Anyway, it think its quite sad to notice how little attention this section of the Forums receives. Intuitive and intriguing conversations  and debates are all but a hollow echo here.  I can understand some people's interest in other regions of the world ( i love to read about the middle ages Europe and southwest asia for example) but i suppose it would be nice to engage in some dialogue dealing with the many events that occured during through the flow of time. I have always found it to be amazing to know that even though humans have spent most of there existence in africa, we know very little about what happened and its history. I suppose it can be argued that nothing signifcant occured there and that it would be a waste of time to find out. but i would make a plea to reconsider.  What little research that has been done yeilds a wide range of information. Anything from the vast trading networks across the continent to the dozen or so civilizations that have existed there. From the yet undeciphered Merotic scripts to the mystery of the Dogon's astronomical knowledge. I guess my point would be to try it (reading about it) you may become fasinated by it.

 

also, i notice once in a while when topics regarding anything africa which involves race is brought up, that 19th and 20th century racial dogma comes up ( usually physical anthropological in nature). Does the conversation really have to degenerate into that kind of tone?

 

moving along i have came across a site by the BBC on  its brief review of the many peoples regions and civilizations that has existed there. Past to present.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/specials/1624_story_of_africa/ - http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/specials/1624_story_of_africa/

 

I'm also interested in reading about the Swahili coastal city states such as Kilwa, so if anyone knows anything about it please recommend some reading...

 

thanks

 

cheers

 

From what i know about these civilizations, Mali had written scripts during the middle ages using arabic writing. however the malians did develop a sort of dialect in the their scripts.  and  then Perhaps the people of Meroe may have some accounts aorund 200 BC in their merotic writing system.

seen here

http://www.library.cornell.edu/africana/Writing_Systems/Meroitic.html - http://www.library.cornell.edu/africana/Writing_Systems/Meroitic.html

perhaps if and when their are deciphered we can read what they had to say, especially dealing with historical events.

 I have heard of other writing,  available here

 

http://www.library.cornell.edu/africana/Writing_Systems/List_of_Scripts.html - http://www.library.cornell.edu/africana/Writing_Systems/List_of_Scripts.html

 

 

 perhaps looking for possible translations of scripts in theses writing systems  can give us more accounts of what took place and when in SSA before the Imperialistic Era.

 

Beorna, indeed your are correct, i do intend to focus on  specific areas and times but i would like to cover a lot of ground when commencing research. I think i may start with the city state of Kilwa. I'm very fasnicated by their 2 story homes made of coral, their maritime trade throught the indian ocean and the alleged

"toilet or sewer system". Not sure how credible it is but it would be interesting to find out about it.