Although it’s the cradle of our species, and a land as rich in culture as it is legendarily rich in resources, retellings of African history often place their focus heavily on the transatlantic slave trade. While this is valuable, too narrow a focus can make it easy to lose sight of how incredibly powerful, interconnected, and respected African people have been within the fabric of global history. This week, Danièle speaks with Luke Pepera about medieval Africa, what it would’ve been like to find yourself in one of the most powerful empires of the Middle Ages, and the famous pilgrimage of Mansa Musa.
Although it’s the cradle of our species, and a land as rich in culture as it is legendarily rich in resources, retellings of African history often place their focus heavily on the transatlantic slave trade. While this is valuable, too narrow a focus can make it easy to lose sight of how incredibly powerful, interconnected, and respected African people have been within the fabric of global history. This week, Danièle speaks with Luke Pepera about medieval Africa, what it would’ve been like to find yourself in one of the most powerful empires of the Middle Ages, and the famous pilgrimage of Mansa Musa.
Luke Pepera is a writer, broadcaster, historian, and anthropologist who has written and presented the podcast The Empire Of Gold. His new book is Motherland: A Journey through 500,000 Years of African Culture and Identity.
The creator and host of The Medieval Podcast is Danièle Cybulskie. Click here to visit her website or follow her on BlueSky @5minmedievalist.bsky.social
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