Shows
History from a New PerspectiveWhy don't we know more about the history of Africa?Send us a textWant to learn more about the history of the African continent? From the ancient Nubian kingdoms of Sudan and Egypt to Mansa Musa's medieval Mali, to modern-day Ghana, we'll explore the rise and fall of civilizations and the lasting legacies they left behind. Joseph Keen spoke to Luke Pepera is a writer, broadcast, anthropologist, historian and author of "Motherland: A Journey through 500,000 Years of African Culture and Identity."Luke's Book: https://www.waterstones.com/book/motherland/luke-pepera/9781398707368?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAae55gwwm-v4MizfxqZtUUHqgT73moOwqgvHARmuJ9Rx6px2lNy_WO5FNzIxBg_aem_gSGEsTuK5...
2025-07-1321 min
History with JacksonMotherland with Luke Pepera: Chalke History Festival Special SeriesIn this episode of our Gloucester History Festival Special Series we speak to Luke Pepera all about his book 'Motherland: 500,000 Years of African Culture and Identity'. Within this two episode Luke corrects misconceptions that we might have about Africa, he tells us about his deep family connection to this history, and his sheds some light on some of African history's most awesome characters!Grab a copy of MotherlandKeep up to date with Luke via his Instagramgrab your tickets for Chalke History Festival hereTo learn...
2025-06-2840 min
She Changed History34. African History and Culture with Luke PeperaExploring African History with Luke PeperaIn this episode, Cara and Vicky welcome guest Luke Pepera, a Ghanaian-born, Oxford-educated historian and author of African History book 'Motherland.' Luke discusses his journey into African history and mythology, African American history, sharing insights about influential female figures and the rich oral traditions of the continent. The conversation highlights African queens like Injinga Mbande and Amanirenas, significant for their leadership and warrior roles. Luke also touches on his passion for storytelling, and how his work aims to broaden perspectives on African culture and history. The episode concludes with information...
2025-06-1043 min
British History PodcastAfrican History is more than the last 300 yearsLuke Pepera, historian, anthropologist, broadcaster and author of the brilliant new book ‘Motherland: A Journey through 500,000 years of African Culture and Identity' joined me at the Gloucester History Festival Spring Weekend for a fascinating chat!You can find the video version on Youtube.com/BritishHistoryI'd really appreciate your help in making this show the best it can be. I know time is precious but if you do have 10 minutes you can spare to fill out this anonymous listener survey, I'd be really grateful - http://bit.ly/britishhistorypodcast-surveyPhilippa founded aw...
2025-05-0322 min
British History PodcastAfrican history is more than the past 300 yearsLuke Pepera, historian, anthropologist, broadcaster and author of the brilliant new book ‘Motherland: A Journey through 500,000 years of African Culture and Identity' joined me at the Gloucester History Festival Spring Weekend for a fascinating chat!Buy Luke’s book, shipped worldwide from Blackwells (This is an affiliate link. I get a commission on books sold via this link but they are at no extra cost to you).This if the final interview from those recorded at Gloucester History Festival Spring Weekend. Thank you to you for your support and especially to those who are...
2025-04-2822 min
History with JacksonMotherland with Luke Pepera: Gloucester History Festival Special SeriesIn this episode of our Gloucester History Festival Special Series we speak to Luke Pepera all about his book 'Motherland: 500,000 Years of African Culture and Identity'. Within this two episode Luke corrects misconceptions that we might have about Africa, he tells us about his deep family connection to this history, and his sheds some light on some of African history's most awesome characters!Grab a copy of Motherland Keep up to date with Luke via his InstagramTo find out more about Gloucester History Festival head to: https://www.gloucesterhistoryfestival...
2025-04-2740 min
This is History: A Dynasty to Die ForEmpire of Gold | 6. An Emperor’s LegacyFind out more about Musa’s incredible legacy in our bonus episode. Subscribe for weekly episodes and ad-free listening.
Musa looks to cement his legacy in West Africa with a spectacular project in Timbuktu but first must repay an important debt as the merchants in Cairo grow anxious.
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2025-04-0821 min
History Rage193. Africa was a global player well before Europeans arrived with Luke Pepera | Gloucester History FestivalIn this compelling episode of History Rage, host Paul Bavill is joined by the insightful Luke Pepera, broadcaster, anthropologist, and author of "Motherland," as they delve into the rich tapestry of African history that often goes unrecognised. Together, they challenge the pervasive myths surrounding the continent's past, particularly the notion that Africa's significance began only with European contact. Shattering Misconceptions:Luke passionately argues against the portrayal of Africa as a mere backdrop to European narratives, highlighting the continent's profound historical relevance and its role in global dynamics long before colonisation.He emphasises the importance...
