Lost Kingdoms of Africa

This is a travelogue high-aesthetic-level of filming with depth in the ancient history provided through visuals of sites, artifacts, and enjoyable narration. Presenter, Dr. Gus Casely-Hayford, is a sophisticated, intellectual, black, Indiana Jones with a British accent. He hates snakes, is handsome, and tackles physical challenges well. He engages local guides and experts in each country. "Lost Kingdoms of AFRICA" offers geography, archaeology, and anthropology of 4 African locations for the viewer's mind-expanding education.

With SUBTITLES, family friendly, aimed at older youth through adult. Highly informative without getting too far over anyone's head. That's typical of highly entertaining, educational DVDs from Athena, dedicated to that purpose. 4 episodes average 54 minutes in length, originally BBC aired in 2009.

1 NUBIA--now Sudan, below Egypt, a desert wasteland or spectacular civilization? More pyramids than in Egypt. History includes 7000-year-old rock gongs; 5-6000-year-old cattle drawings on rock; a time when the Sahara was green. Nile town Kerma was the heart of Nubia. See the largest man-made structure in Africa; pottery; burials (30000 including human sacrifices.) Egyptian invasion/conquest was followed by a century of Nubian duel rule. A cattle-based people.

2 ETHIOPIA--Land of Biblical Solomon & the Queen of Sheba? 1974 was this kingdoms end. What of the 950 BC beginning? See 1st and only black owner castle, a connection to Solomon? Holy honey found in another place. Also visuals of religious buildings of Debro Damo & Labibela, & the Ethiopian emperor burial stones (stelai) from 2000 years ago.

3 GREAT ZIMBABWE--Southern Africa land of gold, the ancient history of the Swahili Coast, Rhapta (ancient trade center.) The Great Zimbabwe is finally opened to filming for some dramatic footage of this lost civilization and the mystery behind the lives of its people and reasons for its end.

4 WEST AFRICA--Benin bronze art begins this search for its origin and people. Today, Nigeria covers most of what was the Benin kingdom. Djenne masons preserved and changed the mud architecture of that local. Is it a link to Benin? Jenne-Jeno had pottery and metal working that could have influenced Benin. The Dogon people display imagery similar to the Benin bronze plaques.

Text Bonus--Disc 1: Taharqa (Nubia) bio; 5 Ethiopian bios; Casely-Hayford bio.
Disc 2: IBN Battutah bio; 2 West African bios; "The Kingdoms Today" text on 4 countries.
Viewers Guide booklet full of added facts.

Beautifully and educationally made, perfect for schools/universities and libraries. And anyone remotely interested in African culture/history.

As a french man I was shocked by what president Sarkosy said in Dakar last year : "The african man hasn't really entered history yet". This document proves again and again what cultural and human riches Africa showed centuries before colonization. It is clear that it was colonization and slave trade that ruined those great civilizations. Western countries owe Africa a great deal and probably most of its riches. This has to be said and this document says it clearly.

This collection, once one viewer had seen it, became wildly popular in our Library. Now faculty and maintenance styaff alike are on a waiting list for this item. Visuals are superb.