About this item
Africa does not give up its secrets easily. Buried there lie answers about the origins of humankind. After a century of investigation, scientists have transformed our understanding about the beginnings of human life. But vital clues still remain hidden. In Born in Africa, Martin Meredith follows the trail of discoveries about human origins made by scientists over the last hundred years, recounting their intense rivalry, personal feuds, and fierce controversies as well as their feats of skill and endurance. The results have been momentous. Scientists have identified more than twenty species of extinct humans. They have firmly established Africa as the birthplace not only of humankind but also of modern humans. They have revealed how early technology, language ability, and artistic endeavour all originated in Africa; and they have shown how small groups of Africans spread out from Africa in an exodus sixty thousand years ago to populate the rest of the world.
About the Author
Martin Meredith is a historian, journalist and biographer, and author of many acclaimed books on Africa. Meredith first worked as a foreign correspondent in Africa for the and , then as a research fellow at St Antony's College, Oxford. Residing near Oxford, he is now an independent commentator and author. Meredith's writing has been described as authoritative and well-documented, despite the pessimism inherent in his subject matter. He is the author of - which sold over 15 000 copies in South Africa, and and , among many others. His most recent book is , published by Jonathan Ball Publishers.