2025-04-0345 min
This is History: A Dynasty to Die ForEmpire of Gold | 5. Journey’s EndFind out more about the battlefield in mediaeval Mali in our bonus episode. Subscribe for weekly episodes and ad-free listening.
Musa is tantalisingly close to completing his pilgrimage but conflict looms large in Timbuktu as the nomadic Tuareg pose a formidable challenge for the Malians.
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2025-04-0120 min
The Medieval PodcastMedieval Africa with Luke PeperaAlthough it’s the cradle of our species, and a land as rich in culture as it is legendarily rich in resources, retellings of African history often place their focus heavily on the transatlantic slave trade. While this is valuable, too narrow a focus can make it easy to lose sight of how incredibly powerful, interconnected, and respected African people have been within the fabric of global history. This week, Danièle speaks with Luke Pepera about medieval Africa, what it would’ve been like to find yourself in one of the most powerful empires of the Middle Ages, and the f...
2025-03-2741 min
This is History: A Dynasty to Die ForEmpire of Gold | 4. Gold RushFind out more about Musa’s extravagance in our bonus episode. Subscribe for weekly episodes and ad-free listening.
It’s chaos in Cairo as Musa’s extravagant generosity has spectacular consequences. The Egyptian merchants are rioting and Musa’s gets caught up in the thick of it.
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2025-03-2519 min
HistoryExtra Long Reads500,000 years of African historySlavery, exploitation and racism. These tragedies have long dominated histories of Africa. But there’s another way to tell this story. And, as this Long Read written by Luke Pepera explains, it’s one that puts Africans right at the centre of their continent’s extraordinarily rich and vibrant past.HistoryExtra Long Reads brings you the best articles from BBC History Magazine, direct to your ears. Today’s feature originally appeared in the February 2025 issue, and has been voiced in partnership with the RNIB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit po...
2025-03-2419 min
HistoryExtra podcastWhy Africa's history is more than just the slave tradeHas our focus on the impact of the transatlantic slave trade blinded us to the diversity and complexity of Africa's past? That's one of the arguments at the heart of Luke Pepera's new book Motherland, which spans 500,000 years of the continent's history. Luke speaks to Matt Elton about some of the stories that shine the spotlight back on African people.(Ad) Luke Pepera is the author of Motherland: A Journey through 500,000 Years of African Culture and Identity (Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 2025). Buy it now from Waterstones: https://go.skimresources.com?id=71026X1535947&xcust=historyextra-social-histboty&xs=1...
2025-03-2441 min
This is History: A Dynasty to Die ForEmpire of Gold | 3. Trouble in CairoFind out more about the legendary Mamluks in our bonus episode. Subscribe for weekly episodes and ad-free listening.
Musa clashes with the fearsome Mamluks as he enters Cairo and must find a way to placate the sultan of Egypt, Al-Nasir Muhammad, one of the toughest rulers in history, or face certain death.
A Sony Music Entertainment production.
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2025-03-1822 min
This is History: A Dynasty to Die ForEmpire of Gold | 2. Shifting SandsSubscribe for exclusive bonus episodes every week and ad-free listening to all episodes.
With a murder in the desert praying on his mind, Musa and his Mali pilgrims find themselves in peril in the middle of the unforgiving Sahara from an unlikely source.
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Learn...
2025-03-1121 min
This is History: A Dynasty to Die ForEmpire of Gold | 1. MatricideMansa Musa sets out on a dangerous pilgrimage across the Sahara desert to absolve himself of a terrible crime. Facing treacherous conditions and deadly threats, he ventures where few would dare. Will he survive the perilous pilgrimage, or will the desert claim him?
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2025-03-0419 min
This is History: A Dynasty to Die ForIntroducing...The Empire Of GoldWealth, power, redemption, and legacy: it’s the story of the richest man to ever live and his extraordinary reign. This is History is heading to West Africa, to bring you the story of the legendary emperor of Mali: Mansa Musa. Dan Jones speaks to historian Luke Pepera about Musa’s incredible journey, and what we can expect from this thrilling 6-part spin-off series.
A Sony Music Entertainment production.
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To bring your bran...
2025-02-2511 min
Enjoy Into A Riveting Full Audiobook Before Bedtime.Motherland by Luke PeperaPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/2/audible/250014to listen full audiobooks.
Title: Motherland
Author: Luke Pepera
Narrator: Luke Pepera
Format: mp3
Length: 8 hrs and 59 mins
Release date: 01-30-25
Ratings: Not rated yet
Genres: Africa
Publisher's Summary:
Motherland is a ground-breaking exploration of African culture and identity, told via Luke Pepera's journey through 500,000 years of history to connect with his extraordinary heritage. Pepera tackles the questions many people of African descent ask - Who are we? Where do we come from? What defines us? And how might knowledge of deep history affect our understanding of our identity?
