Africa

Africa, widely considered the cradle of humanity, offers much of global significance. At present, this site offers Michael McKenny's reviews of thirteen books on African topics and links to the African Studies Association, MSU's academic H-Africa page and Jan Vansina's highly significant look at the relationship of archaeology and history. Solarguard Africa was last updated with on December 10, 2008 C.E. with the addition of the summary of Kevin Shillington's History of Africa brought to his page 180.

I African Archaeology and Anthropology:

1. The Prehistory of Africa review of J. Desmond Clark's text.

2. African Beginnings a review of Olivia Vlahos's superb introduction to the topic.

II African History and Politics:

1. Oral Tradition as History A review of Jan Vansina's superb consideration of this topic.

2. History of Africa Brief summary of the first one hundred and eighty pages of Kevin Shillington's History of Africa.

3. The African Past short review of Basil Davidson's anthology and commentary of extracts of records in English translation.

4. The Making of Contemporary Africa summary of the first one hundred and fifty two pages of Bill Freund's informative work.

5. The Drums of Kumasi Review of Alan Lloyd's account of the Ashanti wars.

6. The Story of Nigeria A review of Michael Crowder's superb survey.

7. Cuba and Africa precis of Piero Gleijeses's meticulously well researched Conflicting Missions.

8. The Struggle For Zimbabwe Summary of first three chapters of David Martin and Phyllis Johnson's account of the Second Chimurenga.

9. Politics and Society in Contemporary Africa Summary of the first forty pages of this key introduction by four authors to the study of African politics.

III Literature:

1. Leaf and Bone review of this collection of African praise poems edited by Judith Gleason.

2. Wole Soyinks's Myth, Literature and the African World reviewed.

IV African Spirituality:

1. Introduction to African Religion review of John S. Mbitii's good introduction to the topic.

2. Oya: in Praise of an African Goddess review of Judith Gleason's awesome introduction to the goddess of the Niger River.

3. Ifa Divination a review of the first part of William Bascom's very good introduction to the topic.

4. African Traditional Religion review of E Bolaji Idowu's book.

Solarguard Homepage

Two links providing access to much info and many further links on Africa: h-africa MSU's h-africa page.

African Studies Association page.

also: Jan Vansina's fascinating article "Historians, Are Archaeologists Your Siblings?"

and: Wikipedia's "Welcome to Nollywood" article