The Sumerians established the first literate culture in the World in Mesopotamia. They were known as the black headed people by their neighbors the Akkadians. It is not clear whether they originated from North Africa or more likely from the black Dravidian people of India.
They were extraordinarily successful, controlling Mesopotamia from about 4500 BC until 1900 BC . Their written language persisted as the cultural norm of their successors for another 1000 years.