Customer Reviews

UNESCO General History of Africa, Vol. VIII: Africa Since 1935

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One should expect the eigth volume of UNESCO's General History of Africa to be the most disappointing in the series. The previous volumes had shown the motive behind UNESCO's project was not so much to make a history of africa as to make a history africans should be proud of. That is one hard task to accomplish once you try and tackle with the post-colonial history of the continent. One can understand the focus on the struggle for independence, even though some of the chapters read tiring. It is the chapters on independent africa that simply are not honest history-making: terror, censorship and corruption in the new-born african nations does not figure in this book, the mad reveries of african socialism and personality-cult are politely brushed aside. This is not the history of africa as one can tell it today, it is an elaboration on the politically correct which does africans no favor.

This impressive history of 20th-century Africa is to be commended for bringing together many of the leading African historians to present postcolonial developments from their perspectives. The African historians contributing to the volume are:

Ali A. Mazrui (Kenya)
T. Chenntouf (Algeria)
M. Diop (Senegal)
D.T. Niane (Senegal)
A. Adu Boahen (Ghana)
E. M'Bokolo (Zaire)
L. Rabearimanana (Madagascar)
I.N. Kimambo (Tanzania)
D. Chanaiwa (Zimbabwe)
M. Owusu (Ghana)
P. Kipre (Cote d'Ivoire)
A. Adedeji (Nigeria)
J.I. Elaigwu (Nigeria)
J. Ki-Zerbo (Burkina Faso)
C. Wondji (Cote d'Ivoire)
T. Tshibangu (Zaire)
J.F. Ade Ajayi (Nigeria)
L. Sanneh (Gambia)
M.H. Abdulaziz (Kenya)

As explained in the introduction by Professor Mazrui, the work presents a conceptual overview of the recent African experience, focusing on three aspects: liberation, state formation, and nation-building. Emphasis is placed on the disastrous consequences, extending to the present day, of European colonialism and imperialism in Africa. You will not find here a detailed account of political parties, presidents, and events in each particular country.

I recommend the hardcover edition, which is sturdy and handsome, and which you will want to keep in your permanent library.

This book was required for my class so I had no choice but to buy it. It arrived before I expected and was much cheaper here than it was in the campus bookstore. Overall, Amazon was a great way to go!