Motherland

A Journey Through African History, Culture and Identity

De: Luke Pepera

Narrado por: Luke Pepera

'A wonderful debut by a talented and exciting young historian' Peter Frankopan
'Simultaneously capacious and personal...a masterful achievement' Tom Holland
'Elegant and powerful, Pepera's magnificent book elevates our understanding of Africa's overlooked histories' Olivette Otele, author of African Europeans

Motherland is a ground-breaking exploration of African culture and identity, told via Luke Pepera's journey through 500,000 years of history to connect with his extraordinary heritage. Pepera tackles the questions many people of African descent ask - Who are we? Where do we come from? What defines us? And how might knowledge of deep history affect our understanding of our identity?

With illuminating examples, Pepera explores aspects of African identity from nomadic culture to matriarchal society. We meet an array of intriguing characters including Mansa Musa, the wealthiest man who ever lived, and the Kandake Queen Amanirenas, who defeated the Romans in Nubia. We learn how the response to the actor Chadwick Boseman's death demonstrated Yoruba beliefs about ancestral veneration, and how the rap battle evolved from earlier forms of African oral literature.

Interwoven with Luke's own experiences of exploring his Ghanaian family history, this is a comprehensive, relevant and beautifully told account of the stories that have shaped Africa.©2025 Luke Pepera

Reseñas de la Crítica

Simultaneously capacious and personal, this achieves what might have been thought impossible: to give the reader 500,000 years of history, spanning an entire continent, without ever becoming reductive. A masterful achievement

Leaps nimbly between past and present . . . The juxtaposition of modern and ancient is bracing and fun . . . Idiosyncratic, surprising, brilliant

A sweeping, eclectic trip across time and space . . . A stirring, optimistic portrait of African identities and meaning making, past and present

Elegant and powerful, Pepera's magnificent book elevates our understanding of Africa's overlooked histories, re-inscribing them into the timeline of world history. Absolutely riveting.

An informative, enlightening read

A wonderful debut by a talented and exciting young historian: a book we've been waiting for for far too long

Pepera's accessible recounting of history and straightforward writing style offer space for readers new to African history to find avenues for further exploration. A sprawling, eclectic celebration of Africa's vast and varied history

Magisterial, brilliant, capacious and transformative, this astonishing journey into the heart of Africa is a superb synthesis, an analysis of 500,000 years of history and the most gripping, colourful and marvellous journey possible. The continent of Africa is here, vivid with life, death, survival, hope and stories.

Wonderful and illuminating: an historical and personal journey through 500,000 years of African history, power and culture, with a fascinating cast of African leaders and artists, from imperial conquerors and warrior queens to rappers, activists and migrants, from prehistory to the 21st century. An essential read

From Eve to the queenly kandakes of Nubia, from Alessandro de' Medici of Renaissance Florence to Hollywood's Chadwick Boseman, Pepera's expansive story of African history and culture is unlike any other you will read. An energetic and impassioned debut from an historian who is sure to go far

A fascinating, personal reappraisal of African cultural history, at once challenging and enlightening

An extraordinary achievement showcasing Pepera's skills as both a writer and a scholar. From the continent's role as the midwife of humanity, to the profound global influence of people of African descent, MOTHERLAND leads us expertly through age after age of astoundingly rich history and culture. An enlightening read that is sure to top many awards lists.

Pepera's remarkable exploration of 500,000 years of African history will leave readers both gripped and utterly enthralled. Expertly written with a remarkable eye for detail and storytelling, Motherland is not only extraordinary and powerful, but truly groundbreaking. A superb debut.

You’ll learn something new

Even for someone with a lifelong interest in African history, this book introduced stories and narratives I did not know before.

I’m particularly impressed with Il Moro, the Medici prince, and the story of the king from Dahomey and of its early expansion and wars.

There’s a lot to sub Saharan African history than the contemporary world lets on.