A view of downtown Abidjan, Ivory Coast

CONTEMPORARY AFRICA:

POLITICS / WOMEN'S ISSUES/ ENVIRONMENT/ INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS /SPORTS

 

    This section is primarily concentrated on issues. Africa, as a huge part of the developing world, must cope with intense pressures on the economic fronts, human rights, and post-industrial urban and social issues as well. This section can serve as a springboard to understanding some of these issues, and African(and global) attempts to resolve them. Contemporary Sports are included because they are tied to post colonial development and international competition moreso than the traditional past.

    Contemporary Africa is not the "Dark Continent" projected in the West for the last century. Modern Africa has over 60 cities with populations over a million people and many more smaller urban centers, comparable to those in other parts of the world. Since the successful independence movements of the 1960's to '80's-and while there have been periods of positive growth and decline-Africa has moved forward in education, health, infrastructure, and general development.

    Political upheavals, however, have hurt growth and shattered stability in a number of regions-Liberia, Burundi, Congo, Somalia, and Ethiopia to name only a few. The record of political violence and coup d'etats is also well documented. But if we look only at the areas that suffered from political instability or disasters, we will paint a wholly negative, and undeserved, image of Africa.

    Our understanding of contemporary Africa, therefore, should encompass both the areas of strife and the areas of sustained growth. We have organized resources into the contemporary Africa areas of politics, women's issues, international relations, and sports.

Politics:

Africa and the Modern World  Immanuel Wallerstein (Africa World Press, 1986) 209 pp.

The Organization of African Unity after Thirty Years Yassin El-Ayouty ed.Praeger Press, 1994 216 pp.

Who's Who in Africa: Leaders for the 1990's by Alan Rake (Scarecrow Press, 1992) 448 pp.

Contemporary African Politics and Development: A Comprehensive Bibliography (Lynne Rienner, 1994) 1314 pp. (3 volume set)

A Bibliography for the Study of African Politics (African Studies Center U. of California, 1973) 206 pp.

 

 * * * * * * *Internet Highlights * * * * * * *

Africa Confidential Well-known political newsletter. Has a country section.

www.africa-confidential.com

Annan, Kofi - The Causes of Conflict and the Promotion of Durable Peace and Sustainable Development in Africa. Secretary General's Report to the United Nations Security Council, April 16 1998. www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/afrec/sgreport

Chiefs of State & Cabinet Members [World-wide] - U.S. Central Intelligence Agency Provides a list of the Presidents, Cabinet members, .Gov. of the Central Bank, Ambassador to . U.S. and U.N. for all countries from Angola to Zimbabwe http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/chiefs/index.html

Niagara University African Politics weblinks- Recent monographs, journal articles, working papers covering many African countries. www.niagara.edu/pol/african_politics.htm

 

 

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Rush Hour in Abidjan  photo by Sonja Reynolds

    As stated in the beginning of this resources section, African countries and regions are connected in thousands of ways to nearly all parts of the globe. The following references and internet sites may be helpful in initiating studies or contacts in the area of international relations.

    Many of the images we receive about Africa in the popular media focuses only on the major problems (war, famine, civil unrest) in parts of Africa. You will find that resources on international relations cover much more ground and that US-African ties are already substantial.

 

* * * * * * *Internet Highlights * * * * * * *

Africa Policy Information Center The Washington Office on Africa  www.woaafrica.org/

African Development Bank Multinational development bank headquartered in Abidjan. http://www.afdb.org/

Agence de la Francophonie (formerly Agence de cooperation Culturelle et Technique, ACCT) Extensive information on Francophone Africa. www.francophonie.org

Contemporary Conflicts in Africa Links to internet information on the prevention, management, and resolution of violent conflicts in Africa. www.maxwell.syr.edu/africaweb/reports.asp?pageid=conflicts

IBISCUS, Systeme d'information sur les pays en developpement (Paris) Extensive information on Francophone Africa www.inter-reseaux.org/infodev/repertoire/ibiscus.htm

Japan and Africa Links to Africa-Japan related web sites www.africa.kyoto-u.ac.jp

National Summit on Africa Two-year initiative to improve public understanding about Africa / U.S.-Africa relations. http://www.africasummit.org/

United States Government Congressional Information CapWeb Online guide to the members and committees of the 105th U.S. Congress. www.capweb.net/>

