The Bantu expansion was one of the most significant cultural events in human history. Sometime between 3,000 and 2,000 years ago in Sub-Saharan Africa, massive numbers of Proto-Bantu speaking peoples spread out around the continent from an unknown central location. As they moved into new areas, the Bantu brought with them their language, culture, and technology - displacing or absorbing many non-Bantu speaking groups of hunter-gatherers & pastoralists. Today, Bantu languages are spoken by over 400 million people. So why aren't these events more widely known?

In this episode, Tristan is joined by historian Luke Pepera to help untangle the mysteries of this key event in both African and World History. But with limited archaeological sources, how do we know what really happened - and what role can genetic evidence play in solving this mystery?

The Senior Producer was Elena Guthrie

The Assistant Producer was Annie Coloe

Edited by Aidan Lonergan

For more Ancients content, subscribe to our Ancients newsletter here. 

If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit - enter promo code ANCIENTS for a free trial, plus 50% off your first three months' subscription.

To download, go to Android > or Apple store >