For many good reasons, this is being called the African Century. For the same good reasons, it is time to celebrate the history of Africa’s urban and scholarly past. This history upends the colonial-era narrative offered up in movies, the media, and schools. Recovering Africa’s actual history promises to boost expectations, especially for kids. It’s a game changer. The good news is that not just Africa’s history, but people around the world are recovering their actual history, where the colonial savage-versus-civilized narrative still hangs on. This is a who-done-it for those who never accepted the traditional progressive claim that Africa was lifted up by a civilized Europe. More than just dry history, it’s a detective story featuring groundbreaking authors and filmmakers’ efforts to uncover and present Africa’s and the former colonial world’s legacy of culture, learning, and achievement. This book is intended to be shared with kids and read by young adults, parents, and grandparents. It’s also a way for history buffs to get a thumbnail introduction to the subject. It highlights the recent efforts of writers and filmmakers to restore stolen history and bring our cultural and intellectual inheritance into the light.