Until the 16th century Africa was very populated: 40 inhabitants per km2 and had large cities.
From the Palaeolithic to the 8th century
The first rock representations (signs of civilization) are found in Tanzania. Neolithic sites are found everywhere (Kenya, Tanzania, Chad, Niger, Sahara, Tunisia, Morocco, Libya and Egypt).
In Nigeria, the civilization of Nok then that of Ife develop.
The population of ancient Egypt was to be 7 8 million.
The Nubian population was also important.
The beginnings of the Iron Age in Africa are the oldest (in Ruanda-Burundi in -1470). It must be remembered that China did not emerge from the Neolithic until later when Nubia and Egypt were already in the pre-dynastic civilization.