Africa's Untold Stories

The final of the three mighty medieval West African empires – Songhai ! In today’s episode we discuss largely its origins, how it morphed from a simple city state to the largest West African empire and how at the helm of all this was one of Africa’s greatest conquerors – Sonni Ali Ber. We discuss his influence on the region and why he was a divisive figure, even today.

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Ready for a story by the fireside? This episodes serves just that - Anansesɛm! Follow stories about the trickster god of the Akan people of Ghana and Ivory Coast, a mischievous character so influential, he traveled across the Atlantic with enslaved Akans. We discuss his origin, stories and relevance even in today's Ghana and beyond.

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Our second North African episode! We talk about Ibn Battuta, the most travelled man before the invention of the steam engine, and highlight a few significant trips on his journey as well as his reactions.

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In this episode we have talk about the concept of death in some indigenous African cultures and its influence on the beliefs and lifestyle of Africans. We look at the ancient Egyptians, Dogon and some others to get a perspective on how our view of death influenced our culture.

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In the second episode of the new season, we talk about Kanem! And Borno! And Kanem-Borno because they are the same thing...or are they? Join us to learn about one of the longest lasting empires in the world (about 1000 years) with one of the greatest comeback stories.

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We're back for a new season! We start off with one of the most interesting belief systems in the world, that of the Dogon people of Mali. Join us to learn about their creation story, why the star Sirius is relevant to them and why...Aliens!

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In the final episode of season 1, we discuss the San (and to some extent the Khoi) of southern Africa, the first settlers of the area. We talk about their emergence, long history and the consequences of their interactions with the Khoi, Bantu speakers and later white settlers.

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In this episode we discuss the ancient Kushite kingdom centered in Meroe and its dynasty of female rulers known as the Kandakes. We talk about their power, accomplishments and the long tradition of women playing important roles in that part of the world.

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Join us to discuss the medieval kingdom of Kongo of central-west Africa. We highlight its formation, key practices, early adoption of Christianity, its tense relations with the Portuguese, and how Kongo serves a blueprint for what many African states went through upon contact with European powers.

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We're back! This week's episode is a discussion on probably Africa's second most well-known pantheon - the Orshias, traditional deities of the Yoruba people of West Africa. We talk about their origin, their influence today and expand a little on the stories of a few like Shango and Oya.

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