The Forgotten Era

Nigeria Before British Rule

By: Max Siollun

Narrated by: Ben Onwukwe

Much is known about what Europeans did in Africa, yet very little is known about Africa's history before its colonization. In this surprising exploration, Max Siollun uncovers societies that were not part of a backward "Dark Continent," but which instead had rich lore to rival the ancient Greeks and Romans.

Precolonial West Africa had a mesmerizing cast of revolutionaries, intellectuals, innovators, and villainous assassins. These include the family that overthrew three different 1000-year-old empires, the royal court official who engineered the death of four kings, and the young enslaved boy who became the first Black bishop in history, befriending Queen Victoria along the way.

This story of a dynamic and artistic people is a vital listen for those who want to discover a forgotten era of West Africa.

©2025 Max Siollun (P)2025 Tantor Media

Great book and excellent narration

The Forgotten Era by Max Siollun is a brilliant and timely exploration of pre-colonial Nigeria. It offers a powerful look into the rich, diverse traditions and political systems of the various nations that shaped the modern Nigerian state. Siollun’s research is insightful and deeply engaging - an essential listen for anyone interested in African history.

The narration on Audible is clear and compelling, making the complex subject matter accessible. However, the frequent mispronunciation of indigenous names and terms is a glaring and disappointing flaw in an otherwise excellent production. Accurate pronunciation is not just a matter of respect; it’s essential to the integrity of such a culturally significant work. Despite this, the audiobook remains a valuable resource, and I look forward to more of Max Siollun’s work on Audible.

A Worthy Read

What I really love about this book is how it doesn’t take sides. It talks about major events from different tribes, giving you a sense of how things were back then, not just from one view.

Dr Max Siollun clearly did his homework. Every claim comes with sources you can check out, and you can feel that the writing comes from a neutral and honest place. It’s refreshing to read something that aims to inform rather than convince.

The writing style is smooth and engaging, without unnecessary fluff. It’s easy to follow, yet deep enough to make you think and make side-research... I did this several times. 😄

Overall, The Forgotten Era shines a light on what life was like before the colonial era and reminds us that our history didn’t start with colonization. It’s a well-written and insightful book that I’d recommend to anyone interested in understanding the roots of different cultures and the stories that shaped them.

My take-home in all of it is that, whatever happening now, especially politically, it was arguably worse.