Building on a glorious past
Africa is one of the most neglected and most feared areas of the world. This is unfortunate, and based largely on misconception. It is indeed true that much of Africa is still struggling to emerge from the lingering effects of colonialism. But Africa has a glorious past, stretching back far before this era, all the way to the origins of humanity. This history includes some of the greatest empires in world history, such as ancient Egypt, medieval Mali, and the Moorish empire that ruled Southern Europe for some seven hundred years. Africa's glorious history is not simply a matter of empire - much of the philosophy, science and knowledge that modern Europe is built on was borrowed from Africa. Nor is Africa's glory simply a thing of the past. Modern Africa consists of fifty-three nations, stretching from Algeria down to South Africa. These countries contain hundreds of languages and ethnicities, and unparalleled diversity and vibrancy. The continent's cultural richness is rivaled only by its natural wonders. The one continent contains the Sahara desert, the African rainforest, and everything in between, as well as untold natural resources. While both the people and the environment of Africa have suffered from great exploitation, this is only part of the story. And it is a story that is still being written. Come watch it unfold.
