This book is so interesting for little children!
They can learn so much more about Africa, the different cultures, languages spoken, and general insights of the continent. It's packed with information but in a way children can easily understand.
The illustrations are also very good and colorful!

Africana: An Encyclopedia of an Amazing Continent by Kim Chakanesta, illustrated by Alabi Mayowa (Quarto Publishing, 2022) is an invaluable new volume for young people that captures basics about the history, landscapes, people, and cultures throughout the regions in Africa. Africa is a giant continent, so obviously one volume will never be enough. Africana provides a nice foundation from which to expand a young person’s understanding of the variety of land and people as they begin their own world studies.

I love history, and yet in all my studies, the history, culture, and traditions of Africa have not been addressed in traditional volumes. As the beginning matter of Chakanetsa’s encyclopedia indicates, historians often rely on written records; since African cultures relied on oral records, it is difficult to learn about the past in traditional methods. For most of my childhood Africa was still relegated to “colonial” status: it was a part of European cultures in most textbooks. Even today, many world history books focus on European traditions. The comprehensive volume Africana begins to right some of those ommissions.

Africana begins with a general introduction to the continent, with an overview of the diversity. Then, regional sections show a current map and discuss the history, the people and culture, famous people from the area (including historical figures but mostly highlighting contemporary people), and specific cultural highlights of the area (such as music, clothing, or other unique additions to the area). For example, did you know Botswana had a large community of heavy metal enthusiasts and bands?

The last section of the volume highlights the global impact of the African continent, not limited to forced migration through slavery. It discusses how African cultures contributed to world music and dance, mathematics and calendars, and food and coffee, among many other things. The last pages have African proverbs from a few of the nations that also really resonated with me.

As a homeschool parent, I have been appalled when I find a curriculum about the world and the section on Africa has books about animals in a safari. This is not the culture of Africa! That is not even a full look at the wildlife of the continent, which ranges from the Mediterranean to the Southern tip. There is so much in this amazing continent: yes unique flora and fauna, but also diverse history, amazing cultures, and world “superstars” and “changemakers” (as this book titles them).

Africana is a valuable volume that could easily provide a year of study for a homeschool family. It would be a study of not just of the geography and land in the vast continent, but also an examination of thee continent’s history with the art, culture, language, and people as central to that study. The end matter has flags from African nations, a glossary, and a detailed index, making it easily accessible for reference as well. I’d highly recommend this valuable volume for any family interested in an extended study of the continent. I’d also suggest Africana to anyone interested in learning even just a little more about the vast continent of Africa. There is so much to be discovered.

Am so grateful for the author of this book, who wrote clearly and in an interesting way, the facts about Africa. This book, although not as complete as we wish, is enough for those who has no knowledge of the continent. Beautifully illustrated too, so close to African cultures' images, I really enjoyed reading this. But the book itself is better enjoyed in the format of physical book instead of online reading ones.

Stunning in every way. A celebration of an incredible continent and one that young readers will spend days poring over.

Very extensive but also accessible encyclopaedia on Africa! Quirky and colourful digital illustrations cover every page and important places, people and events are covered here. A great point of reference and very handy addition to any classroom.


Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read this book in exchange for my review.

This is a gorgeous and insightful book full of beautiful illustrations, and facts about Africa, it’s countries, people and natural wonders . Although it’s a children’s book I think most adults would learn a lot from this book as well.

This is a [fantastically] illustrated book that celebrates the history, people, culture, and absolute beauty that is Africa. What a delight this was to read - I learned many things I didn't know and it made me want to do a deeper dive into the African section of my Read Around the World challenge and see what else I could find and learn.

Perfect for children [and adults!!], the colorful illustrations will fascinate them and the easy to read descriptions will keep them engaged and seeking more information about what and where they are reading about.

Very well done; I highly recommend this book!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Kim Chakanesta, Mayowa Alabi - Illustrator, and Quarto Publishing Group - Wide Eyed Editions for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a beautiful and informative book covering many aspects of Africa. Divided into regions, this gives information about foods, religion, people and does so in a really accessible way.
This is a book I would proudly display in the classroom and know would be popular with pupils.

Africana by Kim Chakanetsa is the most gorgeous encyclopedia that I have ever had the privilege of holding in my hand. This is a must have for every home. I cannot wait until this comes out in October so that I can have my own copy!

