West African History

Wanda Sykes, LeVar Burton, Leslie Odom, Jr., and Gabourey Sidibe head a cast of beloved actors performing 23 selections from the speeches, sermons, and essays of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.—many never recorded during his lifetime. For the first time, teachers, students, and thoughtful listeners can hear dramatic interpretations of Dr. King’s words, chosen and introduced by Cornel West.

The Buffalo Soldiers were the first peacetime all-Black regiment of the US Army. Created around the time of the Civil War, they fought bravely in several wars, and also played an important role in the history of the American West.

NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR AND PASTE MAGAZINE An intimate account of life in a West African fishing village, tugged by currents ancient and modern, and dependent on an ocean that is being radically transformed. The sea is broken, fishermen say. The sea is...

Pick up almost any book on early and medieval world history and empire, and where do you find West Africa? On the periphery. This pioneering book tells a different story. Interweaving political and social history and drawing on a rich array of sources, Michael Gomez unveils a new vision of how categories of ethnicity, race, gender, and caste emerged in Africa and in global history. 

Experience the epic rise and fall of West Africa's greatest superpower in this captivating exploration of world history. Whether you are deeply focused on a daily commute or seeking to expand your cultural knowledge, this immersive narrative transports you to the bustling shores of the Niger...

Unearth the epic medieval African history of a forgotten empire that commanded global trade and limitless wealth. Perfect for your daily commute, this immersive historical deep dive transports you to the sun-baked western Sahel and the winding Niger River. Witness the rise of a civilization that...

“Strikingly dramatic, yet simple and unrestrained . . . an unusual and intensely interesting book richly packed with strange information.” —New York Times Book Review Based on Zora Neale Hurston’s personal experiences in Haiti and Jamaica, where she participated as an initiate rather...

Dive into the epic military history of a West African kingdom that fiercely defied British colonial expansion. Trace the rise of Kumasi from a fragmented forest realm into a centralized state fueled by gold wealth and unyielding diplomatic prowess. Perfect for history buffs looking to transform...

Trace the rise and fall of a precolonial West African empire through its extraordinary mastery of bronze and brass art. This immersive historical journey transports you to the heart of southern Nigeria, where a small forest polity transformed into a powerful centralized kingdom. Perfect for an...

“Thompson-Hernández's portrayal of Compton's black cowboys broadens our perception of Compton's young black residents, and connects the Compton Cowboys to the historical legacy of African Americans in the west. An eye-opening, moving book.”—Margot Lee Shetterly, New York Times bestselling...

Bloomsbury presents Jungle Commandos: The Battle for Arakan, Burma 1945 by Lucy Betteridge-Dyson, read by Catrin Walker-Booth. Drawing on unpublished first-hand accounts, this is a gripping history of the experiences of the Commandos and their unsung allies in one of the bloodiest battles of the...

Bloomsbury presents In West Mills by De'Shawn Charles Winslow, read by Bahni Turpin. "A bighearted novel about family, migration, and the unbearable difficulties of love. Here's a cast of characters you won't soon forget." —Ayana Mathis, author of The Twelve Tribes of Hattie "Winslow's...

Enslaved West Indian women had few opportunities to record their stories for posterity. Yet from their dusty footprints and the umpteen small clues they left for us to unravel, there's no question that they earned their place in history. Pick any Caribbean island and you'll find race, skin...

Discover the immersive social history of a legendary African desert metropolis where ordinary people shaped global trade. Perfect for your daily commute, this evocative historical nonfiction reconstructs the bustling markets, intimate households, and sacred mosques of the Sahel. Whether...

Libya and the West: What Everyone Needs to Know is a welcome update to the literature on Western diplomatic relations with Libya. It specifically analyzes the complicated relationships that Italy, Britain, the United States, and France developed with Libya beginning in the 1910s. On the basis...

The Obama White House staff invites us behind-the-scenes of history for a deeply personal and moving look at the presidency and how a president's staff can change the nation When we elect a president, we elect with them an entire team that will join them in the West Wing to help run the country...

Without inner change, there can be no outer change. Without collective change, no change matters. The groundbreaking classic for engaged Buddhists and anyone ready to bridge the gap between inner work and outer practice—a powerful blueprint for collective liberation written in the Black...

From USA Today Bestselling Author Beverly Jenkins comes a new novel in a mesmerizing series set in the Old West, where an arranged marriage becomes a grand passion . . . What kind of mail-order bride greets her intended with a bullet instead of a kiss? One like Regan Carmichael—an independent...

She won’t quit until she gets justice. He won’t stop until she’s safe. After her brother dies under a cloud of suspicion, Alexis Douglas will do whatever it takes to clear his name. Enlisting the help of TJ Roman proves a double-edged sword. Her brother’s onetime best friend, the...

In her final novel, Dorothy West offers an intimate glimpse into African American middle class. Set on bucolic Martha's Vineyard in the 1950s, The Wedding tells the story of life in the Oval, a proud, insular community made up of the best and brightest of the East Coast's black bourgeoisie...