Publisher Description

The view that Africa regressed the moment that colonial governments left its shores is widespread. This volume is a counterpoint to the orthodoxy. Here 13 scholars with specializations ranging from literature and history to philosophy and economics argue that Africa has advanced since colonialism and is poised to march forward in spite of setbacks and disappointments. The contributors to the book contend that development is about human beings, so they do not rely exclusively on statistical estimates and projections.Afro-Optimism is a book with a simple thesis: Africa is marching forward, even if at times haltingly and at a different pace from the rest of the world. A common view among journalists and academics alike is that African conditions declined the moment colonial governments left its shores. The chapters in this book cover Africa's progress in health, agriculture, transportation, cultural innovation, and economic advancement. The contributors to the book contend that development is about human beings, so they do not rely exclusively on statistical estimates and projections.The essays in this book discuss the advances African states have made in spite of, and at times because of, their experiences of European colonial rule. The contributors argue that in all facets of development, Africans had to overcome colonial obstacles or had to build on meager colonial foundations. Although the authors acknowledge Africa's disappointing performance in various respects, they stress throughout that exclusive concentration on African failures creates new and reinforces existing negative perceptions of contemporary Africa.

Author Biography

EBERE ONWUDIWE is Professor of Political Science and Executive Director of the Center for International Studies, Central State University, Wilberforce, Ohio. He is also Senior Fellow, Program on Ethnic and Federal Studies, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.MINABERE IBELEMA is Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Studies, University of Alabama, Birmingham.

Table of Contents

PrefacePerspectiveIntroduction: A Context for Post-Colonial African Discourse by Ebere OnwudiweCulture, Identity, and DevelopmentTradition and Modernity: The Triumph of African Culture by Minabere IbelemaArtisitic Creation in Post-Independence Africa by F. Abiola IreleCultural Politics in Post-Independence Senegal by Tracy D. SnipeGovernance and the Political OrderKinship and Civil Society in Post-Colonial Africa by Peter P. EkehParticipatory Decision Making in African Societies Before and After Colonization by Njoku E. AwaEconomic and Infrastructural DevelopmentA New Look at Africa's Growth Performance and Prespects by H. Sylvain BokoDevelopments in Transport and Communications by Folu Ogundimu and Okey IheduruHealth and Agricultural InnovationPost-Colonial African Achievement in Health by Emmanual U. NnadozieBiotechnology, Food Production, and African Advancement by Richard W. HullA Vision of the FutureAfrenaissance: Struggles of Hope in Post-Colonial Africa by Ali A. MazruiIndex

Review

?Given the difficulty of their mission, the editors and contributors do a fairly good job in managing, against the odds, to create a reasonable space for measured hope against formulations of Afro-pessimism.?-African Studies Review
"Given the difficulty of their mission, the editors and contributors do a fairly good job in managing, against the odds, to create a reasonable space for measured hope against formulations of Afro-pessimism."-African Studies Review

Promotional

Debunks persistent and widespread claims that post-colonial Africa has regressed.

Long Description

The view that Africa regressed the moment that colonial governments left its shores is widespread. This volume is a counterpoint to the orthodoxy. Here 13 scholars with specializations ranging from literature and history to philosophy and economics argue that Africa has advanced since colonialism and is poised to march forward in spite of setbacks and disappointments. The contributors to the book contend that development is about human beings, so they do not rely exclusively on statistical estimates and projections. Afro-Optimism is a book with a simple thesis: Africa is marching forward, even if at times haltingly and at a different pace from the rest of the world. A common view among journalists and academics alike is that African conditions declined the moment colonial governments left its shores. The chapters in this book cover Africa's progress in health, agriculture, transportation, cultural innovation, and economic advancement. The contributors to the book contend that development is about human beings, so they do not rely exclusively on statistical estimates and projections. The essays in this book discuss the advances African states have made in spite of, and at times because of, their experiences of European colonial rule. The contributors argue that in all facets of development, Africans had to overcome colonial obstacles or had to build on meager colonial foundations. Although the authors acknowledge Africa's disappointing performance in various respects, they stress throughout that exclusive concentration on African failures creates new and reinforces existing negative perceptions of contemporary Africa.

Promotional "Headline"

Debunks persistent and widespread claims that post-colonial Africa has regressed.

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