U.S. GPO Pathway Services. Enables search of U.S. gov. sites by topic, department or agency. View its Africa page. www.gpoaccess.gov/index.html

U.S. Department of State, Bureau of African Affairs  www.state.gov/p/af/

United States Information Service Links to web sites of U.S. Embassies, U.S.I.S., Fulbright fellowships, Hubert Humphrey Fellowships, Council for International Exchange of Scholars, the Institute of International Education   http://usinfo.state.gov/

United States Information Agency. Foreign Commentary on the U.S. Comments in the African press on Clinton's Africa trip, keyword search    dosfan.lib.uic.edu/usia/

U.S. Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Its 1996 Comprehensive Trade and Development Policy for the Countries of  Africa is at: www.ustr.gov/

 

WOMEN

Caribbean Women circa 1904  - collage by Daud Malik Watts

    Over the last decades, the numbers of materials written or produced about women's issues in general, and women's issues in Africa have skyrocketed. Africa: Africa World Press Guide to Educational Resources From and About Africa (NJ, 1997) is a source that has two sections on resources on African women. In the bibliography, there are over 60 titles listed that begin with the word 'women'-not to mention the nearly 200 titles on women's issues and/or about women that do not. These titles reference subjects such as "Women of Africa", "Women in Development", "Women in the Time of AIDS", "Women's Income Generating", "Women Freedom Fighters", etc. All of these subjects are of profound importance and value.

    If you have an interest in any of these areas, please follow up with the larger print sources listed, or go online to the useful sites listed here and those linked to these sites.

The following seven books can serve as springboards to your exploration:

African Women: A General Bibliography 1976-1985 by Davis A. Bullwinkle (Westport: Greenwood Press,1989) 334pp.

African Women: A Modern History by Catherine Coquert-Vidrovitz (Boulder: Wsetview Press, 1997) 308pp.

African Women and Development: A History by Margaret Snyder and Mary Tadessa (Johannesburg: Witwatersrand Univ. Press, 1995) 239pp.

African Women in Development: An Annotated Bibliography (Addis Ababa: African Training and Research Centre for Women, Economic Commission for Africa,1990)

Africa Through the Eyes of Women Artists by Betty LaDuke (Trenton: Africa World Press, 1991) 148pp.

Arab Women: Old Boundaries, New Frontiers by Lizbeth Malkmus and Roy Armes ( London: Zed Books, 1991) 264pp.

Africa: Women's Art Women's Lives by Betty LaDuke (Trenton: Africa World Press, 1997) 208pp.

 

* * * * * * *Internet Highlights * * * * * * *

African Women's Issues Boston University Has numerous and useful  links www.bu.edu/library/instruction/africanwomen.html

Africa Policy Information Center - African Women's Rights Based in Washington, D.C. www.africa.upenn.edu/Urgent_Action/menu_APIC.html

Association of African Women Scholars  Includes newsletter, conference information, links to women-related sites.  www.iupui.edu/~aaws

"Africa's Women/Africa's Women Journalists:Critical Perspectives on Internet Initiatives"   An interesting and detailed paper by Melinda B. Robins   www.ecu.edu/african/sersas/Robins400.html

Can women solve Africa's problems?  An interesting recent article focusing on Liberia. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3117187.stm

A Celebration of Women Writers  "Indexes" web sites on women writers by surname, country digital.library.upenn.edu/women/

Female Circumcision  A Google directory search of some of the more informative sites that deal with this controversial issue  directory.google.com/Top/Health/Child_Health/Circumcision/Female_Circumcision/

Francophone African Literature  University of Western Australia site on Francophone African writers, esp. women writers. www.arts.uwa.edu.au/AFLIT/FEMEChome.html

Global Fund for Women Provides grants to women's groups in developing countries. www.globalfundforwomen.org

Kenyan environmentalist Wangari Maathai Official Greenbelt Movement site of 2004 Nobel Laureate www.greenbeltmovement.org/index.htm

Ladyslipper Music Catalogue  A strong resource for recordings by African women vocalists and instrumentalists   www.ladyslipper.org

Senegal. Ministere  de la Famille  Ministry's web site has list of publications, a summary of Plan d'Action de la femme,  www.gouv.sn/ministeres/mfamille/contacts.cfm

