I am from South Africa and growing up during apartheid I was aware of the fact that we were taught as little as possible about African history. The BBC series on the history of Africa, hosted by Zeinab, was one of the best history series I have seen, presented by an extraordinary woman.
It's much more than that. There were Africans before Europeans or any other people existed. All other people were people who left Africa about 100,000 years ago and then over a period of about 30,000 years through climactic and environnental adaptation became Europeans, Asians and so forth
@@theblackstarnews9448 Fun fact: up until about 9000 years ago there was only dark skin. So all the folks who discovered fire and made stone tools were dark. I am a US citizen and I just learned this in the last 10 years. My teacher in grad school told that he could not find any pictures where the 'cave men' are Black. I was so surprised. Check out the Cheddar Man.
🟥🟩⬛️✨️✨️✨️💖 KING SOLOMON. ___The Song of Solomon, the wise man. The words of Solomon, the son of David, to his friends: "I am black, but comely [graceful] oh ye daughters of Jerusalem. Look not upon me because I am black as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. " Here Solomon describes his color to be as beautiful as the tents of Kedar, whose tents were made of black goat's hair... ✨️✨️💖✨️✨️
Her series on ancient African civilisation kept me mesmerised while at the same time furious, furious by the fact that the lie of Africans not having any form of ancient civilisation, which is unfortunately perpetuated in African schools, including the one I went to, was being told confidently and is still being told. I am thrilled to see the narrative changing through people like her and many others before her on a factual basis, not mere fables. Well done! Also, well done, James, for being bold enough to acknowledge that you had to unlearn quite a few falsehoods you have learned in the past, which is the mark of integrity!
@@PatriciaAQ mbote ma soeur. Nous on nous a appris au Sénégal l'histoire de l'Afrique. L'empire du Ghana Mali Songhai Kush Aksum et Kemet. Cst pq je demandais ou est ce que tu as appris pour dire que on nous apprend pas l'histoire de l'Afrique.
@@PatriciaAQ je comprends on a eu beaucoup de chance. Moi j'ai eu a lire Teophile Obenga, mais cst dommage qu'on a pas eu beaucoup d'ouvrages sur l'Afrique centrale et l'Afrique Australe.
As-tu déjà essayé de t'asseoir sur deux chaines en même temps, est-ce seulement possible ? C'est ça votre "As a Ghanaian British", chercher à s'asseoir sur deux chaises à la fois.
I went to the so called Africa Day at the SOAS in central London, she is the head of the university, and it was mostly white with black liberals who didn't really get what they were really doing there, and trust me there are African female Professors who refuse to countenance the idea of re-establishing pre-colonial institutions, especially where African Women had some form of power that was central to the stability of their respective societies in many different spheres of influence. There are plenty of books that deal with the social history of African societies across the continent, in an in-depth way. Zainab Badawi, is a black liberal and promotes black neo liberal agenda. I went simply to hear what was going on in respect to updating my knowledge about the Africa and Africans in the present.
My friend even that what you said is a problem in the black community "african American" toy should say African and not African American because the Chinese who born in America won't say they're Chinese American.
@@Kango62 we do have a Chinese American community , who call themselves Chinese Americans lol. I am an American but a decedent of Africa, which makes me a African American
Any time I hear “get over it” I wonder about all the African who were killed and being killed all over the world knowing they can’t get over death. Therefore people of African descent worldwide will never just “get over it”.
Brilliant interview. Being of a similar background/disposition Anglo/African I have always admired Ms. Badawi. Met her in my African neck of the woods, i.e. Gambia during our recent transnational period after dictatorship. The way is paved and she is one who has taken a huge step in the way. Inspirational in many ways since C4 news when we had only seen Moira Stewart. More to come from her I'm sure. All positive. Thanks you Ms. Badawi its all noticed and very appreciated from the African community in the UK.
As an African Caribbean/ 😅 British citizen, I am very proud of this author, for this reason; we were formerly known as an oral people. That was because many could not interpret our art work. Well done my daughter.
As a Sudanese British American lol, a someone with hyphenated cultures, I love Zeinab’s book, and how important Africa’s history is to the world. Some of the scholars she mentioned, I used for my thesis during my master’s degree’s studies in the US and now my doctoral studies, too. The world is really ‘missing out’ on our history and the great civilizations we had in Africa that predates colonialism in the continent.
Great conversation. I am a Jamaican and I truly appreciate the fact that Africa is more than slaves .Africa was a real rich colony but was never challenged,because Britain and all are forced to see themselves as the real cannibals of our oppressed countries
A million THANKS Zeinab Badawi for your immense contribution through this brilliant project and thank you tremendously James O’Brian for your generous accessibility to this incredible information on your platform! Bravo to both of You!
