The history of Africa begins with the emergence of Homo sapiens in East Africa, and continues into the present as a patchwork of diverse and politically developing nation states. The recorded history of early civilization arose in Egypt (originally as a part of the Kingdom of Kush pre-dating well recorded history), and later in Nubia, the Sahel, the Maghreb and the Horn of Africa. During the Middle Ages, Islam spread west from Arabia to Egypt, crossing the Maghreb and the Sahel. Some notable pre-colonial states and societies in Africa include the Nok culture, Mali Empire, Songhai Empire, Ashanti Empire, Mossi Kingdoms, Kingdom of Mapungubwe, Kingdom of Sine, Kingdom of Sennar, Kingdom of Saloum, Kingdom of Baol, Kingdom of Cayor, Kingdom of Zimbabwe, Kingdom of Kongo, Empire of Kaabu, Ancient Carthage, Numidia, Mauretania, the Aksumite Empire, the Ajuran Sultanate, and the Adal Sultanate.
From the mid 7th century, the Arab slave trade saw Muslim Arabs enslave Africans following an armistice between the Rashidun Caliphate and the Kingdom of Makuria at the Second Battle of Dongola in 652. They were transported along with Asians and Europeans across the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and Sahara desert.
Another lesson
From the pages of history, I learn
But do I really understand
I count the seasons
I count the change of scenes I tried
But will I ever succeed
Too many voices
The people call my name, I hear
But will I ever agree
I caused a fight for
A cause for every scene I tried
But can I ever believe
I fight for change
I change to feel
I feel to be
I am, I am, I am
I turned over
I got another look
I got a sense of what I want to be
I turned over
I got another look
I got a sense of me
I turned over
I got another look
I got a sense of what I want to be
I turned over
I got another look
I got a sense of me
My history
Another lesson
From the pages of history, I learn
But do I really understand
I count the seasons
I count the change of scenes I tried
But will I ever succeed
Another reason
Another call to see, I feel
This time I know it's true
I see the power
I see the mystery inside
It's safe in all of me
I fight for change
I change to feel
I feel to be
I am, I am, I am
I turned over
I got another look
I got a sense of what I want to be
I turned over
I got another look
I got a sense of me
I turned over
I got another look
I got a sense of what I want to be
I turned over
I got another look
I got a sense of me
My history
My history
I see the power
I see the mystery inside
It's safe in all of me
I turned over
I got another look
I got a sense of what I want to be
I turned over
I got another look
I got a sense of me
I turned over
I got another look
I got a sense of what I want to be
I turned over
I got another look
I got a sense of me
My history