The peopling of africa a geographic interpretation james l newman yale university press jan 1 1995 social science 235 pages 1 review discovering the african past takes one on a journey back to the origins of humanity over four million years ago which is where james l newman begins his account of the continents peoples he ends it at the onset of the colonial era in the late . The peopling of africa book read reviews from worlds largest community for readers discovering the african past takes one on a journey back to the ori. Tamasine robins the peopling of africa a geographical interpretation african affairs volume 95 issue 380 1 july 1996 pages 481 482 https doiorg 1010. African identities constitute one of newmans main themes thus he discusses the roles played by genetic background language occupation and religion population distribution is the other main theme as a geographer the author uses regions spaces and places as his filters for viewing how africans have responded through time to differing natural and human environmental circumstances