Wonderful to hear someone as intelligent and respectful as Zeinab Badawi representing the voice of Sudanese 🇸🇩 who like the Palestinians, Congolese etc, also deserve to know the world is aware of their suffering and that by exposing more their circumstances, something could be done urgently with the support of people marching in the name of those who are hand tide or voiceless.
I come from Eritrea at the age of 16 in late 80 's. & to see zeineb on TV was fascinating. I watch her African travel, after a very very long time, (as I don't watch TV anymore!) I even think I knew her more & I loved her down to earth approach. I can't wait to read her book. BTW she still looks fantastic after all this years
Thank you Zeinab for your great contribution to African history. Indeed, the world should know that the foundations of Ancient Egypt is Black Africa. The lies and revisionist history must now be corrected and the truth be told ...
As a Sudanese, I'm so proud of Zeinab. She is firmly grounded in both science and ethics. But much more impressive is how she can masterfully embrace both African and European identities and maintain a beautiful balance. I hope she can inspire young people of all creeds to follow her fine example. I'm not a scholar, but as a Sudanese who lived in the US and the UK, what she professes resonates so much with some of my own observations. I wish I get an opportunity to discuss with her someday.
Thank you for the insightful interview. I have always wondered what happened to the enormous chapter that is the history of Africa. I hate how much our colonial heritage has limited our view on fascinating histories and cultures.
Fascinating conversation, I think the book should be introduced in Africa schools because we don't know much about our history, just heard some things from her for the first time .
Thank you, Ms. Badawi. I cannot wait to purchase and read this book. I absolutely loved your series on Africa. I watch the episodes over and again. I'm looking forward to delving into the book.
Thanks Mr O’Brian for inviting this Arab African treasure. Was very happy that she touched on Western narratives on “ our” women are not educated and also that Africa has no history !!!! Thank you Zaineb ! Felt vey proud of you. Greetings to you and James from a Yemeni 🇾🇪 brother
@@buzzing8365 well the fact that they speak Arab, doesn't make them Arab in just the same way as Nigerians or Ghanaians don't suddenly become English because they speak the colonial language. She doesn't describe herself as Arab so let's stop with this. She said she's Sudanese and British! End of
I have been a massive fan of Zeinab since I first saw her doing interviews in the early 1990's on Channel 4. Human life started in Africa 150,000 [roughly] years ago. The Europeans dominated Africa for the last 500 years. This is a blink of an eye in terms of African history.
Great point, but Europeans did NOT not dominate Africa for the last 500 years! With a few exception (i.e. Angola) since the 15th century Europeans mainly built coastal trading/refreshment settlements and hardly ventured into the interior until the 1800s. Much of Africa was colonised during the "scramble for Africa" (1885-1914) AFTER the Berlin conference 1884-1885. Most of Africa was under colonial rule for around 70 years, a tiny blip in our history. 🙏
And here's the very best thing ... Zeinab Badawi is such a wonderful example of a cultured, classy lady born in a vibrant and amazing continent, who will make all peoples sit up and take notice of a history of Africa with new interest.
It's incredible since Africa is the cradle of civilization that Europeans have written thousands of books stating it's the "Dark Continent." People worldwide have been propagandized, miseducated and lied to about the history and greatness of Africa and Africans. The foregone conclusion is that it was Africans who laid the foundation for the civilization of the world. The first Greek philosopher, Thales, when to Africa for his education. He and other Greek philosophers encouraged their students to go to Africa for education. Those are facts that cannot be refuted by anyone worthy of the name.
George Orwell wrote that the best way to destroy a people is to deny or destroy their understanding of their own history. Europeans knew what they were doing to Africans.
Thales went to Egypt and there is evidence he may have gone to Babylonia to study mathematics. To my knowledge he never visited Sub-Saharan Africa. Do you have any links ?
@@Humanity2102 I am of course referring to Africa below the Sahara desert which is what early European writers were referring to as " The Dark Continent" It was rather describing their lack of knowledge of the bulk of the African continent. The 'darkness' was theirs. Not the Africans per se. It was symbolic of the unknown. It was later reinterpreted in a more derogatory sense as a land of ignorance. Current claims made for an enlightened Africa tend to mostly refer to North African states such as Egypt, Phoenicia and Babylon. Of course there were many African civilizations as Zeinab has demonstrated in her TV series. I have yet to read her book but it's on my list. I would wait for the spoken version if it is her reading it.
