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On The History Of West Africa
This book introduces readers to the rich and fascinating history of West Africa, stretching all the way back to the stone age, and right up to the modern day.
Over the course of twenty-seven short and engaging chapters, the book delves into the social, cultural, economic and political history of West Africa, through prehistory, revolutions, ancient empires, thriving trade networks, religious traditions, and then the devastating impact of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade and subsequent colonial rule. The book reflects on the struggle for independence and investigates how politics and economics developed in the post-colonial period. By the end of the book, readers will have a detailed understanding of the fascinating and diverse range of cultures to be found in West Africa, and of how the region relates to the rest of the world.
Drawing on decades of teaching and research experience, this book will serve as an excellent textbook for entry-level History and African Studies courses, as well as providing a perfect general introduction to anyone interested in finding out about West Africa.
CONTENTS
PART I: INTRODUCTION
Chapter 1: Introduction, Chapter 2: Writing West African History, Chapter 3: Geography, Landscape, and Composition,
PART II: EARLY HISTORY, STATE FORMATION, AND SOCIETIES
Chapter 4: Evolutions and Revolutions, Chapter 5: Societies and Cultures in the Iron Age, Chapter 6: The Trans-Saharan Trade in West Africa, Chapter 7: States and Empires, Chapter 8: Domestic Economies
Chapter 9: Traditional Religions.
PART III: WEST AFRICA IN THE ERA OF ATLANTIC ECONOMIES AND GLOBALIZATION UP TILL THE NINETEENTH CENTURY
Chapter 10: Islam in West Africa, Chapter 11: Christianity in West Africa, Chapter 12: The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, Chapter 13: Economy and Society: External Commerce, Chapter 14: Transformations and Revolutions in the Nineteenth Century, Chapter 15: The Nineteenth Century Jihads in West Africa.
PART IV: THE COLONIAL ERA
Chapter 16: Colonial Rule and Its Impact, Chapter 17: West Africa and the World Wars (1914-1919) and (1940-1945), Chapter 18: Nationalism and Independence, Chapter 19: The Road to Independence in West Africa
PART V: THE POSTCOLONIAL ERA
Chapter 20: Postcolonial Politics, Chapter 21: Economies and Development, Chapter 22: Postcolonial Cultures, Chapter 23: Cultural Changes and Popular Cultures, Chapter 24: Religions and Religious Changes, Chapter 25: Contemporary West African Identities, Chapter 26: West Africa and the Wider World, Chapter 27: Trajectories and Projections on the Future of West Africa
Toyin Falola, Ph.D. is the Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities and University Distinguished Teaching Professor, Department of History, The University of Texas at Austin. He is the recipient of many distinguished awards, including sixteen honorary doctorates.
At a first glance, it will appear as if Falola’s new fascinating book simply illustrates the popular saying by George Orwell that “The best books… are those that tell you what you know already.” However, and most significantly, what makes this particular work so insightful and unique is that one is able to learn about the history of West Africa through the prisms of Falola’s multiple visits, interactions and researches conducted for several decades across the sub-region coupled with his long years of teaching, examining and writing about West Africa. This book is a quintessential primer for bringing the knowledge of West Africa to mature students and the general readers.
Koya Ogen, Professor of History, Osun State University and former Provost, College of Education, Ondo.
This comprehensive textbook on West Africa offers a deep exploration …
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