The Divergent Story of Africa and Ancient Egypt

When we think about the past great civilization, among the first that comes to mind is Egypt. It almost immediately conjures up visuals like the great pyramids of Giza, the Valley of the Dead, complex mythology, pharaohs, mummification and golden sarcophagus, in summary, a great civilization of the likes of the Greek and Roman civilization. But do we think about Egypt as belonging to the overall history of Africa? In turn, what are the most prominent images that come to mind when we think of African history? This investigation, while highlighting the creation of a particular image and narrative of Africa, will concentrate on the construction of Ancient Egypt by the media, from sources such as films, documentaries and academics in the field of Egyptology. A structure that shows a dichotomy of an Ancient Egypt located in Africa, but different from other media images. This dichotomy of a “whitened” and isolated Egypt from the rest of Africa requires a discussion on the concept of “race” which is pivotal to this investigation. This analysis is indispensable to understanding and examining the construction of a “whitened” Ancient Egypt versus a “dark” Africa.