Thank you Zeinab for the amazing historical journey. I watched the series and also read the book...it has really given me a lot of historical facts I did not even think about in Africa.🙏
In 2024 here in America, school children are taught that African history began with slavery. Not only did it “save” us from our pagan ways it also benefited us because it taught us useful skills. I know better, I have been a student of African/African-American history for decades. I do my best to educate others.
I got to learn that many of the people enslaved brought with them superior skills in diverse fields. And that is what seeded the success story of the USA, allowing it to bypass Europe. How could such highly skilled people come from no civilization? Surely. The lies peddled about Africa really hurt. Unfortunately, many people who have never interacted with Africans still believe them. We have a lot of work to undo the damage done to Africa by colonizers
Seriously had a co-worker the other(half the room agreed with her)day who told me the reason why Jamaicans/Caribbeans and African-Americans sound the way they do is because of Irish heritage like it was hard to give the more than 85% of us who have been raised as a black ppl culturally with our own linguistic ancestry the credit for regional accents sometimes when I here ppl talk like that it makes me realize how white washed the world is history wise. Most privileged ppl won't look into it because it makes more sense not to for them just to keep there charred of global importance going
Afrikan Queen Zeinab, i have nothing much to say to you with the Interview and more the book (which i am obviously going to lay my hands on and keep for Generations to come). I am Lesotho Native who lived in London for 15 years and i used to watch your Series on Afrika, which really used to uplift and revive me because the Afrika you showed was the one i knew and beyond, not what the West have portrayed us and still continue to. I moved back to Lesotho August 2023, as i was tired of the way Motherland & her Children depicted and demonised. As a Pan Afrikan i felt that pain and obligation to come and Awaken and enlighten Afrikans back home ( as i learn from great Afrikans like you) of The Greatness of our Ancestors from back in Kemit, Until Moors & Westerner invasions/Slavery/Colonisation. Danko= Thank u= Kea leboha (in my language Sesotho)
Really? African scientists? Where? The whole continent had only two instances of written records, bar the Egyptians. No alphabet, no writing, yet 'scientists'? Get out of here with the idiotic re-writing of history to fit with your massive shoulder chips.
Thank you for the work, and the interview - this book is very important. She said it's not an academic book and "Africanists" will find it lacking scholarly rigor but I say don't despair, I saw some of the documened videos along the way, it's deep, deeper than that. Much of this work has already been done, particularly during the Harlem Renaissance movement by scholars who actually had to become archeologists, and Egyptologists in order to correct the lies and distortions, and with documentary evidence. Scholars such as Dr. Ben Jochannan, Anthony Browder, Ashra Kwesi, John Henrik Clarke, Kaba Kamene, including Africans such as Drs. Sheik Anta Diop, Theophile Obenga and others. Although sanctioned by the BBC the interviewer may have made it sound more like a novel, but I think this work is deep, not only a great presentation of african history, deeper than that. Have to read this. No surprise here that Africans know nothing about their history due to 400+years of euro indoctrination, a complete take over & shut down of their education and religious systems by colonizers, Leopold, Rhodes, Churchill, livingstone etc. Take away: Most Sudanese don't even know of the many pyramids in their land. It's changing! These are some of the books that should drive young European & Euro-American Hollywood writers to portray African history, including Moses, Bible etc. more realistically.
This was one of the most intelligent and insightful interviews that I’ve ever had the pleasure to watch. I was riveted from beginning to end. Prior to this interview, I’ve never had the pleasure of knowing this gentleman. However, I’m now an enormous fan. He left a huge impression on me to say the least. The way he guided Mrs. Badawi throughout the interview with thoughtful care and due respect was a true masterclass. Job well done. I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to going through the vault of his previous interviews to find other gems such as this one. I know for certain that I’ll not be disappointed. In closing, Mrs. Badawi’s BBC mini-series on Africa was nothing short of brilliant. I learned a tremendous amount from each and every episode. I’m very much looking forward to purchasing Mrs. Badawi’s much needed book. Kudos to everyone involved for producing such quality work. Your efforts are greatly appreciated. Blessings! 🙏🏾
Im glad this ended up on my feed. Excellent interview, amazing questions and I have learned a lot more about Zambia, and Africa through this. I plan to get her book and already have tabs open with the names dropped. Much appreciated. You gained a new follower.
Thank you James O'brien for interviewing Zeinab Badawi with true interest, curiosity, and compassion. When you told her to not refer to critical reviews when describing her writing, I teared up a bit. This was impactful to me for a couple of reasons: it shows how seriously you take your job that you actually did research on the book, the guest and how it was received and reminded her about the beautiful and necessary work she has done. I'll never hear the word 'compendium' without thinking of you. The second reason, is a woman we tend to be socialised to consider other opinions over our own and you re-directing her back was a reminder to myself that my work is worthwhile. I have always loved Zeinab Badawi and I'm happy to hear of her book and I'll definitely look for it. Wonderful conversation.
