The African Origin of Civilization: Myth or Reality?

One of the most recognized images of our generation is that of the white-skinned ancient Egyptian. This is how ancient Egyptians have been consistently portrayed in movies, documentaries and books. Diop sets out to show that this image of ancient Egyptians as white is a false one, constructed in the racist climate of the early nineteenth century by European scholars.

In the first six chapters of the book, he carefully considers the reasoning and arguments of a selection of Egyptologists and shows why their theories were wrong. He produces clear historical evidence to show that, up till the falsification of egyptian history in the nineteenth century, it was taken for granted that ancient Egyptians were black. He cites noted Greek and Roman historians and also supplies scientific evidence to back his assertion. He goes further to show that the origins of ancient Epypt actually lay in Sudan (Upper Egypt), in the heart of Black Africa, and not in Mesoptamia or Asia as claimed by European scholars.

In the second part of his book, Diop builds a strong argument for the black origins of ancient Egypt by detailing strong similarities in socio-cultural and political institutions between Egypt and the rest of Africa. He argues that all of Africa was, in fact, populated from Egypt and that, up till the coming of Europeans to sub-saharan Africa in the fifteenth century, many features of Egyptian civilization had survived in the interior in places like Ghana, Mali, Songhay, Yatenga, Cayor and Great Zimbabwe (all pre-European contact African civilizations). Therefore, the theory of "black barbarism" was infact a myth. He explains that African civilizations suffered a severe cultural reversion as a result of colonialism, which is why it is hard, today, to link African peoples to the former glories of ancient Egypt.

Diop's book is a radical but objective and very credible interpretation of historical, scientific and sociological facts and a bold attempt to provide a clearer picture of African history. Books like "Black Athena" (by Martin Bernal) and "The Destruction of Black Civilization" (by Chancellor Williams) are a good complement to this book.

Excellent book (3/4 people found this helpful)

Cheikh anta diop is a master historian and scientist.This book is a must read for anyone who wants to know how europe literally stole the glories belonging africa.The facts fit in so nicely that nobody has ever been and will never be able refute his thesis, whose facts were, by the way, known by all people throughout antiquity to the 18th century, before 19th century racism raised its ugly head.Egypt was a black african civilisation from its inception to the end !

Great Book. (11/14 people found this helpful)

Ancient Egypt is one of the most exciting subject to study. This great civilisation that begun by the Nile Valley thousand of years B.C. is the base of today civilisation. Ancient Egypt has been the universal centre of mathematics, science, religion, astrology, social organisation...for thousand of years (Diop, 1974).Most people will never believe that the great mathematician Pythagoras has been trained in Egypt. But who was the Egyptians? This book by Professor C.A.Diop demonstrates with valid scientific evidence that they were neither white, neither yellow but Negreos.This verity has been denied by a considerable amount of so-called "scientist" who try to whiten the Egyptians; or possibly, during that time, there were negroes with blond hairs and blue eyes; so far no scientific evidence proved the latter which may be a theory closer to the "ridicule" that science.
Nowadays, to my opinion most black people have lost their confidence, their true identity, due to the fact that our history has been falsified for some reasons that everyone knows.
This book must be read by every black man whatever your status as it is our duty to find out who we are and teach it to our people and children.
All nations want to dominate the world but some were already at the peak of civilisation when the rest of the world did have a house with a window.

Simply the best book on ancient African civilization. (11/14 people found this helpful)

This book focuses on ancient Egypt. Diop refutes the theses of those Egyptologists who declare that the ancient Egyptians were anything other than Black. Diop uses an abundance of information to present his case: the phenotypical characteristics of Egyptian statues and paintings, the amount of melanin found in the dermis of Egyptian mummies, the testimony of ancient scholars (Herodotus, Diodorus, and Strabo), and the fact that the ancient Egyptians were culturally and linguistically African. Diop makes the arguments of early prominent Egyptologists like Champollion-Figeac seem utterly ludicrous.

The Most Excellent Book on African and World History (5/8 people found this helpful)

This book has changed forever the way history is written and will be without question the catalyst that enlightens African Americans on their remarkable birthright of ancient and modern civilizations. African Origins Myth or Reality completely dispels the lies that are even to this day being taught on all levels of education. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in the truth!

The African Origin of Civilization: Myth or Reality?

Cheikh Anta Diop

Reader Reviews:

detailed analysis of the racial identity of ancient Egyptians (0/1 people found this helpful)

Excellent book (3/4 people found this helpful)

Great Book. (11/14 people found this helpful)

Simply the best book on ancient African civilization. (11/14 people found this helpful)

The Most Excellent Book on African and World History (5/8 people found this helpful)

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