Regarding UG texts for pre-colonial African history, I have not
found anything that is ideal. The best, to my mind, is Ajayi and
Crowder, *History of West Africa*, Vol 1 (3rd ed), Longman, but this
is confined to West Africa, is expensive and difficult to get, and
drives students mad with detail. I still use it, regardless, but
will try the new edition of Curtin, Feierman, Thompson, and Vansina,
*African History*, next time as it is clearly the best single text
for the precolonial period, though students found the first edition a
bit heavy going. I also use Niane, *Sundiata*; Lovejoy,
*Transformations in Slavery*; Kwamena-Poh, et. al., *African History
in Maps*; Garlake, *The Kingdoms of Africa* (a fusion of good
pictures and decent text, now, unfortunately, out of print); and lots
of readings.