Genre: Middle Grade/Young Adult
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Pages: 176
Published: October 19th, 2021
Rating: 5/5
Buy at: Book Depository | Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Add to Goodreads
Summary:
When American schoolchildren learn about Black History, they are typically taught American stories rooted in the struggle over enslavement and oppression. While these stories are essential, they acknowledge only a part of a rich and thrilling history that goes back millennia across the vast African continent.
Inspiring and enriching, African Icons: Ten People Who Built a Continent by Tracey Baptiste provides ten illuminating portraits of Black excellence from ancient times through the sixteenth century. By introducing these tremendous stories into current discussions of racial inequality and historical bias, Baptiste takes an important step toward filling a vast educational gap.
Illustrator Hillary D. Wilson’s brilliant portraits accompany each profile, along with vivid, information-filled landscapes, maps, and graphics for readers to pore over and return to again and again.
Review:
African Icons primarily focuses on Egyptian history. Written in chronological order from ancient times to the sixteen century, it celebrates kings, queens, inventors, scholars, and visionaries who shaped the continent and beyond. From Menes, the first Pharaoh, to Queen Idia, a sixteenth-century power broker.
The book’s journey began in February 2017, when author Tracey Baptiste wrote a blog post, Africans before slavery, in response to the then American President Donald Trump’s ignorant comments on Black History Month. The author did face difficulty in researching for the book due to the bias and racism in the written records. In some cases, complete history has been wiped out and replaced with the colonizer’s version.
The book is beautifully illustrated. Along with the ten heroic figures, the designer also framed each chapter with a graphic pattern borrowed from ancient African tradition that adds to the charm of the book.
African Icons: Ten People Who Built a Continent by Tracey Baptiste #BookReview @TraceyBaptiste @AlgonquinYR #BohoPonderings Click To TweetApart from the icons, the book discusses the history of the continent including colonization. It was heartbreaking to read how entire civilizations were lost. Particularly in the case of Timbuktu, where libraries were burnt down by invaders. Scholars, doctors, jurists, and teachers were either exiled or taken as slaves.
As I began reading the book, particularly the first chapter about Menes (the Scorpion King), I couldn’t help but notice how pop culture has reduced one of the fathers of Egyptian civilization to a mere caricature. Similar to Imhotep (the antagonist in The Mummy) who was celebrated as an artist, physician, dentist, and god.
We have all heard the tales of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, and Jack the Giant Killer. Did you know that the former is quite similar to “The Password” from the Dahomey people of West Africa? The latter to a story called “A Man Among Men” from the Hausa people of Nigeria? Stories do move around. I recently read Disfigured: On Fairy Tales, Disability, and Making Space by Amanda Leduc where she discussed how fairy tales were sourced from different origins and tweaked to suit the nobility. Perhaps, these two tales also find their origin in Africa. We never know.
The book is categorized as a middle-grade / young adult. But is a must-read for all ages. The book includes war and bloodbath, but all the while keeping in mind the target audience of young readers. It can appear wordy for younger children and I do wish there were more illustrations.
That said, it is a brilliant read. The book is just the tip of the iceberg and I hope more authors explore these lost civilizations and history.
African Icons: Ten People Who Built a Continent by Tracey Baptiste #BookReview @TraceyBaptiste @CindyAnnDSilva @nooranand @Voxboxclub @journey_matters #BlogaberryDazzle #BohoPonderings Click To TweetI would like to thank Algonquin Books for providing a digital copy of the book for the blog tour. All opinions are my own.
This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla in collaboration with VoxBox and Journey Matters.
About the Author
Tracey Baptiste is the New York Times bestselling author of Minecraft: The Crash and the popular Jumbies series including The Jumbies, Rise of the Jumbies, and The Jumbie God’s Revenge. Upcoming 2021 books include the picture book Looking for a Jumbie and the middle grade nonfiction African Icons: Ten People Who Built a Continent.
Find Tracey online at www.traceybaptiste.com and connect on Twitter @traceybaptiste and on Instagram @traceybaptistewrites.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a very small percentage of the sale at no cost to you.
October 20, 2021 @ 4:11 pm
African Icons have rarely made it to the history pages. This book sounds really interesting, Ritu. I am fascinated with African history, especially Egypt. Will surely give it a read.
January 18, 2022 @ 6:47 pm
So true, Harjeet. There is so much that does not make it to textbook pages.
