Motherland

A Journey through 500,000 Years of African Culture and Identity

Luke Pepera

A groundbreaking exploration of 500,000 years of African history, cultures and identity.

Historian, archaeologist, and anthropologist Luke Pepera takes us on a personal journey discovering 500,000 years of African history and cultures in order to reclaim and reconnect with this extraordinary heritage. He tackles the question many people of African descent ask - Who are we? Where do we come from? What defines us? And it explores how knowledge of this deeper history might affect current understandings of African identity.

Through thematically-linked chapters that explore aspects of African identity from nomadic culture and matriarchal society to beliefs about the afterlife and the tradition of oral storytelling, and interwoven with Luke's own experiences of exploring his Ghanaian family history and his personal questions of identity, this is a comprehensive, relevant and beautifully told new history of Africa, and how it has shaped the world we know today.

Luke Pepera is a writer, broadcaster, historian, and anthropologist dedicated to sharing his passion for African history and cultures. He was born in Ghana and has a degree from St. Peter's College, Oxford, where he read Archaeology & Anthropology and studied ancient and medieval African history. Since graduating he has worked at the Pitt Rivers Museum, The Times, and Tatler, and has written and presented Africa: Written Out of History, a documentary for Dan Snow's History Hit.

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Endorsements & Reviews

"Motherland is a colorful, crisply narrated journey through the history of the continent that made mankind. Luke Pepera folds together political, cultural and spiritual history, dancing deftly between centuries and traditions. Motherland is a splendid, clear-eyed, compelling debut from a brilliant new historian. " Dan Jones, New York Times bestselling author of Henry V

"Wonderful and illuminating: a historical and personal journey through 500,000 years of African history, power and culture, with a fascinating cast of African leaders and artists, from imperial conquerors and warrior queens to rappers, activists and migrants, from prehistory to the 21st century. An essential read." Simon Sebag Montefiore, New York Times bestselling author

"An extraordinary achievement showcasing Pepera's skills as both a writer and a scholar. From the continent's role as the midwife of humanity, to the profound global influence of people of African descent, Motherland leads us expertly through age after age of astoundingly rich history and culture. An enlightening read that is sure to top many awards lists." Lindsey Fitzharrism New York Times Bestselling author of The Facemaker

"Vivid, compelling and powerful, this groundbreaking book masterfully intertwines sweeping history with personal insights. The people, events and places from Africa's rich history and culture featured in the narrative are as illuminating as they are thought-provoking. Few books can lay claim to changing their readers' perceptions so profoundly. A stunning debut." Tracy Borman, author of Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I 

"Elegant and powerful, Pepera's magnificent book elevates our understanding of Africa's overlooked histories, re-inscribing them into the timeline of world history. Absolutely riveting." Olivette Otele, author of African Europeans

"I loved and learnt on every page. A brilliant gift of truth."

Bettany Hughes, bestselling author of The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

"A beautiful, engaging, informative and deeply readable exploration of the multitude of African identities. Motherland gently meanders through stories of past and present, introducing us not only to the cultures and history of a continent's peoples, but to the individuals themselves. Pepera proves that history is a record of personal experiences. Marvellous!" Hallie Rubenhold, bestselling author of The Five

"From Eve to the queenly kandakes of Nubia, from Alessandro de' Medici of Renaissance Florence to Hollywood's Chadwick Boseman, Pepera's expansive story of African history and culture is unlike any other you will read. An energetic and impassioned debut from an historian who is sure to go far." Daisy Dunn, author of The Missing Thread

"A fascinating, personal reappraisal of African cultural history, at once challenging and enlightening."
Clare Mulley, author of Agent Zo

"Magisterial, brilliant, capacious and transformative, this astonishing journey into the heart of Africa is a superb synthesis, an analysis of 500,000 years of history and the most gripping, colourful and marvellous journey possible. The continent of Africa is here, vivid with life, death, survival, hope and stories." Kate Williams, author of Becoming Queen Victoria