EPL Guest Picks: African Civilizations Month 2025 | 5000 Years of African Civilizations and Geniuses in Every Field | Edmonton Public Library

The African Origin of Civilization: Myth or Reality

by Diop, Cheikh Anta

eBook - 1974

Cheikh Anta Diop was a brilliant Senegalese polymath who wrote this, the first great work re-establishing what was obvious to the ancient world, including...Show more Cheikh Anta Diop was a brilliant Senegalese polymath who wrote this, the first great work re-establishing what was obvious to the ancient world, including the Greeks and Romans who saw the Ancient Egyptians in person–that Ancient Egypt was an African civilisation, meaning “African” in exactly the way we mean it today. Diop helped overcome Afriphobic propaganda and set a new course for serious study of Egypt. Show less

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Replenishing the Earth

Spiritual Values for Healing Ourselves and the World

by Maathai, Wangari

Book - 2010

Wangari Maathai was a Kenyan scientist, ecologist, feminist, pro-democracy organiser, author, and Nobel Peace laureate who created the Green Belt Movement...Show more Wangari Maathai was a Kenyan scientist, ecologist, feminist, pro-democracy organiser, author, and Nobel Peace laureate who created the Green Belt Movement that planted 51 million trees in Kenya and 7 billion worldwide. This book is a magnificent ecumenical work connecting the world’s spiritual traditions to the greatest mission in the history of humanity–saving the ecosystem from human destruction. Show less

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Brown Girl in the Ring

by Hopkinson, Nalo

Book - 2012

With this novel, Caribbean-Canadian SFF novelist Nalo Hopkinson helped restaurant the sub-genre of Afritopianism–that is, Africentric science fiction and ...Show more With this novel, Caribbean-Canadian SFF novelist Nalo Hopkinson helped restaurant the sub-genre of Afritopianism–that is, Africentric science fiction and fantasy. Set in dystopian future Toronto, it’s the story of a remarkable young woman tasked saving herself and others by communing with the ancient Yoruba gods of Nigeria, Benin, and Cameroon, and their New World forms from Cuba, Brazil, and Haiti. Show less

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Ancient Nubia

African Kingdoms on the Nile

Book - 2012

Because of the brilliance of the ancient African civilisation of Egypt, many people know little about another brilliant ancient African civilisation next ...Show more Because of the brilliance of the ancient African civilisation of Egypt, many people know little about another brilliant ancient African civilisation next door, Nubia, which built even more pyramids than Egypt, had hieroglyphs, influenced Egyptian religion, conquered Egypt, defeated Rome, was ruled by a line of queens called the Kandakes, and was in fact the father of Egyptian civilisation itself. Show less

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The Autobiography of Malcolm X

by X, MALCOLM

eBook - 2015

A brilliant political and cultural theorist, Malcolm X was also a superb organiser and an unparalleled orator. His memoir unforgettably expresses the capacity of human beings to overcome tyranny and achieve magnificence in the service of humanity. A brilliant political and cultural theorist, Malcolm X was also a superb organiser and an unparalleled orator. His memoir unforgettably expresses the capacity of human beings to overcome tyranny and achieve magnificence in the service of humanity. Show less

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Longthroat Memoirs

Soups, Sex and Nigerian Taste Buds

by Aríbisálà, Yemisí

Book - 2016

If you’re a foodie who’s fascinated by cultures and love endearing-yet-snarking contemporary pop culture commentary, you’re going to love Aríbisálà’s global-Nigerian take on Nigerian regional cuisines and attitudes about food. If you’re a foodie who’s fascinated by cultures and love endearing-yet-snarking contemporary pop culture commentary, you’re going to love Aríbisálà’s global-Nigerian take on Nigerian regional cuisines and attitudes about food. Show less

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When Women Ruled the World

Six Queens of Egypt

by Cooney, Kara

Book - 2018

Unlike most long-ago societies, the ancient African civilisations of Kemet (Egypt) and Nubia (Sudan) included many opportunities for women to advance, and...Show more Unlike most long-ago societies, the ancient African civilisations of Kemet (Egypt) and Nubia (Sudan) included many opportunities for women to advance, and many became leaders of their nations (and empires). Cooney’s account is a fascinating warts-and-all discussion of six queens – five African and one Afropean – who ruled Kemet, and the nevertheless difficult political conditions they faced to do so. Show less

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An African History of Africa

From the Dawn of Humanity to Independence

by Badawi, Zeinab

Book - 2024

Best known as a BBC journalist and the documentarian behind the excellent series The History of Africa, Badawi has written a book on 5,000 years of African civilisations that should have a place in every school and home. Best known as a BBC journalist and the documentarian behind the excellent series The History of Africa, Badawi has written a book on 5,000 years of African civilisations that should have a place in every school and home. Show less

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Transcendent Kingdom

by Gyasi, Yaa

Book - 2020

A powerful novel about a Ghanaian-American neuroscientist’s efforts to unravel the physical and metaphysical reasons for a profound tragedy, and her life-shaping relationships with her immigrant mother, father, and brother. A powerful novel about a Ghanaian-American neuroscientist’s efforts to unravel the physical and metaphysical reasons for a profound tragedy, and her life-shaping relationships with her immigrant mother, father, and brother. Show less

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Justice for Marcus Garvey

Look for Me in the Whirlwind

Book - 2024

Other than Ghanaian president Kwame Nkrumah, no political organiser, leader, and philosopher had a greater impact on Pan-Africanism than Marcus Garvey, fo...Show more Other than Ghanaian president Kwame Nkrumah, no political organiser, leader, and philosopher had a greater impact on Pan-Africanism than Marcus Garvey, founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association, whose millions of members rallied to free every part of Africa from colonial occupation and exploitation, and liberate every African mind to achieve greatness. This book is a rare examination of Garvey’s work and legacy–an account by his own son. Show less