October 22, 2021 @ 2:43 pm
This is such a well crafted review. Makes you wonder about how we have been taught basic stuff in school and how important it is to really understand history through such books.
Will check this up for my nephew!!
January 18, 2022 @ 6:47 pm
Thank you Jigna. I hope your nephew enjoys it.😊
October 22, 2021 @ 7:40 pm
The book sounds very interesting. Reading your detailed review I can’t wait to give it a read. Thanks for sharing.
January 18, 2022 @ 6:48 pm
Thank you Shreemayee 😊
October 23, 2021 @ 12:16 pm
Sad to know that we lost such important parts of human history due to the supremacy of certain races. African Icons looks like a great book, I would love to pick and read. Thanks for the analysis.
January 18, 2022 @ 6:49 pm
So true, Aditi. History is always written by victors.
October 23, 2021 @ 2:54 pm
I am always in awe about the variety of books you read and review on your blog. African Icons are not so wellknown and after reading your beautiful reiew, if I havent picked up this book for my next read, I would be committing a crime, and I dont want to do it Ritu😂
January 18, 2022 @ 6:50 pm
Awww Suhasini. Thank you so much 😊. I am so glad my picks resonate with you.
October 23, 2021 @ 4:23 pm
Very interesting review… would like to read it
January 18, 2022 @ 6:53 pm
Thank you Smita 😊
October 23, 2021 @ 6:55 pm
This book looks interesting , it would definitely help to know more about African history.
January 18, 2022 @ 6:54 pm
Do pick it up Ghazala
October 24, 2021 @ 12:20 am
I know very little of African history though the place has always fascinated me. Though i do not fit in the age category of the book, would love to read it.
January 18, 2022 @ 6:56 pm
Do pick it up, Vasumathi. It is an excellent read.
October 24, 2021 @ 6:56 am
African icons is something that I’d love to pick up and read. I love the honest review here and would definitely deem it appropriate that we strt letting people know about these books as well
January 18, 2022 @ 6:57 pm
Thank you Sindhu 😊
October 24, 2021 @ 11:19 am
This looks like a really good book. You haven’t stopped talking about it. The one about the Egyptian civilization is very interesting.
January 18, 2022 @ 6:57 pm
Thank you 😊
October 24, 2021 @ 12:27 pm
You pick the best books, Ritu! I’ve discovered such gems from your blog.
January 18, 2022 @ 6:58 pm
Thank you so much, Satabdi 😊. I am so glad to know that.
October 24, 2021 @ 8:40 pm
Great Pic. A rare book about African History. It would be nice to know the other side of the story.
January 18, 2022 @ 6:58 pm
Thank you 😊
October 24, 2021 @ 8:42 pm
I agree this is a must read book for all ages. And this book deserves five star for sure. I would love to read this book with my daughter.
January 18, 2022 @ 6:59 pm
Do pick it up Abha. I hope you both enjoy reading it.
October 24, 2021 @ 9:25 pm
My view point of Egyptian history is limited to what is shown in Hollywood movies. Would definitely give this book a try to explore more.
January 18, 2022 @ 6:59 pm
That is true for most of us, Raghav.
October 24, 2021 @ 10:12 pm
Recently I bought Michelle Obama’s Book and I am currently reading that. I heard about the book African Icons and I liked the plot and the cover picture. Loved your detailed description, it is interesting to read for sure. Now I am going to read it after finishing Obama.
January 18, 2022 @ 6:59 pm
Thank you Pamela.
October 25, 2021 @ 2:01 am
After reading your detailed post regarding the content in the book, It has gone into my wishlist so, I shall get this inteesting book soon.
January 18, 2022 @ 7:00 pm
Do pick it up Pooja
October 25, 2021 @ 10:46 pm
Agreed ! History is always difficult to remember and what remains in our mind is what we see.
Real facts also remain hidden. This books gives us what actually we should know.
January 18, 2022 @ 7:01 pm
Exactly Meenu. Often we only get to know only one side of the story.
December 1, 2021 @ 9:49 pm
History is the narrative of the winners. Good that certain glimpses are turning into the hidden archives. Thank you for introducing the book.
January 18, 2022 @ 7:01 pm
So true Prasanna.
January 15, 2022 @ 4:38 pm
Indeed just the tip of the iceberg, like you’ve said, but at least a much-needed step has been taken! I will definitely pick this one.
January 18, 2022 @ 7:02 pm
Exactly Noor. I hope more authors explore these lesser known aspects.