Bought the book for an Afrikan friend and his family in Tanzania… I’ve exported 300 plus books on Afrikan “OurStory” past and current achievers that the world has been miseducated to overlook 🙏🏽
First time here, great interview, Mr O' Brien was great, well researched and asked great questions, you will always feel like you learnt something when Aunty Zeinab speaks
I watched a few of your BBC documentaries and ruled you out! Nevertheless, in this interview, I seem to have fallen in LOVE with your intellect. I must read your book. Thank you Zeinab🙏🏿
I am from South Africa and growing up during apartheid I was aware of the fact that we were taught as little as possible about African history. The BBC series on the history of Africa, hosted by Zeinab, was one of the best history series I have seen, presented by an extraordinary woman.
Check out the documentary Africa by Basil Davidson & the book titled When We Ruled by Robin Walker. Phenomenal human history.
It's much more than that. There were Africans before Europeans or any other people existed. All other people were people who left Africa about 100,000 years ago and then over a period of about 30,000 years through climactic and environnental adaptation became Europeans, Asians and so forth
@@theblackstarnews9448 Fun fact: up until about 9000 years ago there was only dark skin. So all the folks who discovered fire and made stone tools were dark. I am a US citizen and I just learned this in the last 10 years. My teacher in grad school told that he could not find any pictures where the 'cave men' are Black. I was so surprised. Check out the Cheddar Man.
Read the book, "From Babylon to Timbuktu.." It's an incredibly informative read.
🟥🟩⬛️✨️✨️✨️💖 KING SOLOMON. ___The Song of Solomon, the wise man. The words of Solomon, the son of David, to his friends: "I am black, but comely [graceful] oh ye daughters of Jerusalem. Look not upon me because I am black as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. " Here Solomon describes his color to be as beautiful as the tents of Kedar, whose tents were made of black goat's hair... ✨️✨️💖✨️✨️
James O’Brien thanks for inviting the honorable journalist Zaineb Badawi into your show,I respect you both.
Absolutely fantastic
He needs to get Robin Walker for a 2+ hour discussion on Africa.
Her series on ancient African civilisation kept me mesmerised while at the same time furious, furious by the fact that the lie of Africans not having any form of ancient civilisation, which is unfortunately perpetuated in African schools, including the one I went to, was being told confidently and is still being told. I am thrilled to see the narrative changing through people like her and many others before her on a factual basis, not mere fables. Well done! Also, well done, James, for being bold enough to acknowledge that you had to unlearn quite a few falsehoods you have learned in the past, which is the mark of integrity!
Which school did you attend to say that
@@Baraka-z9fDom Helder Camara - Pointe-Noire. I hope that provides you with much-needed info ❤
@@PatriciaAQ mbote ma soeur. Nous on nous a appris au Sénégal l'histoire de l'Afrique. L'empire du Ghana Mali Songhai Kush Aksum et Kemet. Cst pq je demandais ou est ce que tu as appris pour dire que on nous apprend pas l'histoire de l'Afrique.
@@Baraka-z9fmboté mon frère😊, vous avez été très chanceux, malheureusement ce n’a pas été le cas pour nous
@@PatriciaAQ je comprends on a eu beaucoup de chance. Moi j'ai eu a lire Teophile Obenga, mais cst dommage qu'on a pas eu beaucoup d'ouvrages sur l'Afrique centrale et l'Afrique Australe.
An advocate for Black women of the world Zeineb 👌🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽You are our future 🙌🏽🙏🙌🏽🙏🙌🏽🙏🙏🏿🙏🏿
James O’Brien has a very big heart , kind man and what a beautiful brilliant interview , thank you
Zenaib Bedawi is a complete role model for many of us Africans. As a Ghanaian-British I am so proud of her
As-tu déjà essayé de t'asseoir sur deux chaines en même temps, est-ce seulement possible ? C'est ça votre "As a Ghanaian British", chercher à s'asseoir sur deux chaises à la fois.
Thank you for this! As an African American, I believe we must be a global people and understanding our history pre-colonialism is the way
I went to the so called Africa Day at the SOAS in central London, she is the head of the university, and it was mostly white with black liberals who didn't really get what they were really doing there, and trust me there are African female Professors who refuse to countenance the idea of re-establishing pre-colonial institutions, especially where African Women had some form of power that was central to the stability of their respective societies in many different spheres of influence.
