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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.
List of contents
Preface
PerspectiveIntroduction: A Context for Post-Colonial African Discourse by Ebere Onwudiwe
Culture, Identity, and DevelopmentTradition and Modernity: The Triumph of African Culture by Minabere Ibelema
Artisitic Creation in Post-Independence Africa by F. Abiola Irele
Cultural Politics in Post-Independence Senegal by Tracy D. Snipe
Governance and the Political OrderKinship and Civil Society in Post-Colonial Africa by Peter P. Ekeh
Participatory Decision Making in African Societies Before and After Colonization by Njoku E. Awa
Economic and Infrastructural DevelopmentA New Look at Africa's Growth Performance and Prespects by H. Sylvain Boko
Developments in Transport and Communications by Folu Ogundimu and Okey Iheduru
Health and Agricultural InnovationPost-Colonial African Achievement in Health by Emmanual U. Nnadozie
Biotechnology, Food Production, and African Advancement by Richard W. Hull
A Vision of the FutureAfrenaissance: Struggles of Hope in Post-Colonial Africa by Ali A. Mazrui
Index
About the author
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.