2025-01-308h 59
Not Just the TudorsThe Mighty Ashanti: Rival to the British EmpireAt the end of the 17th century, a small clan - the Akan - in West Africa began growing into what would later become the powerful Ashanti Empire. The state grew rapidly in both wealth and land until it spanned most of modern day Ghana, the Ivory Coast, and Togo. Luke Pepera joins Professor Suzannah Lipscomb to discuss this incredible Empire, which fiercely resisted British colonialism and fought violent wars to protect and expand its territory.Luke Pepera's documentary Africa: Written Out of History is available now on History Hit TV....
2024-07-2229 min
The 15 Minute Book ClubHistory Hack: History of AfricaLuke Pepera is a rising star in the history world, and today he joins us to talk about the subject that makes his heart sing with a broad look at the history of Africa. Think it's all about slavery and being ruled by imperial powers? Um, nope. We can't wait for his forthcoming book!Enjoying our work?Reviews are free: But they help us climb the rankings and we get seen more people. We'd appreciate your 5* feedback, just a few words, on Apple Podcasts so we can con their evil algorithm into thinking...
2024-06-0346 min
History Film ClubAfrican QueensAlex and Hannah talk to Luke Pepera about histories of Africa on screen, fetish priests and his work on the Netflix series 'African Queens' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2023-09-2826 min
The HipstoriansUntold stories of African empires with Luke PeperaTalking about old stories written out of history that ooen up a whole new world of discovery and why is it only now that we are being introduced to Africa’s rich and abundant history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2023-03-3037 min
The Rest Is History317: African AmazonsA story spanning modern-day Ghana, Angola, and Benin, historian Luke Pepera joins Tom and Dominic to discuss the tradition of African queens, female warriors, and military commanders. Through the lives of Queen Nzinga of Ndongo, the Dahomey warriors, and the Ashanti Queen mothers, our hosts look at how these figures interacted with their male counterparts, their subjects, and European colonisers. *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia! Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.com Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Producer: Theo Young-Smith Executive Producers: J...
2023-03-3050 min
The Rest Is HistoryAfrican AmazonsA story spanning modern-day Ghana, Angola, and Benin, historian Luke Pepera joins Tom and Dominic to discuss the tradition of African queens, female warriors, and military commanders. Through the lives of Queen Nzinga of Ndongo, the Dahomey warriors, and the Ashanti Queen mothers, our hosts look at how these figures interacted with their male counterparts, their subjects, and European colonisers.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!...
2023-03-3053 minThe HipstoriansUntold stories of African Empires with Luke PeperaTalking about old stories written out of history opening up a whole new world of discovery and why is it only now that we are being introduced to Africa’s rich abundant history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2023-03-2937 minHistoryExtra podcastNjinga: queen, warrior, diplomatQueen Njinga, the 17th-century ruler of Ndongo and Matamba, in modern-day Angola, established an impressive reputation for her skills as a warrior and diplomat. At a time when Portuguese colonists were ramping up operations in the region, Njinga had to fight tooth and nail for survival, and make difficult decisions to protect her people. Luke Pepera tells Kev Lochun more about this formidable leader, whose story has been brought to life in a new Netflix docu-drama, African Queens. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
2023-03-1439 min
The AncientsThe Bantu ExpansionThe Bantu expansion was one of the most significant cultural events in human history. Sometime between 3,000 and 2,000 years ago in Sub-Saharan Africa, massive numbers of Proto-Bantu speaking peoples spread out around the continent from an unknown central location. As they moved into new areas, the Bantu brought with them their language, culture, and technology - displacing or absorbing many non-Bantu speaking groups of hunter-gatherers & pastoralists. Today, Bantu languages are spoken by over 400 million people. So why aren't these events more widely known?In this episode, Tristan is joined by historian Luke Pepera to help untangle the...
2023-02-1933 minThe AncientsThe Bantu ExpansionThe Bantu expansion was one of the most significant cultural events in human history. Sometime between 3,000 and 2,000 years ago in Sub-Saharan Africa, massive numbers of Proto-Bantu speaking peoples spread out around the continent from an unknown central location. As they moved into new areas, the Bantu brought with them their language, culture, and technology - displacing or absorbing many non-Bantu speaking groups of hunter-gatherers & pastoralists. Today, Bantu languages are spoken by over 400 million people. So why aren't these events more widely known?In this episode, Tristan is joined by historian Luke Pepera to help untangle the...
2023-02-1933 minThe AncientsRace in AntiquityHistory is littered with devastating accounts of prejudice that shines a harsh light on the atrocities humans have inflicted on each other for centuries.But has racism always plagued our society? From the African son of Peter the Great of Russia, to the one-eyed black leader of the Kushite army - Warrior Queen Amanirenas, it seems skin colour presented no barriers for a person of African decent to amount to greatness in antiquity.In this episode, Tristan is joined by Luke Pepera who is a writer, broadcaster, anthropologist, and historian...