There are plenty of books that deal with the social history of African societies across the continent, in an in-depth way.
Zainab Badawi, is a black liberal and promotes black neo liberal agenda. I went simply to hear what was going on in respect to updating my knowledge about the Africa and Africans in the present.
My friend even that what you said is a problem in the black community "african American" toy should say African and not African American because the Chinese who born in America won't say they're Chinese American.
@@Kango62 You lot left me with a legacy of powerlessness and ineptitude, all you do is talk, talk, talk.:(
@@Kango62 we do have a Chinese American community , who call themselves Chinese Americans lol. I am an American but a decedent of Africa, which makes me a African American
@@Kango62 The European is not even from America and call them self Americans without tell the European name.
Zainab’s BBC history of Africa series was absolute amazing! It’s here on YT for anyone interested
Yes, everyone should Netflix and chill this series...
Such a lovely moment when O'Brien tells her not to take the negative review to heart. He's really such a kind hearted person.
We are told that very same thing in America, except that it is a bit more inhumane. We are told to get over it.
Any time I hear “get over it” I wonder about all the African who were killed and being killed all over the world knowing they can’t get over death. Therefore people of African descent worldwide will never just “get over it”.
Well done Zaineb and James from 🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲
This is such a wonderful interview, I must buy this book not just for myself but for the benefit of my grand daughter.
Brilliant interview. Being of a similar background/disposition Anglo/African I have always admired Ms. Badawi. Met her in my African neck of the woods, i.e. Gambia during our recent transnational period after dictatorship. The way is paved and she is one who has taken a huge step in the way. Inspirational in many ways since C4 news when we had only seen Moira Stewart. More to come from her I'm sure. All positive. Thanks you Ms. Badawi its all noticed and very appreciated from the African community in the UK.
As an African Caribbean/ 😅 British citizen, I am very proud of this author, for this reason; we were formerly known as an oral people. That was because many could not interpret our art work. Well done my daughter.
As a Sudanese British American lol, a someone with hyphenated cultures, I love Zeinab’s book, and how important Africa’s history is to the world. Some of the scholars she mentioned, I used for my thesis during my master’s degree’s studies in the US and now my doctoral studies, too.
The world is really ‘missing out’ on our history and the great civilizations we had in Africa that predates colonialism in the continent.
can we re-establish these marvellous civilizations.
Stop amassing certs and go help your people.
How can you be all of that? You're sudanese with a British or American passport?
You are either Sudanese Brit or Sudanese American.
A Sudanese British American?! Are u fcking kidding me?! 🤣 Now i know how crazy it sounds to say “African American” LOL.
Repatriate the artefacts not only from Western Museums but from Western Families who also have obtained African artefacts by nefarious means.
Yup, it’s pure disrespect to human & African history
Beautiful Works Keep Up The Beautiful Job You Are Doing In Spreading The Rich And Power History Of Africa 💯✊🏿
I have watched most of the series but when I complete the series, I will watch it again from the beginning to the end..
Great conversation. I am a Jamaican and I truly appreciate the fact that Africa is more than slaves .Africa was a real rich colony but was never challenged,because Britain and all are forced to see themselves as the real cannibals of our oppressed countries
Africa is a continent consisting of many languages, religions, etc., not a colony. Her series on Africa is very educational and free on YT.
What an amazing interview James! Thank you so much for brining Zainab Badawi, my children and I are eager to read your book.
Africa had history so rich and so phenomenal that they don’t want to talk about it.
Yet, the West cherish and covent African Artifact, as their own possessions of worth to exploit and generate wealth displaying in their museums. 🤔🙄
This is the book ive been waiting for....thank you Zeinab Bdawi ❤
A million THANKS Zeinab Badawi for your immense contribution through this brilliant project and thank you tremendously James O’Brian for your generous accessibility to this incredible information on your platform! Bravo to both of You!
Wonderful to hear someone as intelligent and respectful as Zeinab Badawi representing the voice of Sudanese 🇸🇩 who like the Palestinians, Congolese etc, also deserve to know the world is aware of their suffering and that by exposing more their circumstances, something could be done urgently with the support of people marching in the name of those who are hand tide or voiceless.
We must have peace in this world, permanent peace.
I come from Eritrea at the age of 16 in late 80 's. & to see zeineb on TV was fascinating. I watch her African travel, after a very very long time, (as I don't watch TV anymore!) I even think I knew her more & I loved her down to earth approach. I can't wait to read her book. BTW she still looks fantastic after all this years
Thank you Zeinab for your great contribution to African history. Indeed, the world should know that the foundations of Ancient Egypt is Black Africa. The lies and revisionist history must now be corrected and the truth be told ...
