New Dimensions in African History: The London Lectures of Dr. Yosef Ben-Jochannan and Dr. John Henrik Clarke

by CLARKE John Henrik

From the Nile valley to the new world, science invention and technology. The London lectures of Dr. John henrik Clarke and Dr Yosef ben-Jochannan were delivered for the minority Ethnic Unit of the Greater London Council in 1986. Since then there had been a great demend for these lectures, which were recorded along with an extensive question and answer period. Dr clarke has edited these lectures and has expanded the collection to include important biographical notes on both Dr ben-Jochannan and himself as well an invaluable reading guide on African history.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Africa

220 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1991

Reviews

[Reese Williams-Howell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Love Ourstory! R.I.P. DR. BEN-JOCHANNAN & DR. CLARKE

[Whitlaw Tanyanyiwa Mugwiji · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am on a journey of self discovery and to do so I have to know my past and history. To know my past and history I have to rediscover Africa through the lenses of an African. There can be no better lenses to rediscover Africa than through the eyes of Dr. Yosef Ben Jochannan and Dr. John Henrik. These two are experts on African history.

Europeans did not only colonise us as a people but they colonised information and erased us from history too. As Dr John Henrik Clarke writes, history is a tool that can be used for oppression or liberation. Thus in my opinion it is a duty of every African to know his/her past. Only then can he/she take his/her seat on the world stage, not as a beggar, or person seeking sympathy or charity but as a proud African who knows that his/her ancestors contributed immensely to world civilisation.

The book is composed of lectures given by these two esteemed scholars in London. The book touches on:
1. the scramble of Africa which began more than 2000 years ago
2. African contributions to science and technology
3. the Nile river valley civilisations
4. Pan Africanism.

Its a great read, and I absolutely loved the book. More importantly the book provides a comprehensive reading guide for the study and teaching of African world history.

[Eirmyas]

I need to know about this book in our history and I love history

[Jeremy Lucas · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's no question that this raw and unflinching look at African history and civilization is a necessary part of the gaping, missing discussions that we need to have as a people, but this book feels more disjointed and vague than focused and concrete. If anything, the benefit of each essay, each Q&A, each potential series of academic discussion topics is that they provide a window into other literature that likely offers that focused and concrete assessment of what transpired for hundreds and thousands of years below the Mediterranean. Similar to the long arc of Asian history that gets equally vanquished in favor of a singular, Euro-centric view of "how we got here," there's a ton of room for willing parties to read, discuss, and grow forward, if we're also willing to begin with an acceptance that each of our own commonly understood narratives of human civilization may not be the most complete, accurate, or honest, including this one, because each one presumes something about the whole of the other.

[Orlando Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't put it down. The study guide, at the end of the book, is the best!

[Marquis Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

A formative, foundational view of history with an African-centered lens. A must read for seekers of the truth.

[Lawulani Gaba · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember reading this in 2021 after I had read Cheick Anta Diops books. The works in this book are backed up.