This is an illustrated guide to the geography, history, culture, customs, religions, and beauty of the African continent. It is very accessible for a younger audience, due to the vivid illustrations featured on every page and the limited wording per paragraph, but also has much to educate all aged readers about. I personally found much new information to take away from this.

This book introduced Africa as a continent of diversity and opposites. There are so many differing languages, religions, dress styles, animals and so much more dwelling there that it would be impossible to encounter everything inside of such a slim volume (it measures in at under 100 pages). However, enough was covered that I felt I got a flavour of and basic understanding for much of it.

For all of the knowledge craving, book loving kids out there, this beautiful children’s nonfiction book that is more akin to an encyclopedia all about the history and facts of Africa, is stunningly and beautifully illustrated (just the cover is absolutely breathtaking) but will also satiate the hunger for knowledge of the children in your life, from the beautiful and rich landscapes of Africa to its incredible wildlife. This one is as equally captivating with its beauty and workmanship for adults as it is to children.

What an enjoyable, delightful book! Full of interesting history and fun facts about the continent of Africa.

Author Kim Chakanetsa divides Africa into five regions -- north, east, west, south, and central -- and covers the following topics in each region: timeline of important dates, people and cultures, wildlife and landscapes, famous people, and snapshots of interesting facts.

Pros: straightforward, easy writing style; engaging information; fun illustrations

Cons: some of the colors used make it difficult to see and read the text; maps of the regions being sideways makes it a little difficult to read on a tablet; one country - Burundi - did not have a ,fact written about it on the map of East Africa region.

While it is evident this book was written with the young reader in mind, I believe adults will enjoy it as well. I particularly enjoyed it because I am a first-generation American-born Sierra Leonean, and it was great to read something that highlights the beauty and proud history of Africa.

Thanks to NetGalley, Quarto Publishing, and Kim Chakanetsa for access to this advanced copy, which I voluntarily read and reviewed.

I'm immensely pleased with the amount I have learnt from Africana. The informative is written in such a organized and broken down way that it makes reading fun

The book breaks Africa down by geological groups and then goes in to showing which countries belong to that section (I'm sure there is better word) and the different cultures and people that can be found throughout say south or north Africa.

The lack of knowledge I have about Africa and it's people has shrunk a little and my appetite to learn more has expanded.

Thank you Netgalley for they ARC

'Africana' is a gorgeous book, that I long wish I had had access to as a child and in my teaching career. It so beautifully represents the rich diversity of Africa and its 54 countries, in ways that other texts I've had access to just don't. It contains a lot of information and thought was really given to the way it is represented. The book divides the continent into sections so the information is easy to follow. Each section follows the same format, making it really accessible and familiar. It includes a timeline of key historical events, facts about the landscape, animals and culture and highlights famous change-makers from that region. It highlights colonisation and the slave trades at an appropriate level for the intended audience. It also has a brilliant glossary and index, which we continually referred to.

This is such a beautiful book. It is visually stunning and really celebrates the beauty of Africa, not just its rich history, but the innovation, creativity and significant global contributions it has, and continues, to make. It made us want to discover more for ourselves. There are excerpts of this that I think are accessible for a younger reading level, but overall I think it's best suited to 9+.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ -- Great cover!

I love Africa. it is such an amazing and diverse continent. And this book was such an interesting and informative book about the people, their cultures, history, languages, etc. The graphics were beautiful and colorful. The book itself was well laid out and divided into separate sections (North Africa, East Africa, West Africa, Central Africa, Southern Africa, and Global Africa), I especially loved the "Fast Flag Facts" section. Definitely the perfect gift for someone who is interested in learning more about Africa.

**ARC Via NetGalley**

Super informative and well organized book about Africa presented in a way that is both interesting and engaging. Africa is absolutely massive and has an incredibly long history with thousands of unique peoples, cultures, and languages. The book divides Africa into digestible sections, gives interesting facts about each country, and has a timeline of history for each area. It talks about indigenous groups, cultures, dynastic changes, and the devastation of colonization. It also talks about landscapes, animals, and infrastructure. Ultimately, this book is SUPER interesting and better than any elementary textbook on Africa I had growing up. As an adult reader, I was left wanting more and stopped to google more information about a lot of things (and this is coming from a person who actively studies etymology, anthropology, and history). The illustrations are nice and add a lot to the information presented. This is perfect for classrooms and libraries alike and a really great introduction of Africa to young learners.

Thanks to netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you for my eARC of this book.
This is a beautifully illustrated book about Africa and is great for kids starting to learn about world geography and more about different continents.