New DNA research has provided fresh insight into the history of African civilizations before the colonial era. A team of researchers have used genetic information from people across Africa to study the histories of important societies that have risen and fallen over time. The scientists extracted genetic information from blood samples and compared differences and similarities between populations using computers. This information has revealed that many groups have mixed and intermingled over time, creating unique genetic diversity in Africa.
Mixing of Ancestral Groups
One of the most striking findings from the study was the discovery that two ethnic groups in the north of present-day Cameroon, the Kanuri and Kotoko peoples, were descended from three ancestral populations. These ancestral groups most closely resembled people now living in coastal regions of west Africa as well as in parts of east Africa such as Ethiopia, and populations living today in north Africa and the Levant. The populations intermixed, or had children together, roughly 600 years ago. The researchers believe that this may have been caused by the Kanem-Bornu empire, which operated vast trade networks across the Sahara and attracted populations from every direction.
Human Genome Diversity
The study highlights the importance of human genome diversity in understanding the history of civilizations. The Roman empire, the Mongol empire, and Silk Road trade probably all left lasting legacies in the genomes of modern-day people across Eurasia. The team analyzed 1,300 newly collected genomes of people from across Africa from 150 ethnic groups within five countries. They collaborated with anthropologists, archaeologists, and linguists from Africa and elsewhere to understand the historical context of these events. However, African genome data is underrepresented compared with that from other world regions, meaning that lots of genetic diversity is probably being missed by scientists.
Bantu Migrations
The research also found evidence of a continent-wide migration known as the expansion of Bantu-speaking peoples. Bantu is a language group, now spoken by around one-quarter of Africans. The latest research shows that the Bantu languages spread largely through large-scale migration. This migration started in a small area of western Cameroon roughly 4,000 years ago, before rapidly spreading south and east. It covered more than 4,000 kilometers in less than 2,000 years. Bantu speakers mixed with local groups, changing patterns of genetic diversity in Africa forever. The researchers showed that migrations not only occurred to the south and east of Cameroon, but also to the west. The reason for this large-scale movement is still unknown, but climate change may have played a role.
Studying genetic diversity has many potential uses, such as understanding risks to health and developing new treatments for disease. The latest genetic research provides an intricate picture of Africa’s rich past. By analyzing more DNA from genomes of African people, scientists can uncover more about the continent’s history and the rich tapestry of cultures that have shaped it over time.
