Africa in World History

The books in this series not only contribute to the ways our students see and remember African history but also make broader connections that link the historical stories our students already know and place Africans at the heart of them.

Martin A. Klein, African Studies Review

Series Editors

Todd Cleveland
University of Arkansas

Melissa Graboyes
University of Oregon

The objective of the Africa in World History series at Ohio University Press is to publish accessible books written for a variety of audiences, some of whom may know relatively little about the continent. Collectively, the volumes challenge common misunderstandings about Africa’s past and its connection to the present. The books focus on Africa while placing the continent in contact and context with the rest of the world. 

Books in the series feature familiar topics, such as soccer, cuisine, diamonds, or slavery, situate them in an African context, and draw readers into substantive engagement with their complex histories. Some books in the series examine a single topic as it unfolds across the continent, while others focus on a particular setting or region to illustrate broader developments and dynamics. Authors in the series typically draw upon their own primary source research, but also synthesize a range of secondary sources, always adhering to rigorous standards of scholarship. 

The AWH series has a strong commitment to producing books written in an accessible style, appropriate for adoption in a wide variety of undergraduate courses. The clear writing and explicit connections between Africans and the wider world make books in the series ideal for both African and world history courses. They are especially useful for undergraduate and graduate instruction; for training foreign service, NGO, and media personnel; and for readers interested in deepening and expanding their knowledge of Africa’s interlinked past, present, and future. Authors are encouraged to include reader guides to facilitate discussion within educational settings.

The series coeditors encourage proposals from authors of all career stages and geographic locations and are particularly excited to work with first-time authors and authors from the African continent.

To discuss an idea for a book in the series, please contact AWH coeditors Todd Cleveland ([email protected]) and Melissa Graboyes ([email protected]). In your e-mail, provide a brief description of your proposed project and explain why it is appropriate for this series and this audience.