Rebekah Gienapp

This is our first Black History Month as a homeschooling family. We talk a lot about Black U.S. history all year, but I really wanted to teach my 8 year old about African history, especially history that pre-dates enslavement and colonialism. So, I set out to gather resources.

Let me tell you, it wasn’t easy! I was pleased that there are several new children’s books that help fill this gap. But generally kids’ resources on African history are few and far between.

I’m thankful to the parents in the My Reflection Matters Village who helped me find several of these resources. (If you’re educating children for liberation and need support, check out the Village!)

Black-owned bookstores like The Key Bookstore, My Well Read Child, and WoW Book and Toy Store are also a great resource. They often carry less-well known resources on African history, including ones written by independent authors.

Disclosure: For your convenience, this post includes affiliate links. If you purchase items through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I was gifted a copy of The Reign: Africa by the publisher in exchange for my honest review. You can read my full disclosure policy here.

Children’s Books about African History

Africa was home to several ancient civilizations with remarkable innovations and accomplishments. But you wouldn’t know that from most history books. Use these books to broaden children’s understanding of African history.

Timelines from Black History: Leaders, Legends Legacies

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I love that the very first timeline in this DK book is about the origins of human life found in Africa. All of our ancestors can trace their lineage back to Africa, before peoples spread out around the globe. The book includes timelines of early African kingdoms, including Nubia, Kush, Ghana, and Zimbabwe. The striking illustrations bring their grandeur and beauty to life for kids.

There are also timelines about African rulers such as Mansa Musa of Mali of and Queen Nzinga Mbandi of Ndongo. One timeline that challenges stereotypes is about Tatyu Betul, the empress of Ethiopia who fought off colonization of her people. (Recommended for ages 9 – 12)

Related Post: 12 engaging chapter books about Black history

The Reign: Africa by C. Nichole and Sailesh Acharya

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This beautifully illustrated book teaches children about 20 different African tribes, including information on their history. Readers learn what modern day countries peoples live in, important aspects of their cultures and economies. So often, children are taught to lump all of Africa’s diversity together, and The Reign is an antidote to this. This would be an excellent book for sparking further research about a particular tribe/nation. (Recommended for ages 7 – 12)

Related Post: Picture books and resources for learning about Ethiopia

Idia of the Benin Kingdom by Ekiuwa Aire and Alina Shabelnyk

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Queen Idia was the mother of Esigie, who reigned as Benin’s Oba (king) from 1504 to 1550. She was known not only as a patron of the arts, but for cleverly disguising herself as a man so that she could march next to her son in battle.

In this beautifully illustrated picture book, Aire imagines Idia’s childhood. One night she has a detailed dream where a woman fought in battle, and later healed her fellow warriors. Idia is puzzled by the dream, especially since the kingdom is at peace.

Still, she questions her father about being a warrior, and her mother about healing. They both agree to teach her what they know, as long as she continues to practice her dancing and complete all her chores.

It’s only many years later when she’s an adult that Idia understands her dream. The woman she saw battling enemies and healing the other warriors was her. (Recommended for ages 4 – 8)

Related Post: Explore Nigeria with these children’s books and resources

Black Heroes: 51 Inspiring People from Ancient Africa to Modern-Day U.S.A. by Arlisha Norwood

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The 51 profiles included in Norwood’s book cover ancient kings and queens like Hatshepsut, Nefertiti, and Shaka Zulu. With eye-catching illustrations and engaging biographies, children’s knowledge about Black and African history will grow and their stereotypes will be challenged. There are also more recent African leaders included, such as Nigerian suffragist Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti. (Recommended for ages 7 – 12)

Nzingha, Warrrior Queen of Matamba by Patricia McKissack

This fictional chapter book introduces young readers to the real life Queen of Matamba, Nzingha Mbandi. Though some didn’t believe a woman should rule them, Nzingha’s skill combined with circumstance to place her in power. She spent much of her reign defending her people from Portuguese enslavers and attempts to colonize their land.

As a young girl, Nzingha knows her brother isn’t fit to rule. When she complains to Old Ajala about how stupid and slow her brother is, the seer tells her that the ancestors are preparing someone to take her father’s place, and that they favor Nzingha. Even before she begins to rule Nzingha is determined to study the Portguese ways so that she can use them against the invaders. (Recommended for ages 10 – 13)

Africa Amazing Africa: Country by Country by Atinuke and Mouni Feddag

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This non-fiction guide by Nigerian children’s book author Atinuke is really about present day African countries, not African history. But there are historical facts woven in, and I highly recommend the book. Children outside of Africa have usually absorbed a lot of stereotypes about the continent, and this book challenges them in fun and engaging ways.

For example, when you think of Somalia, what comes to mind? Probably not poetry, yet it’s central to Somalian culture. Did you know that when Madagascar broke away from the continent, there were no people on the island? Or that there are more pyramids in Sudan than in Egypt? While the book is packed with facts, they’re presented in playful ways, alongside striking illustrations that reveal Africa’s diversity. (Recommended for ages 6 – 12)

A Journey Through Art: A Global History by Aaron Rosen

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Unlike many art history books, Rosen’s doesn’t neglect African art history. Children learn about the 12th century BC art of Thebes, Egypt. The medieval section includes profiles on Great Zimbabwe and Timbuktu. This is an especially helpful book for learning about architecture as art, and for striking photos and drawings of ruins. (Recommended for ages 8 – 12)

Additional Resources on African History for Kids

Humanity Archives Podcast

This engaging history podcast from Jermaine Fowler includes an episodes on Sundiata, founder of the Mali Empire, and Mansa Musa who inherited the kingdom at the height of its power and wealth. How many children know that Mansa Musa was one of the wealthiest people in history? The empire was known not only for its material wealth, but also its wealth of arts and culture. Mansa Musa’s introduction of Islam as the state religion is also important to Mali’s history. (Recommended for ages 10+)

Related Post: Best picture books about South Africa

Bino and Fino cartoons from Nigeria

I love the Bino and Fino cartoons, featuring a brother-sister team who explore science, history, ecology, and more.

Introduce younger children to African history with their episode below on the walls of the Benin Empire. (ages 4 – 8)

Bino and Fino explore the ancient manuscripts of Timbuktu in this episode.

You can purchase DVDs of Bino and Fino from their website, or you can stream season 1 through Amazon.

Who built Great Zimbabwe?

Great Zimbabwe was once considered a mystery. Racist colonizers didn’t believe something so impressive and complex could be built by Africans. Evidence makes it clear that this city, now declared a UNESCO Heritage Site, was built by Zimbabweans. The video also explains how Great Zimbabwe was a trading hub with a large geographical reach. (Ages 8+)

Related Post: Learn about Kenya with these picture books and resources

A Day in the Life of an Ancient Egyptian Doctor

If children do know any ancient African history, it’s likely to be from Egypt. But this video about Peseshet, a woman physician, will likely give them a new perspective on ancient Egypt. (Ages 10+)

Black and African History Cards

For younger children, check out these Africa fact cards from Ikuzi Dolls. There’s one card for each country on the continent. (ages 4 – 8)

For tweens and teens, Volume 4 of Urban Intellectuals’ Black History Cards covers important Black leaders and peoples from pre-1492 history.

Related Post: Picture books and resources for learning Black history all year round