Includes bibliography and index

In one the first studies to ensemble data from as many related disciplines as possible - linguistics and etymology, anthropology and rock art, and drawing on new archaeological findings and re-readings of historical documents, the author traces the contours of ancient cultural and trade links between the various peoples and polities of ancient Africa. The aim is to discern patterns of peopling and history of the continent, and rediscover unknown cultural systems and dynamics of ancient sub-Saharan Africa. By demonstrating how Africa people developed culturally, exchanged knowledge and migrated, the study challenges denials of early African cultural sophistication, setting an important agenda for future research directions.