Africa Audiobooks | Travel

Biafra: History and Atrocities of the Nigerian Civil War

Biafra, known officially as the Republic of Biafra, emerged as a separatist state in West Africa, enduring from May 1967 to January 1970 when it seceded from Nigeria. Its territory encompassed the former eastern region of Nigeria, predominantly inhabited by the Igbo population, now divided into the present south-south and southeastern regions of Africa. Founded by Igbo nationalists, Biafra arose in response to a series of ethnic hostilities that erupted immediately after Nigeria gained independence in 1960, culminating in the 1966 massacres of Igbos and other southern ethnic groups residing in northern Nigeria. Following Biafra's declaration of independence in 1967, Nigeria's military initiated an attack on the country, sparking the Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Nigerian-Biafran War. Gabon, Haiti, the Ivory Coast, Tanzania, and Zambia have all officially acknowledged Biafra. France, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Rhodesia, South Africa, and the Vatican City were among the countries that withheld recognition from Biafra but provided support and assistance. Biafra received aid from non-state entities such as Joint Church Aid, foreign mercenaries, the Holy Ghost Fathers of Ireland, and Caritas International under their guidance, as well as the United States Catholic Relief Services. In response to the suffering, Médecins Sans Frontières was founded.

Kelly Mass (Author), Jacob Simmons (Narrator)

Audiobook

Haile Selassie: The Ethiopian Emperor Who Modernized the Country

This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice. This book has been narrated by a digital voice. From 1930 until 1974, Ethiopia was under the rule of Haile Selassie, who had served as the Regent Plenipotentiary of Ethiopia since the year 1916. A key figure in Ethiopian history, he also played a significant role in the emergence of Rastafari, a Jamaican religious movement born in the 1930s when he assumed the title of Emperor. As a member of the Solomonic dynasty, claiming lineage from Emperor Menelik I, the son of King Solomon and Queen Makeda of Sheba, Haile Selassie held a unique place in Ethiopia's historical narrative. In his quest for modernization, Haile Selassie introduced political and social reforms, such as Ethiopia's first written constitution in the year 1931 and the abolition of slavery. He actively led Ethiopia during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War, facing the Italian occupation and later residing in exile in England. After the defeat of the Italians by the British Empire in the year 1941, Haile Selassie returned to govern Ethiopia. He dissolved the Federation of Ethiopia and Eritrea, established by the United Nations General Assembly in the year 1950, integrating Eritrea as a province of Ethiopia while opposing secession. Haile Selassie's internationalist vision led Ethiopia to become a founding member of the United Nations. He served as the inaugural chairman of the Organisation of African Unity, precursor to the African Union, established in the year 1963. However, in the year 1974, the Derg, a Marxist–Leninist junta, orchestrated a military revolution, overthrowing Haile Selassie, who met his demise on August 27, 1975.

Kelly Mass (Author), Digital Voice Marcus G (Narrator)

Audiobook

Uganda: History of Its Early Days and the Ugandan Bush War

This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice. This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice. The individuals who ultimately transformed the landscape were likely Bantu speakers, whose gradual yet inexorable expansion became the dominant force across much of Africa south of the Sahara Desert. Their agricultural expertise and mastery of iron-forging technology allowed for the clearing of land and sustained the burgeoning population. As early as 400 BCE, they not only engaged in farming but also commenced the domestication of goats, poultry, and cattle. This agricultural prowess not only reshaped the physical terrain but also influenced the displacement of indigenous hunter-gatherer communities, pushing them into more remote mountainous regions for habitation. Simultaneously, Bantu-speaking metallurgists achieved significant advancements in iron smelting, producing medium-grade carbon steel in pre-heated forced-draft furnaces by the fourth century BCE. While these innovations primarily unfolded southwest of the present Ugandan borders, the mining and smelting of iron became prevalent in various regions of the country shortly thereafter.