As a Sudanese, I'm so proud of Zeinab. She is firmly grounded in both science and ethics. But much more impressive is how she can masterfully embrace both African and European identities and maintain a beautiful balance. I hope she can inspire young people of all creeds to follow her fine example.
I'm not a scholar, but as a Sudanese who lived in the US and the UK, what she professes resonates so much with some of my own observations. I wish I get an opportunity to discuss with her someday.
I’ll definitely read your book. Thanks James for who you are. Hand to hand for a better world.
Thank you for the insightful interview. I have always wondered what happened to the enormous chapter that is the history of Africa. I hate how much our colonial heritage has limited our view on fascinating histories and cultures.
Fascinating conversation, I think the book should be introduced in Africa schools because we don't know much about our history, just heard some things from her for the first time .
Whatever it takes.👍🏾
Wow! What a wonderful way to spend a hour (he says 45 minutes into the interview). Lightbulb moment: there is a her-story, beyond & equal to history.
Breath of fresh air! Thanks Zeinab!
Thank you, Ms. Badawi. I cannot wait to purchase and read this book. I absolutely loved your series on Africa. I watch the episodes over and again. I'm looking forward to delving into the book.
Thanks Mr O’Brian for inviting this Arab African treasure.
Was very happy that she touched on Western narratives on “ our” women are not educated and also that Africa has no history !!!!
Thank you Zaineb ! Felt vey proud of you. Greetings to you and James from a Yemeni 🇾🇪 brother
Arab African??????
@@Bobwalker1968 she is from Sudan and they are considered as Arabic speaking Africans
Ok thk
@@buzzing8365 well the fact that they speak Arab, doesn't make them Arab in just the same way as Nigerians or Ghanaians don't suddenly become English because they speak the colonial language.
She doesn't describe herself as Arab so let's stop with this.
She said she's Sudanese and British! End of
Proud of you from Ghana
When an hour flies by quickly without noticing, you know that's a great interview.
Thank you James. What a wonderful discussion
Absolutely brilliant. Loved this. Thank you so much!
James, thank you for inviting Zienab. Her finding of African history is eye opening. I never taken face value of western historians about Africa.
The pandemic introduced me to this accomplished woman.The Africa series enthralled and educated me.
Me, too 😀
Absolutely brilliant interview James . Well done to my Sudanese sister we are proud of you ..
When Zainab speaks you better listen to what she has to say. Much respect ❤
I have been a massive fan of Zeinab since I first saw her doing interviews in the early 1990's on Channel 4. Human life started in Africa 150,000 [roughly] years ago. The Europeans dominated Africa for the last 500 years. This is a blink of an eye in terms of African history.
Great point, but Europeans did NOT not dominate Africa for the last 500 years! With a few exception (i.e. Angola) since the 15th century Europeans mainly built coastal trading/refreshment settlements and hardly ventured into the interior until the 1800s. Much of Africa was colonised during the "scramble for Africa" (1885-1914) AFTER the Berlin conference 1884-1885. Most of Africa was under colonial rule for around 70 years, a tiny blip in our history. 🙏
@@LK-ho1dg There are many books written about Neo-colonialism in Africa. You should read some of them.
@@TranquiloTrev There are many books about the European scramble for Africa should read some of them.
And here's the very best thing ... Zeinab Badawi is such a wonderful example of a cultured, classy lady born in a vibrant and amazing continent, who will make all peoples sit up and take notice of a history of Africa with new interest.
It's incredible since Africa is the cradle of civilization that Europeans have written thousands of books stating it's the "Dark Continent." People worldwide have been propagandized, miseducated and lied to about the history and greatness of Africa and Africans.
The foregone conclusion is that it was Africans who laid the foundation for the civilization of the world. The first Greek philosopher, Thales, when to Africa for his education. He and other Greek philosophers encouraged their students to go to Africa for education. Those are facts that cannot be refuted by anyone worthy of the name.
George Orwell wrote that the best way to destroy a people is to deny or destroy their understanding of their own history. Europeans knew what they were doing to Africans.
Thales went to Egypt and there is evidence he may have gone to Babylonia to study mathematics.
To my knowledge he never visited Sub-Saharan Africa. Do you have any links ?
@@davidlamb7524 What is "sub Sahara" Africa?????