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The Bad-ass Librarians of Timbuktu

And Their Race to Save the World's Most Precious Manuscripts

by Hammer, Joshua

Book - 2016

While Westerners often think of the word “Timbuktu” as a nonsense term implying a remote and inaccessible place, the real Timbuktu was for centuries one o...Show more While Westerners often think of the word “Timbuktu” as a nonsense term implying a remote and inaccessible place, the real Timbuktu was for centuries one of the richest, most honoured, and most famous cities in the world. Home to universities and libraries with hundreds of thousands of books on science, philosophy, geography, religion, and more, the ancient Malian city became the target of extremists bent on destroying its priceless knowledge, and remains the home of heroic Malian libraries who, against all odds, protected their remarkable legacy. Show less

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This Is What America Looks Like

My Journey from Refugee to Congresswoman

by Omar, Ilhan

eAudiobook - 2020

In North America, the three largest Somali population centres are Minneapolis, Toronto, and Edmonton. Omar Ilhan is a Somali-American congresswoman and on...Show more In North America, the three largest Somali population centres are Minneapolis, Toronto, and Edmonton. Omar Ilhan is a Somali-American congresswoman and one of the most powerful US voices for justice, especially for Africans and Muslims of all backgrounds. Show less

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Keeping Hope Alive

One Woman, 90,000 Lives Changed

by Hawa Abdi

Book - 2013

Somalian gynecologist, lawyer, and human rights activist, Doctor Hawa Abdi has devoted her life to providing medical care, safety, and education for up to...Show more Somalian gynecologist, lawyer, and human rights activist, Doctor Hawa Abdi has devoted her life to providing medical care, safety, and education for up to 90.000 internally displaced persons per year in camps across Somalia, and saving 10,000 lives in the process. Her memoir recounts how she made such an impact against all odds, including kidnapping by misogynist insurgents who eventually released her and granted her the written apology she demanded. Show less

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The Great Black North

Contemporary African Canadian Poetry

Book - 2013

Because journalism and science must adhere to stringent requirements of documentation, they can’t do what poetry excels at: expressing the seemingly inexp...Show more Because journalism and science must adhere to stringent requirements of documentation, they can’t do what poetry excels at: expressing the seemingly inexpressible aspects of life, love, pain, and the eternal. This volume of poetry offers readers the chance to think inside the minds and feel inside the hearts of its many celebrated African-Canadian poets. Show less

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Africa and Byzantium

by Achi, Andrea Myers

Book - 2023

Countless books on African art are unimpressive collections of unremarkable work that could satisfy the colonial yearning to brand all Africans with the l...Show more Countless books on African art are unimpressive collections of unremarkable work that could satisfy the colonial yearning to brand all Africans with the label of “primitive”--entirely unlike the collections of work on Asian and European art, which are almost always packed with work by professional artists at the highest level of craft. Instead, this volume examines magnificent sculpture, metalwork, mosaics, paintings, and more by African artists from Egypt, Nubia, Ethiopia, and other kingdoms which dealt with the Byzantine Empire. Show less

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4EjZpIF71Y&t=1s

Web Resource

This 20-part series is a superb introduction to 5,000 years of African civilisations and geniuses. Great for the entire family, particularly grade 7 and u...Show more This 20-part series is a superb introduction to 5,000 years of African civilisations and geniuses. Great for the entire family, particularly grade 7 and up, although most university students in North America will have no knowledge of 95% of what this documentary series covers. Start with Episode 3 on Ancient Egypt. Show less

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6YVoQxlVmI&list=PLOCMjbSR3b0O0_xISgh_qywSTxcOMJuVO

Web Resource

The African Leadership Academy in South Africa is like Professor Xavier’s Academy for Gifted Youngsters, or perhaps Hogwarts, except that it’s a real Pan-...Show more The African Leadership Academy in South Africa is like Professor Xavier’s Academy for Gifted Youngsters, or perhaps Hogwarts, except that it’s a real Pan-African boarding school for secondary students. The school recruits actively and sponsors students who could never afford to attend on their own, all with the goal of creating generations of young leaders who will fundamentally transform the continent for the betterment of all her peoples Show less

https://mo.ibrahim.foundation/

Web Resource

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation is the world’s foremost analyst of every aspect of society for the continents 54 countries and 1 territory. By examining how gov...Show more The Mo Ibrahim Foundation is the world’s foremost analyst of every aspect of society for the continents 54 countries and 1 territory. By examining how governance affects public safety, justice, human rights, human development, economic opportunity, and health, the foundation can help drive public policy and fund countless initiatives to improve life. Its best known project is the Ibrahim Award for African Governance, a prize that drives competition among African presidents and prime ministers to deliver the greatest good to the greatest number of their citizens. Show less

Project Saqqara’s Online Resources: Video, Audio, Text, and More

https://projectsaqqara.com/africentriconlinelearningresources

Web Resource

Discover ancient civilisations, architecture, ecological engineering, literature, religions, robotics, sciences, space technology, and more in the growing...Show more Discover ancient civilisations, architecture, ecological engineering, literature, religions, robotics, sciences, space technology, and more in the growing list of video, audio, text, and other links to 5000 years of African civilisations and geniuses. Show less

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EPL Guest Picks: African Civilizations Month 2025 | 5000 Years of African Civilizations and Geniuses in Every Field

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