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

"A wonderful debut by a talented and exciting young historian" Peter Frankopan

"Simultaneously capacious and personal...a masterful achievement" Tom Holland

"Elegant and powerful, Pepera's magnificent book elevates our understanding of Africa's overlooked histories" Olivette Otele, author of African Europeans

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?

With illuminating examples, Pepera explores aspects of African identity from nomadic culture to matriarchal society. We meet an array of intriguing characters including Mansa Musa, the wealthiest man who ever lived, and the Kandake Queen Amanirenas, who defeated the Romans in Nubia.

We learn how the response to the actor Chadwick Boseman's death demonstrated Yoruba beliefs about ancestral veneration, and how the rap battle evolved from earlier forms of African oral literature.

Interwoven with Luke's own experiences of exploring his Ghanaian family history, this is a comprehensive, relevant and beautifully told account of the stories that have shaped Africa.