Gives a history of Africa from many locations showing life as it is today plus archive film and dramatized reconstructions. Traces the medieval gold trade from Africa to India, China and Italy. Then, to explore the ways in which African kingdoms functioned, Davidson visits Kano in Nigeria, where a king still holds court in his 15th century palace, and ancient rituals continue to command the respect of the people.

Program 7 follows the course of the major independence struggles beginning with the situation in the Gold Coast and concluding with the fight for majority rule in Zimbabwe and South Africa. Program 8 explores the problems and successes of the African states in the aftermath of colonial rule.