With this book Basil Davidson basically became the first western historian to challenge all that bullshit about Africa being "savage" or "uncivilized" before the arrival of Europeans. A seminal work for anyone interested in history, and especially for one who focuses a good deal on African history (like myself).
I don't know what the hell I was doing buying another non-fiction book when I'm starting a new semester at school though. I won't read this until AT LEAST winter break.