@@Humanity2102 I am of course referring to Africa below the Sahara desert which is what early European writers were referring to as " The Dark Continent"
It was rather describing their lack of knowledge of the bulk of the African continent. The 'darkness' was theirs. Not the Africans per se. It was symbolic of the unknown. It was later reinterpreted in a more derogatory sense as a land of ignorance. Current claims made for an enlightened Africa tend to mostly refer to North African states such as Egypt, Phoenicia and Babylon. Of course there were many African civilizations as Zeinab has demonstrated in her TV series. I have yet to read her book but it's on my list. I would wait for the spoken version if it is her reading it.
Thank you James for this intelligent interview!
Great job Zeinab! Thank you for making us proud. You have always been my favourite news presenter. Will buy and read your book.
She’s a revolutionary to me! Thank you for hosting her.
Thank you Zeinab for the amazing historical journey. I watched the series and also read the book...it has really given me a lot of historical facts I did not even think about in Africa.🙏
I loved this! Thank you so much for bringing this to the forefront!
Great interview. What a remarkable lady…inspirational ❤
Elegant, eloquent lady ❤
This book is a must read for me. Thanks for this interview
Thanks for this incredible interview...
I have always admired her broadcast journalism and plan to read the book!
Thank you both for this most educational program.
Thank you for a great podcast I learned so much. I will have get this book. Thanks James.
Looking forward to reading. Thank you.
The fabulous Zeinsb Badawi - used to watch her on C4 news years ago but wasn’t aware of her full story - such a polymath !
I will be buying this book for my granddaughter & she's 3 years old - obviously to be read when suitably of age.
Great interview with an amazing lady. Thanks, Zeinab. I can’t wait to read your book. I’m getting copies for my nieces and nephews. Blessings!
In 2024 here in America, school children are taught that African history began with slavery. Not only did it “save” us from our pagan ways it also benefited us because it taught us useful skills. I know better, I have been a student of African/African-American history for decades. I do my best to educate others.
I got to learn that many of the people enslaved brought with them superior skills in diverse fields. And that is what seeded the success story of the USA, allowing it to bypass Europe. How could such highly skilled people come from no civilization? Surely. The lies peddled about Africa really hurt. Unfortunately, many people who have never interacted with Africans still believe them. We have a lot of work to undo the damage done to Africa by colonizers
👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👍🏿
Seriously had a co-worker the other(half the room agreed with her)day who told me the reason why Jamaicans/Caribbeans and African-Americans sound the way they do is because of Irish heritage like it was hard to give the more than 85% of us who have been raised as a black ppl culturally with our own linguistic ancestry the credit for regional accents sometimes when I here ppl talk like that it makes me realize how white washed the world is history wise. Most privileged ppl won't look into it because it makes more sense not to for them just to keep there charred of global importance going
Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Change is here.
Afrikan Queen Zeinab, i have nothing much to say to you with the Interview and more the book (which i am obviously going to lay my hands on and keep for Generations to come). I am Lesotho Native who lived in London for 15 years and i used to watch your Series on Afrika, which really used to uplift and revive me because the Afrika you showed was the one i knew and beyond, not what the West have portrayed us and still continue to.
I moved back to Lesotho August 2023, as i was tired of the way Motherland & her Children depicted and demonised. As a Pan Afrikan i felt that pain and obligation to come and Awaken and enlighten Afrikans back home ( as i learn from great Afrikans like you) of The Greatness of our Ancestors from back in Kemit, Until Moors & Westerner invasions/Slavery/Colonisation.
Danko= Thank u= Kea leboha (in my language Sesotho)
A VERY inspiring piece 🙏🏽
❤❤❤❤❤ This should be available in every school around the world .
Zeinab is a brilliant Historian. loved her documentaries and looking to read her book.
She's not a historian, which makes her work even more remarkable. She's a brilliant journalist with a particular interest in African history.
Lady meets my expectations by reeling off a long list of African scientists and explorers.
Really? African scientists? Where? The whole continent had only two instances of written records, bar the Egyptians. No alphabet, no writing, yet 'scientists'? Get out of here with the idiotic re-writing of history to fit with your massive shoulder chips.
She is such a remarkable and well accomplished journalist.
Thank you for the work, and the interview - this book is very important. She said it's not an academic book and "Africanists" will find it lacking scholarly rigor but I say don't despair, I saw some of the documened videos along the way, it's deep, deeper than that. Much of this work has already been done, particularly during the Harlem Renaissance movement by scholars who actually had to become archeologists, and Egyptologists in order to correct the lies and distortions, and with documentary evidence. Scholars such as Dr. Ben Jochannan, Anthony Browder, Ashra Kwesi, John Henrik Clarke, Kaba Kamene, including Africans such as Drs. Sheik Anta Diop, Theophile Obenga and others.