Kelly Mass (Author), Digital Voice Michelle G (Narrator)

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The Congo Wars: History and Causes of Its Bloody Massacres

This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice. This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice. In the tumultuous era of the First Congo War (1996–1997), often dubbed Africa's First World War, the heart of the conflict beat within the borders of what was then Zaire, now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo. This civil war spilled over into neighboring Sudan and Uganda, culminating in a foreign invasion that ousted Zairean President Mobutu Sese Seko, paving the way for the rise of rebel leader Laurent-Désiré Kabila. However, the aftermath of Mobutu's downfall sowed the seeds for the Second Congo War, an extended period of conflict that persisted from 1998 to 2003. The backdrop to this tumultuous chapter was Zaire's descent into a vortex of internal strife, autocracy, and economic decay by 1996. The Rwandan genocide had ripples that destabilized the eastern regions, compounding longstanding regional tensions lingering from the Congo Crisis. Governance was reduced to mere fragments in many areas, with militias, warlords, and rebel factions assuming control. The populace, weary of inefficiency and corruption, grew increasingly discontent with the crumbling leadership. Mobutu's terminal illness rendered him incapable of quelling internal factions, and the conclusion of the Cold War weakened his anti-communist stance, stripping away Western support.

Kelly Mass (Author), Digital Voice Marcus G (Narrator)

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History of South Africa: Racism, Apartheid, Colonialism, and Other Details

This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice. This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice. South Africa's ancient past is categorized into two eras: the Stone Age and the Iron Age, distinguished by overarching technological traits. The designation of these areas as a World Heritage site ensued from the discovery of hominins in Taung and australopithecine fossils within limestone caves at Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, and Kromdraai. The early inhabitants of South Africa were denoted as the Khoisan, Khoi Khoi, and San. The Middle Paleolithic predecessors are believed to be the forebears of the native San and Khoikhoi tribes. Their collective name, the Khoisan, is a recent European amalgamation of these two tribes. The Khoisan's habitation in southern Africa aligns with the earliest divergence of all contemporary Homo sapiens groups, genetically connected to matrilinear haplogroup L0 (mtDNA) and patrilinear haplogroup A (Y-DNA), originating in the northwestern region of southern Africa.

Kelly Mass (Author), Digital Voice Ava G (Narrator)

Audiobook

McFecane: History of the Zulu and Nguni Wars

This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice. This audiobook is narrate by a digital voice. The Mfecane, alternatively known as Difaqane or Lifaqane in Sesotho, signifying 'breaking, dispersion, enforced displacement, forced migration,' marked a period of heightened military conflict and migratory movements in Southern Africa, closely tied to processes of state formation and expansion. Pinpointing the precise timeframe of the Mfecane varies depending on the source. While the broader period spans from the late eighteenth century to the mid-nineteenth century CE, scholarly focus often narrows down to the period between the 1810s and the 1840s. The concept originated in the 1830s, primarily rooted in the narrative of Shaka Zulu's purported near-genocidal conflicts, resulting in depopulation and setting off a chain reaction of violence as displaced groups sought to conquer new territories. Nevertheless, due to a scarcity of robust historical evidence, this theory has fallen out of favor since the latter part of the twentieth century. Current academic interpretations substantially reduce the estimated mortality rate, attributing the primary causes to intricate political, economic, and environmental factors. In Eastern Southern Africa, the Mfecane stands out for witnessing the rise of new nations, institutions, and ethnic identities. From its inception as a historical concept, the historiography of the Mfecane has been instrumentalized to serve diverse political agendas, with varied versions being employed for different political objectives.

