The Last of the African Kings (Les derniers rois mages) follows the wayward fortunes of a noble African family. It begins with the regal Behanzin, an African king who opposed French colonialism and was exiled to distant Martinique. In the course of the novel, Maryse Conde tell of Behanzin's scattered offspring and their lives in the Caribbean and the United States.

With many characters and countless stories, The Last of the African Kings skillfully intertwines the themes of exile, lost origins, memory, and hope. The book is set mainly in the Americas, from the Caribbean to modern-day South Carolina, yet Africa hovers always in the background.