Synopses & Reviews
African perspectives on development and social justice in Africa are rarely heard and this book offers a collection of editorials from Pambazuka News that explore concerns including underdevelopment, aid, trade, debt, and globalization.
Review
"Despite a flurry of recent books probing the current aid system, very few have been written by authors raised and resident in developing countries. Aid to Africa: Redeemer or Coloniser? is the antidote to this - profiling the voices of sixteen writers from sub-Saharan Africa." Tim Gee, Bond, Jun 7, 2010
Synopsis
This book provides African perspectives on development and social justice in Africa, something which rarely finds expression in the mainstream Northern media. 2005 was the year of Africa. Trade, debt relief and aid were on the international agenda, so it was imperative that African voices were heard. This book is a collection of the 2004 editorials of Pambazuka News, and its 46 contributors include such distinguished African intellectuals and activists as Demba Moussa Dembl, Mahmood Mamdani, Adebayo Olukoshi, Kwesi Kwaa Prah, Brian Raftopoulos, Pierre San and Ernest Wamba dia Wamba.
Synopsis
The 54 essays included are wide- ranging and complied into 11 focused chapters. An introductory chapter outlines the global and regional context of underdevelopment in Africa, while special attention is given to the conflicts in The DRC, Rwanda, Sudan and Zimbabwe. The establishment of the African Union and attempts to develop regional integration are commented upon along with special chapters devoted to resource exploitation, Womens Rights and the rights of refugees in Africa. Both the IMF and World Bank celebrated their 60th anniversaries in 2004; their track-records in Africa are assessed. The concluding Chapter 11 contains a selection of letters submitted by subscribers to Pambazuka News which demonstrate the lively debate many of these editorials have sparked. The 47 contributors include such distinguished Africans as Mahmood Mamdani, Adebayo Olukoshi, Kewsi Kwaa Prah, Brian Raftopoulos, Pierre Sane and Ernest Wamba dia Wamba.
About the Author
Firoze Manji is founder and executive director of Fahamu and the editor of Pambazuka News. He is the former program director for the International Secretariat of Amnesty International, the former CEO for Aga Khan Foundation UK, and a former regional representative for health for the International Development Research Centres office for Eastern and Southern Africa. Patrick Burnett is the news and information coordinator for Fahamu and coeditor of Pambazuka News. He is the coeditor of African Voices on Development and Social Justice and Grace, Tenacity and Eloquence.