Kelly Mass (Author), Digital Voice Marcus G (Narrator)

Audiobook

Ethiopia: History of the Ethiopian Middle Ages, Colony, and Civil War

This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice. This book has been narrated by a digital voice. Ethiopian civilization, one of Africa's most ancient, boasts a history spanning millennia. The Kingdom of Aksum, a dominant force from the early first century, played a pivotal role in shaping Ethiopian national identity through sociopolitical assimilation. Over the next 700 years, the Ethiopian Empire (Abyssinia) expanded, absorbing diverse Afro-Asian-speaking populations through migration and imperial expansion. In the 10th century BC, the kingdom of D'mt, with its capital at Yeha, emerged as one of the early powers in the region. The Aksumite Kingdom, rising to prominence in the Tigray Region in the first century AD, expanded its influence along the Red Sea, subjugating Yemen and Meroe. Christianity was declared the state religion during the reign of Ezana in the early fourth century, marking a significant development. The Aksumites began identifying themselves as 'Ethiopians,' a term later acknowledged by foreign authors like Philostorgius. The rise of Islam in the Arabian peninsula led to the decline of the Aksumite empire, as trade shifted away, causing economic collapse. By the 13th century, the Zagwe dynasty succeeded the Aksumites, eventually giving way to the Solomonic dynasty, which ushered in a period of military advancements and imperial expansion.

Kelly Mass (Author), Digital Voice Maxwell G (Narrator)

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Sierra Leone: History of Its Colonization, Conflicts, and Blood Diamonds

This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice. This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice. More than two millennia ago, the rich history of Sierra Leone began with the settlement of indigenous African peoples. The Limba, the initial discoverers of this land, established roots that echoed through the ages. Sierra Leone's unique geographical positioning, encompassed by vast tropical rainforests, served as a sanctuary for those seeking refuge from violence and jihad, setting it apart from other West African cultures. In 1462, Pedro de Sintra, a Portuguese explorer, bestowed upon this region the name Sierra Leone. As trans-Atlantic and coastal trade gained ascendancy over trans-Saharan trade, the Freetown estuary emerged as a vital natural port, capturing international attention and interest. In the mid-16th century, the Mane people entered Sierra Leone, subjugating the indigenous coastal populations and instilling militarization. This period witnessed constant conflicts among the diverse chiefdoms and kingdoms, with many unfortunate prisoners finding themselves traded to European slave traffickers Sierra Leone played a pivotal role in the Atlantic slave trade during the 17th and 18th centuries, evolving into a central hub for anti-slavery movements after the trade's prohibition in 1807. Freetown, established by British abolitionists as a colony for Black Loyalists, ultimately became the cornerstone of British West Africa. The colony's strategic location facilitated the interception of slave ships by a naval squadron, leading to a flourishing community of Liberated Africans and Afro-Caribbean soldiers who had fought for Britain in the Napoleonic Wars. The descendants of these settlers were commonly known as Creoles or Krios.

Kelly Mass (Author), Digital Voice Archie G (Narrator)

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African History: A Closer Look at Colonies, Countries, and Wars

Kelly Mass (Author), Digital Voice Mike G (Narrator)

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The Barbary Wars: A Captivating Guide to the First Overseas Wars Conducted by the United States

Discover the captivating history of the first American wars in Africa! In this audiobook, you’ll learn about the Barbary Wars of 1801 to 1805 and 1815, the first American wars outside of North America. The enemies were the Muslim Barbary pirates of the North African coast. Discover how American sailors were captured and turned into slaves in Morocco, Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli. Why did this happen? And why didn’t the US Navy do more to stop it? Discover the answers to these in this comprehensive guide! You’ll also learn about the origin of the Barbary corsairs who made slave raids on Europe for 250 years and traveled as far as Ireland and Iceland. You’ll find out the embarrassing history of how the US Congress authorized paying protection money to these pirates and how American taxes subsidized pirate ships. Discover how the pirates captured a big American frigate and its crew and threatened to burn them alive if they weren’t paid a ransom. Learn how one of the most courageous special operations in Navy history stopped a ship from becoming a pirate ship. There is so much to discover in this audiobook. Some of the things you will be captivated to learn about include the following: - How an American warship carried a harem, a zoo, a hundred slaves, and treasure to Istanbul - Why the United States decided to build a navy - Why a big pirate ship was built in New Hampshire and delivered to Algiers - Where that phrase in the “Marines Hymn” “to the shores of Tripoli” comes from - Why the US Navy borrowed ships from Sicily - And so much more! Click the “add to cart” button to start learning about the first American wars on another continent!

