SOAS President to publish children's edition of her African history book

SOAS President Zeinab Badawi is to publish a children’s edition of her Sunday Times bestseller “An African History of Africa”.

Charting African history from the perspectives and experiences of African historians, anthropologists, archaeologists and local storytellers, the book originally published in 2024 builds upon her 20-part BBC documentary series, ‘A History of Africa with Zeinab Badawi’.

History is best understood if it is seared into the imagination and that is especially true for young readers.

The children’s edition "Africa: History and Heroes” will take on an illustrative approach for younger readers. Speaking to AFP and France 24, Zeinab said children should be introduced to African history at an early age to help them understand that it was "part of our global story".

She added: "Of course you have to engage the young reader through vivid illustrations, and I have a wonderful illustrator who I think captures the essence of the characters I have focused on in the children's book. History is best understood if it is seared into the imagination and that is especially true for young readers.”

'Africa: History and Heroes' is set to release in September 2027.