2022-10-0933 minThe AncientsRace in AntiquityHistory is littered with devastating accounts of prejudice that shines a harsh light on the atrocities humans have inflicted on each other for centuries.But has racism always plagued our society? From the African son of Peter the Great of Russia, to the one-eyed black leader of the Kushite army - Warrior Queen Amanirenas, it seems skin colour presented no barriers for a person of African decent to amount to greatness in antiquity.In this episode, Tristan is joined by Luke Pepera who is a writer, broadcaster, anthropologist, and historian...
2022-10-0933 min
Khaki MalarkeyAfrican History - with Luke PeperaFor this week’s episode we were joined by the lovely Luke Pepera, a historian, writer and broadcaster specialising in pre-colonial African history. A fascinating and eye-opening episode! If you’d like to get in touch, you can find us on Twitter @KhakiMalarkey. Edited by Zack O’Leary (@zickzack142). Hosted by Phoebe Style (@ph0ebestyle) and Olivia Smith (@__OliviaSmith12).
2022-02-0843 min
Gone MedievalMedieval AfricaIt’s no secret that Africa’s early history is documented quite differently from its European counterparts, relying instead on elements such as oral traditions and art. Anthropologist and historian, Luke Pepera, studies the true histories, mythologies, and cultures of Africa. He joins Matt in this episode to explore what these materials can tell us about Medieval Africa. They delve into the identities and societies of the continent, examining its international connections, trade transport, and wealth, and how all of this is reflected in the life of Mansa Musa. To hear more from Luke, check out this documentary on History Hit...
2021-06-1235 min
Killing Time with Rebecca RidealThe Rise and Fall of Shaka ZuluIn this episode, Rebecca is joined by historian and writer Luke Pepera to explore the astonishing life of Shaka Zulu. His a story of heroism, conquest, grief and brutality.
Written and narration by Rebecca Rideal
Editor/Producer: Peter Curry
Theme music: "Circles" by The Broxton Hundred
2020-12-0427 min
Sick to Death: A History of Medicine in 10 ObjectsEarly Modern MedicineIn the fourth episode of our brand-new podcast series, historian and host Rebecca Rideal is joined by Sick to Death’s very own Dean Paton, as well as experts Julie Mathias, Dr Lara Thorpe, Dr Wanda Wyporska, Luke Pepera and Dr Anton Howes to investigate medicine during the early modern period. Forget the Tudors, the big story during this time is the movement of medical thinking away from Galen. Today’s object is a life-size replica of Andreas Vesalius’s Hanging Man.
Written and produced by Rebecca Rideal.
Edited and produced by Matt Pearson.
Them...
2020-11-1137 min
Legendary AfricaEpisode 12: The Mystery of Rosalind Ballingall - South AfricaWelcome back to Mzansi, Legends! Join me in South Africa as we journey from Cape Town to Knysna to Johannesburg to George as we try to solve the unsolvable mystery of Rosalind Ballingall. Grab your pipe and grab your cane, you’re going to have to be better than Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot to solve this case! Enjoy and thanks for listening!
Promo by the Brown Girls Read podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brown-girls-read/id1493872857
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Instagram: @legendarypod
Twitter: @Legendarypod1
Main link: https://linktr.ee/le...
2020-09-0521 min
The AncientsKingdom of KushAlong the banks of the River Nile, directly south of ancient Egypt and hundreds of miles away from the Mediterranean, there was a flourishing kingdom. The Kingdom of Kush. The Egyptians, Assyrians, Persians, Greeks, Nabataeans, Libyans, Romans, and not to mention countless African kingdoms - the Kushite domain boasted a remarkable history with all these ancient civilisations throughout its long history. Its existence spanned centuries; its cities were bustling centres for inter-continental trade; its art and architecture continues to amaze visitors to this day.I was delighted to be joined by Luke Pepera (@LukePepera), a historian...
2020-08-2846 minThe AncientsKingdom of KushAlong the banks of the River Nile, directly south of ancient Egypt and hundreds of miles away from the Mediterranean, there was a flourishing kingdom. The Kingdom of Kush. The Egyptians, Assyrians, Persians, Greeks, Nabataeans, Libyans, Romans, and not to mention countless African kingdoms - the Kushite domain boasted a remarkable history with all these ancient civilisations throughout its long history. Its existence spanned centuries; its cities were bustling centres for inter-continental trade; its art and architecture continues to amaze visitors to this day.I was delighted to be joined by Luke Pepera (@LukePepera), a historian...
2020-08-2846 min