Africa's Great Civilizations

A six-part documentary series presented by Henry Louis Gates Jr. that traces the history of African civilisations from the earliest human origins through to the twentieth century. Gates travels across the continent and beyond, exploring powerful kingdoms, intellectual centres, and trading empires that shaped world history but have often been overlooked in mainstream historical narratives. The series examines major centres of learning and culture such as Timbuktu, the empires of Mali and Songhai, and the civilisations of ancient Nubia and Egypt, drawing on archaeological evidence and scholarly insight to challenge persistent myths about Africa's past.