The abundance of natural resources endemic to central and eastern Africa has been critical in shaping the trajectory of the civilizations that have made the region their home. Like the rest of the continent, however, the areas' riches also made them vulnerable to slave traders and colonizers who left a devastating legacy in their wake. This engrossing selection documents the history of a region that witnessed some of the world's most brutal and destructive conflicts as well as the birth of several groups who continue to fight for justice and peace in the region.