A Brief History of Europeans in Africa

Sub-saharan africa is the cradle of humanity, and its oldest history in the world. This little book, which is intended for a curious but non-specialist audience, is nourished by half a century of fundamental work on the question. Not only does it take stock of a story that is at least as varied and fascinating as the others, but it strives to deconstruct one by one the great clichés that continue to feed western imaginations; those who make africa a subaltern continent, apart, irretrievably lagging behind. But africa has always had an influence on the rest of the world; it provided it with labour, gold and raw materials, which played an essential role, which is still little known today, in economic globalization. It has developed, over the centuries, knowledge perfectly adapted to its environmental conditions, knowledge that was cut to pieces by the extreme brutality of colonization, yet so brief in the light of long history. But, if much has been taken from it, africa has also given, with tremendous vitality. This work is not intended to recount african history in detail, but it identifies the crucial stages, highlighting, for each of them, some fundamental and often new ideas. The objective of this book is also, and above all, to help to understand the present and to identify perspectives for action for the future. Yet so brief in view of the long history. But, if much has been taken from it, africa has also given, with tremendous vitality. This work is not intended to recount african history in detail, but it identifies the crucial stages, highlighting, for each of them, some fundamental and often new ideas. The objective of this book is also, and above all, to help to understand the present and to identify perspectives for action for the future. Yet so brief in view of the long history. But, if much has been taken from it, africa has also given, with tremendous vitality. This work is not intended to recount african history in detail, but it identifies the crucial stages, highlighting, for each of them, some fundamental and often new ideas. The objective of this book is also, and above all, to help to understand the present and to identify perspectives for action for the future. Some fundamental and often new ideas. The objective of this book is also, and above all, to help to understand the present and to identify perspectives for action for the future. Some fundamental and often new ideas. The objective of this book is also, and above all, to help to understand the present and to identify perspectives for action for the future.