still worth
reading for its many original insights.
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Nantambu,
Kwame
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Ancient
Egypt's Role in European History {Article}
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In
TriniCenter articles, Ancient
Egypt's Role in European History,
5th June 2001
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Overview of African influence on Ancient Greek
philosophers.
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Ra Un Nefer
Amen
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Metu Neter.
Vols. 1 & 2
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Brooklyn:
Kamit Publications; 1990 & 1994
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Kemetic philosophical and educational ("mystery")
systems. Essential reading.
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Rashidi,
Runoko
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(The)
African Presence in India {Lecture Notes}
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In the
Global African Presence > Lecture Notes series,
The
African Presence in India,
19__
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African presence in Ancient Indian (Indus Valley)
civilisations, and more.
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Global
African Community: The African Presence in Asia, Australia
and the South Pacific
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____:
Institute of Independent Education; 1994
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African presence in, and influence on, Ancient Asia and
Australasia.
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Introduction
to the Study of African Classical Civilizations
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London:
Karnak House; 1993
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African and "AfroAsiatic" civilisations around the
world.
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Williams,
Chancellor James
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The
Destruction of Black Civilisation: Great Issues of a Race
from 4500 B.C. to 2000 A.D.
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Chicago:
Third World Press; 1974, 1987 [Rev.]
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Thought-provoking classic, although there is perhaps too
much blame placed on "miscegenation".
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Woodson,
Carter Godwin
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(The)
Miseducation of the Negro
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__: __;
19__
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Other
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These works by scholars of European descent serve as an
excellent reminder that erudite men (and women) of integrity
come in all colours. This is especially noteworthy
considering the anti-African tenor of the times during which
many of them wrote.
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AUTHOR
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TITLE
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PUBLISHER
& YEAR
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NOTES
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Bernal,
Martin
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Black
Athena--The AfroAsiatic Roots of Classical Civilization,
Vol. I
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__:
__; 1987
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Nile valley and Levantine influence on Ancient Greece.
Ironically, it was this book more than any other which got
the attention of mainstream scholars, and sparked the
ongoing debate about "Afrocentricity". [See: Lefkowitz,
Mary - "Not Out Of Africa", below.]
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Black
Athena--The Afroasiatic Roots of Classical Civilization,
Vol. II: The Archaeological and Documentary
Evidence
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New
Brunswick: Rutgers University Press; 1991
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Detailed archaeological, historical and linguistic
evidence for the above thesis.
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Bryan,
Cyril P. (Transl.)
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The Papyrus
'Ebers': The First Medical Book
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London: G.
Bles; 1930 [Original]
Chicago:
Ares Publishers; 1974 [Reprint]
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Kemetic medical treatise.
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Higgins,
Godfrey
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Anacalypsis:
An attempt to draw aside the veil of the Saitic Isis; or an
inquiry into the origin of languages, nations, and
religions. Vols. 1 & 2
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[Self-published?];
1863 [Original]
New Hyde
Park, N.Y. : University Books; 1965
[Reprint]
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Ambitious early work that seeks to demonstrate the
Ancient "AfroAsiatic" (African, Indian) influences on modern
thought.
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Lefkowitz,
Mary
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Not Out Of
Africa: How Afrocentrism Became an Excuse to Teach Myth as
History
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New York:
BasicBooks, 1996
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Worth reading for an understanding of the current
mainstream ("Eurocentric") point-of-view. Engagingly
written, but often relies on "strawman" arguments. Attempts
to draw a distinction between "origins" and "influences".
[See: Asante, Molefi Kete - "", above.]
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Massey,
Gerald
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Ancient
Egypt: The Light of the World. Vols. 1 & 2
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London: T.
F. Unwin, 1907 [Original]
Baltimore:
Black Classic Press; 1992 [Reprint]
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In the first volume, Massey elaborates how the first
humans, who emerged in Africa, created thought. In the
second volume, he examines the Kemetic sources of
Christianity.
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(A) Book of
the Beginnings. Vols. 1 & 2
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London:
Williams and Norgate, 1881 [Original]
Baltimore:
Black Classic Press; 1995 [Reprint]
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In volume one, Massey focuses on Egyptian origins in the
British Isles. In the second volume, he explores the
African/Kemetic roots of the Hebrews, the Akkado-Assyrians,
and the Maori.
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Natural
Genesis {Second Part of 'A Book of the Beginnings'}. Vols. 1
& 2
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London:
Williams and Norgate, 1883 [Original]
Pomeroy,
WA: Health Research Books; 19__ [Reprint]
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____
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Murphy, E.
J.
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History of
African Civilization
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New York:
Dell Publishing Co.; 1978
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____
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Myer,
Isaac. (Ed.)
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(The)
Oldest Books in the World
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New York:
E. W. Dayton, 1900 [Original]
Chicago:
Research Associates School Times Publications; 1996
[Reprint]
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Discussion of various Kemetic texts.
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Volney,
(Count) C.F.
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(The) Ruins
of Empires
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____: ____;
19__
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Overview of European and world civilisations. Contains
one of the first "modern" re-affirmations that Kemet was an
African civilisation.
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Nyanza (Ukerewe), Nile Valley
& Rest Of Africa
