UNESCO General History of Africa, Vol. IV: Africa from the Twelfth to the Sixteenth Century (Hardcover)

~ DjiBril Tamsir Niane (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"One of the most ambitious academic projects to be undertaken in this century." -- Lindsay Barrett, West Africa

"The overall aim of The UNESCO General History of Africa may be said to be the Africanisation of African history through a scientific account of the ideas, civilization, societies, and traditions of the continent's peoples." -- Chinweizu, South

Product Description

The result of years of work by scholars from all over the world, The UNESCO General History of Africa reflects how the different peoples of Africa view their civilizations and shows the historical relationships between the various parts of the continent. Historical connections with other continents demonstrate Africa's contribution to the development of human civilization. Each volume is lavishly illustrated and contains a comprehensive bibliography. The period covered in Volume IV constitutes a crucial phase in the continent's history, in which Africa developed its own culture and written records became more common. Major themes include the triumph of Islam; the extension of trading relations,cultural exchanges, and human contacts; and the development of kingdoms and empires.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 751 pages
• Publisher: University of California Press (August 3, 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0520039157
• ISBN-13: 978-0520039155
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,325,508 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Poorly Written but informative for knowlegdable Africanists, August 19, 2006

By	The Djeli (Ile Ife, Nigeria) - See all my reviews

This review is from: UNESCO General History of Africa, Vol. IV, Abridged Edition: Africa from the Twelfth to the Sixteenth Century (Paperback)

This edition, possible due to translation, is horribly written. There is no flow and lucidity is next to nothing. However, being that there is so little out there that discusses African history in such detail from non-Europeans, this book remains important.

It is informative for those already well read on the subject, but useless for anyone else. Even those well read will be disturbed by the poor presentation. There is also the issue that just because the editors are not European is doesnt mean the text does not pay homage to Eurocentric values. It does so in many cases as well as the Arabcentric values inherent in the Islamic faith that is so popular amoung Africa's scholars. Such attitudes are evident in descriptions of African kingdoms having some sort of non-indeginous lineage (a common practice by Islamic converts attempting to validate a Moslem heritage)and the disregard for indeginous African religions. Even age old faiths such as Ifa are reduced to the term "cult".

With this aside, the text has its usefullness in a world where little has been done in the field of African historical research that has been outside of the excesses of Eurocentric or Afrocentric procedures.