African Europeans

Olivette Otele’s African Europeans is a sweeping, corrective history tracing the centuries-long presence of African people in Europe. Otele dismantles the myth that Black European history is recent or marginal, illuminating stories of rulers, traders, scholars, and communities who shaped the continent. Her writing is measured and deeply researched, balancing narrative with analysis. Otele highlights how identity, belonging, and racial hierarchy evolved across time, showing how the legacies of empire continue to shape Europe’s present. It is an essential, illuminating account that expands our understanding of European history.