Africa: the transatlantic slave trade Slavery was virtually a universal institution in countries around the world for thousands of years It is safe to say that in the popular imagination slavery is seen as an evil,...
Africa in Fact Issue 51
The ancient libraries of Africa
Africa: the written word Africa’s great libraries are stories of state formation and empires, and of people who thirsted for knowledge Reading and writing are miraculous activities; they transform the human condition,...
Troubled and ambiguous
Heritage: the long shadows of past and present Commemorating heritage in Africa is no longer the exclusive province of governments There was an interesting exchange between Thabo Mbeki and Constand Viljoen in the late...
Military nightmares, martial fantasies
Nigeria: 20 years of democracy Political scientists agree that unfettered access to oil cash was a key factor in the character and duration of military rule in Nigeria Until the return to civil rule in 1999, the...
The facts are stubborn
Rwanda: the genocide archives Amid mounting calls for an honest investigation into the Rwandan genocide, the UN and certain governments appear to be opposing full disclosure “Everyday we learn to forgive,” President...
A brotherhood of man
Senegal: Mouridism and identity The Mourides, who represent a black Senegalese version of Islam, have helped to inform nationalism in the country Earlier this year I was sitting on the TGV high-speed train travelling...
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