Captivating History (Author), Jason Saffir (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Big Book of Pyramids Worldwide

This book is intended as a survey of pyramids and possible pyramids worldwide. There are more than 50 different pyramids and sites reviewed. I’ve broken this information into three sections as follows: Best Known Pyramids-Those which are famous throughout the world and almost everyone knows about. Lesser Known Accepted Pyramids-These are real documented sites which experts agree are real pyramids but not that well known throughout the world. Possible Pyramid Constructions-These are likely pyramid constructions but not accepted by mainstream archeologists. Some are even the products of wishful thinking. However, all of these candidate structures I could find are included. Many of the pyramid descriptions are from publically available articles. Some of the descriptions are also from my analysis of the individual structures and constructions. In the book’s summary, there are also some discussions of other issues like pyramid ages, alignments, and who built them.

Martin K Ettington (Author), Martin K Ettington (Narrator)

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[Spanish] - El regreso

El autor de Solo en el mundo e Historia de una desaparición emprende en este relato autobiográfico una infatigable búsqueda de la verdad y nos invita a compartir sus emociones más íntimas, desde las luminosas estampas de una infancia mediterránea en Trípoli y Bengasi hasta un áspero presente donde se mezclan la ilusión, la rabia y la impotencia. En marzo de 2012, treinta y tres años después de haber pisado por última vez la tierra de sus orígenes, el autor de este libro regresó a Libia junto a su madre y su mujer. El derrocamiento de Gadafi había abierto un tiempo nuevo en el que cabía la esperanza de refundar una sociedad devastada por los abominables crímenes de la dictadura, recuperando un sistema de valores basado en la justicia y el respeto por la vida humana. Sin embargo, más allá de soñar con un país en libertad y progreso, en la mente de Hisham bullía el deseo de cerrar una herida profunda y dolorosa que había marcado su vida y la de su familia. En 1990, su padre, Jaballa Matar, un próspero y culto empresario, amante de la poesía y líder de la disidencia en el exilio, había sido secuestrado en El Cairo y confinado en una prisión libia. Seis años más tarde, las escasas noticias que llegaban se interrumpieron: el rastro de Jaballa se perdió definitivamente. Transitando con maestría entre las convulsiones personales y los acontecimientos históricos, este sincero y poliédrico relato autobiográfico no se limita a tratar de comprender las aflicciones del pasado, sino que señala una y otra vez el consuelo reparador que ofrecen el amor y la amistad, la literatura y el arte. La crítica ha dicho... «¡Brillante! [...] El relato de la búsqueda de su padre es meticuloso, incluso frío, pero su rabia es destemplada e irreconciliable. Con gran destreza, Hisham Matar da forma a la pérdida y dota de universalidad esta particular experiencia de la desolación.» Hilary Mantel «Un libro fascinante sobre el amor y la esperanza, y al mismo tiempo una conmovedora reflexión sobre el dolor y la pérdida. Hisham Matar traza un retrato memorable de una familia en el exilio y, al mismo tiempo, analiza con sutileza e inteligencia la política de Libia. [...] Seguramente se convertirá en un clásico.» Colm Tóibín «Matar escribe con el ojo de un novelista para los detalles físicos y emocionales, y el tacto de un periodista para describir instantes y lugares. Laprosa es concisa, económica, está tallada con precisión; la estructura narrativa es elíptica, casi musical.» Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times «Sabio, aterrador y emocionante.» Zadie Smith «El autor posee una mirada y un oído de enorme sutileza y sensibilidad [...]. Una impactante historia de amor, lealtad y coraje. Sin duda, hay que leerla.» The Spectator

Hisham Matar (Author), Diego Rousselon (Narrator)

Audiobook

Africa Audiobooks in Travel