History of Africa

Season 4 Episode 6: Sakalava - Madagascar’s First Empire

While Imerina is our primary focus this season, they were far from the pre-eminent power in 18th Century Madagascar. In today's show, let's learn about the first empire to truly dominate Madagascar, the equally fascinating and enigmatic kingdom known as Sakalava. Since our show is primarily told from the Merina perspective, they will be the primary "antagonists" of this season.  However, don't get it twisted: the Sakalava kingdom and its people were so much more than mere enemies of the Merina.
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Season 4 Episode 5: Ralambo, the Miracle Child

Of all seven of the king's children, Ralambo was the only son to survive into adulthood. Emerging into a world through a miraculous birth, Ralambo's rule would be miraculous in its own right. From transforming his country's views on marriage, completely rewriting its system of religious worship, and setting up the foundations of its future class system, Ralambo's rule could be argued to be the true beginning of the Merina Kingdom.
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Season 4 Episode 4 - Andriamanelo, King of Alasora

With Rangita deceased, it is now time for her sons to live up to her promise to cooperate and share power. Which lasts about as long as you'd expect.With his brother dead, Andriamanelo now has to decide the direction of his rule. He will certainly make a lasting impact.
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Season 4 Episode 3: The Vazimba, Hova, and the Merina

In today's episode, we examine the Vazimba, the mysterious original inhabitants of inland Madagascar. Are they fact, fiction, or somewhere in between?
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Season 4 Episode 2: Settlers from All Shores

This episode charts the numerous hypotheses and perceptions of Madagascar's confusing early history of migrations, its place in the economic system of the ancient Indian Ocean, and the demographics that eventually became the ancestors of the Malagasy.
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Season 4 Episode 1: Madagascar - The Eighth Continent

Today, we take our first steps into the history of Madagascar by looking at some unique features of the island itself, including the various topological and climatic regions within, as well as its unique flora and fauna.
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Sokoto Revolution ep. 4: A West African Caliphate

By the 1810s, the militant stage of the Sokoto Revolution was coming to an end. The Commander of the Believers, Usman Dan Fodio, had vanquished his enemies. What had started as a small social movement led by a charismatic iterant teacher had conquered the largest contiguous territory in the entirety of Africa. And, according to Fodio, this new state would be no ordinary empire, but a righteous state that carried on the legacy of the Prophet Muhammad himself. His imamate would be a government worthy to call itself Muhammad's successor: the Sokoto Caliphate.However, this would prove to be no easy task. Join us for our final part of our examination of the Sokoto Revolution, in which we take a critical and close look at the consequences of Fodio's  world altering movement, as well as the monumental progress and suffering that define its legacy.
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Sokoto Revolution ep. 3: From Shehu to Revolutionary

Just as tensions are heating to a fever pitch between Usman Dan Fodio and the Gobirawa Monarchy, the sudden death of Sarki Nafata seems like a sign of future relief. The young prince Yunfa, a former student of Fodio, comes to the throne. However, Yunfa's ascent would not mark the end of tension between the Jamaa and Gobir. Rather, it was the final step in the escalation of Gobir into a state of civil war that would eventually envelope all of Kasar Hausa.
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Sokoto Revolution ep. 2: Usman Dan Fodio - Student and Teacher

In this episode we trace the beginnings of the empire of Gobir, the early life of Usman Dan Fodio, his intellectual and political influences, and the beginning of his rise to prominence during the rule of Sarki Bawa.
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Sokoto Revolution ep. 1: The Seven Cities and the Seven Bastards

In the early 19th century, Northern Nigeria underwent a dramatic social, political, economic, and religious transformation. The cause: a revolution. Led by the charismatic Shehu Usman Dan Fodio, a small army of revolutionaries managed to topple the centuries-old kingdoms of Kasar Hausa and replace them with a new order.  The Sokoto Caliphate was born.How did this happen? How should we view the Sokoto Revolution in retrospect? Was the Sokoto Revolution a violent jihad led by dangerous terrorists, the ideological ancestors of Boko Haram? Were they men and women fighting for freedom and dignity against wicked despots? And, perhaps the most pressing question of all: is there even a difference between a terrorist, revolutionary, and freedom fighter?Join us on our first special mini-series chosen by the topic of our patreon supporters: the Fulani Jihad of Usman Dan Fodio. 
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