Although sanctioned by the BBC the interviewer may have made it sound more like a novel, but I think this work is deep, not only a great presentation of african history, deeper than that. Have to read this. No surprise here that Africans know nothing about their history due to 400+years of euro indoctrination, a complete take over & shut down of their education and religious systems by colonizers, Leopold, Rhodes, Churchill, livingstone etc. Take away: Most Sudanese don't even know of the many pyramids in their land. It's changing! These are some of the books that should drive young European & Euro-American Hollywood writers to portray African history, including Moses, Bible etc. more realistically.
This was one of the most intelligent and insightful interviews that I’ve ever had the pleasure to watch. I was riveted from beginning to end.
Prior to this interview, I’ve never had the pleasure of knowing this gentleman. However, I’m now an enormous fan. He left a huge impression on me to say the least.
The way he guided Mrs. Badawi throughout the interview with thoughtful care and due respect was a true masterclass. Job well done.
I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to going through the vault of his previous interviews to find other gems such as this one. I know for certain that I’ll not be disappointed.
In closing, Mrs. Badawi’s BBC mini-series on Africa was nothing short of brilliant. I learned a tremendous amount from each and every episode. I’m very much looking forward to purchasing Mrs. Badawi’s much needed book.
Kudos to everyone involved for producing such quality work. Your efforts are greatly appreciated.
Blessings! 🙏🏾
Such an informative and clear and interesting interview .i love it
This is so wonderful ❤
Great interview. Subscribed & looking forward to more.
Zeinab's book just shot up to the top of my must-read list.
Im glad this ended up on my feed. Excellent interview, amazing questions and I have learned a lot more about Zambia, and Africa through this. I plan to get her book and already have tabs open with the names dropped. Much appreciated. You gained a new follower.
Absolutely loving the comments - beautiful and positive. I'm looking forward to watching this 😊
Another top-notch interview. Thank you both.
Fantastic interview. Thank you so, so much. Peace and love
I have pre-ordered your book. A wonderful conversation. Thank you. Best wishes.
This was nice, loved the series, I met her in London and she’s absolutely brilliant. Thanks dude!
Thanks for posting
I’ve got to wait for the audio version. I’m losing my eyesight but I can’t wait.
I remembered that I watched her series couple years ago really amazing, thank you Zeinab Badawi looking forward to read the book
Excellent interview with an exceptional person. Have enjoyed the BBC programmes many times over & greatly look forward to reading the book .
Thank you for this interview guys
Thank you James O'brien for interviewing Zeinab Badawi with true interest, curiosity, and compassion. When you told her to not refer to critical reviews when describing her writing, I teared up a bit. This was impactful to me for a couple of reasons: it shows how seriously you take your job that you actually did research on the book, the guest and how it was received and reminded her about the beautiful and necessary work she has done. I'll never hear the word 'compendium' without thinking of you. The second reason, is a woman we tend to be socialised to consider other opinions over our own and you re-directing her back was a reminder to myself that my work is worthwhile. I have always loved Zeinab Badawi and I'm happy to hear of her book and I'll definitely look for it. Wonderful conversation.
Thank you for writing the book. I intend to buy copies for my children and grand children. 😊
Thank you LBC and Zeinab for this treasure of information. I will be in touch with Zeinab for further information.
Every African should watch her series...and it must be shown in the schools.
Will be showing it to my grandchildren and their friends when I go home!
Zainab is an inspiration.
Bought the book for an Afrikan friend and his family in Tanzania… I’ve exported 300 plus books on Afrikan “OurStory” past and current achievers that the world has been miseducated to overlook 🙏🏽
@superflyrico will be glad if you can share with me some of the books on African. Thanks
What a wonderful interview.
She is a legend role models women 🎉❤
Well done,brilliant ,thank you to both of you.I’m Eritrean.
First time here, great interview, Mr O' Brien was great, well researched and asked great questions, you will always feel like you learnt something when Aunty Zeinab speaks
This was such a fantastic conversation and I look forward to reading the book!
Brilliant woman. Thanks for having her on James.
What an excellent project. I’m sure it will be a great introduction to the history of Africa……and a superb interview…..
I'm a big fan of Ambassador Zeinab Badawi....Can't wait for new history finds of African history...Queen of the Nile (nickname)
Wonderful interview. Especially noted how James encouraged Zeinab to ignore petty book reviews. Inspired to explore African history!
Great Interview ❤Thank you ❤
I watched a few of your BBC documentaries and ruled you out! Nevertheless, in this interview, I seem to have fallen in LOVE with your intellect. I must read your book. Thank you Zeinab🙏🏿