Although essentially a new book in its own right, this survey of pre-colonial West Africa takes as its starting point Basil Davidson's earlier volume A History of West Africa 1000-1800 (written in association with J.F.A. Ajayi and F. K. Buah and originally published in 1965). It surveys the development and history of the rich societies and cultures of West Africa until c.1850 when European imperialism put an end, temporarily, to the story.