West Africa

Lost Kingdoms of Africa episode 5 – The Kingdom of Asante: Asante in West Africa was a kingdom that was built on gold and slaves, which ensured its important place in an economy that linked three continents.     We know less about Africa’s distant past than almost anywhere else on Earth. But the scarcity of written records doesn’t mean that Africa lacks history – it is found instead in the culture, artefacts and traditions of the people. In this series, art historian Dr Gus Casely-Hayford explores some of the richest and most vibrant histories in the world, revealing fascinating […]

Lost Kingdoms of Africa episode 4 – West Africa: Gus Casely-Hayford travels to Nigeria and Mali to explore the story behind a series of magnificent 16th-century bronzes made in the ancient kingdom of Benin. Four-part series in which British art historian Dr Gus Casely-Hayford explores the pre-colonial history of some of Africa’s most important kingdoms. The African continent is home to nearly a billion people. It has an incredible diversity of communities and cultures, yet we know less of its history than almost anywhere else on earth.     But that is beginning to change. In the last few decades