Motherland

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A Journey through 500,000 Years of African Culture and Identity

'An essential read' Simon Sebag Montefiore

'Magisterial, brilliant, capacious and transformative' Kate Williams

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 and matriarchal society to beliefs about the afterlife and the tradition of oral storytelling. We meet an array of characters including Mansa Musa, the wealthiest man who ever lived, Queen Amanirenas, who defeated the Romans, through to contemporary figures like Kool Moe Dee, who pioneered the rap battle, and Dexter Bristol, a member of the Windrush generation.

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.