John Parker (4) (1960–)

This book is really historiography rather than history. The writers discuss the way in which Africa has been perceived and the ways in which African history has been presented. It makes it very clear that history depends on who is telling the tale. The African case is particularly interesting, because Africa was not until very recently something that "historians" (that is, Western historians) thought much about. Also, the written record is thin. Not much help if you are interested in the facts of African history, but an interesting read.… (more)

It should be known by all potential readers that this is a book *about* African History, not an *African History Book.* It is an introduction to how African History is created and the way that the field in turn both creates and complicates the existence of Africa, as both a continent and a nation within which exist many, many other nations.

It necessarily therefore deals with slavery, decolonization, nation-building, and the formation of people to be recognized on the World Stage.

If there was one phrase that could sum up the majority of its pages, it would be "well, it's more complicated than that..." Enduring myths and historical frameworks about Africa are laid out and debunked one by one in roughly this order: Africa is a timeless continent with no history, Africa is a waste when left to its own devices, Africa is a poor and helpless victim of Empire, Africa was a place of powerful ancient states that lost its way, Africa is a decolonizing utopia, Africa is a corrupt quagmire.

It is hard to fault the authors for my disappointment given the format (a sample of the field in question given over… (more)