South African Women - Historical Documents  African National Congress site documents women in the liberation struggle. www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/history/women/index.html

South African Women in Science and Engineering  Newsletter, information, members, email discussion list.    www.sawise.org.za/

United Nations. Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)  African Centre for Women, Report for the Women in Development Programme, and a search facility. Main site: http://www.uneca.org/acw/

UNICEF - Progress of Nations 1997  Women in government, statistical tables, population, birth & mortality data and more.   www.unicef.org/pon97

U.N. WomenWatch Africa page: www.un.org/womenwatch/world/africa/afcommit.htm

Women in Development Network, Africa  A good source for statistics.  www.focusintl.com/statr1a.htm

Extensive English and French resources including directory of African women's organizations, U.N.statistics on women's education, health, labor, positions of power http://www.focusintl.com/widnet.htm

 

ENVIRONMENT

Cape Coast (Ghana) fishing boats - photo by Brenda Q. Kester

    Vast rainforests, wildlife ranges and habitats, and powerful geologic or geographic features have always been associated with Africa. In recent decades, the realization of how environmental actions can affect not just their regions, but entire ecosystems and the entire planet has become much clearer. Many groups and organizations have directed their focus and resources on environmental issues of importance to Africa and the world.

Some of the many books produced on these subjects have come to our attention that may be of general interest here:

Voices from Africa: Local Perspectives on Conservation Dale Lewis and Nick Carter,eds. (Baltimore: World Wildlife Fund,1993) 216pp.

Environment and Economic Dilemmas of Developing Countries: Africa in the Twenty-First Century by V.U. James (Westport, CT: Praeger, 1994) 240pp.

Greenhouse Effect and its Impact on Africa by Mohamed Suliman (UK: Institute for African Alternatives,1990) 90pp. The Institute for African Alternatives in London, which Mr. Suliman directs, has produced a number of publications in this area.

The Rainforests of West Africa: Ecology -Threats - Conservation by Claude Martin (Boston: Birkhausee Verlag, 1991) 235 pp.

Africa: Africa World Press Guide to Educational Resources From and About Africa (NJ: Africa World Press, 1997) 197pp. also has a section on "Environment" including African success stories.

* * * * * * *Internet Highlights * * * * * * *

African Wildlife-Wildwatch  Links sites for African national parks, wildlife conservation. www.wildwatch.com/

African coral reefs:  www.motherjones.com/coral_reef/indian_ocean.html

Earth Life Africa Covers toxic waste dumping in S. Africa, the Ogoni people's struggle against environmental pollution  www.earthlife.org.za/

Envirolink-an Online Community  Engages issues and information from around the world  www.envirolink.org/

Major Biomes of the World African areas include the tropical forest, tropical savanna, and desert. www.runet.edu/~swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/biomes/main.html

Michigan State Univ., Program on the Lakes of East Africa PLEA does research on Lakes Victoria and Malawi on the Anthropology and Sociology of fisheries management and development, africa.msu.edu/PLEA/

National Geographic  Botswana wildlife was the featured in Nov. 1996, designed for K-12. www.nationalgeographic.com/features/96/okavango/education/resources.html

Okavango Wildlife Society South African organization with extensive links to other African wildlife web sites.   www.stud.ntnu.no/~skjetnep/owls.html

References for Sustainable Development www.ulb.ac.be/ceese/meta/sustvl.html

Save the Rhino International  www.savetherhino.org/

Southern Africa Environment Project  A grassroots Southern African organization focusing on education and community development. A good example of activism among African youth.  www.saep.org/

Tarangire Elephant Project You can adopt an elephant at the Tanzania site. wcs.org/sw-around_the_globe/Africa/africanelephants/tarangire

United Nations Earth Summit 1997 June 23-27, 1997 a special session has country profiles from Benin, Cameroon, Gabon, Mauritius, South Africa, Sudan, Uganda and success stories from Kenya, Mozambique, Senegal, Sudan, Zimbabwe, and more    Main page: http://www.un.org/esa/earthsummit

United Nations Environment Programme. Global Environment Outlook  Discusses major environmental concerns, causes, national and regional  initiatives including climate change, forests, biodiversity, water, population, land use  www.unep.org/geo2000/

U.N. Environment Programme. Regional Office for Africa  www.undp.org/rba/

U.S. Department of State. Guide to American Environmental Non-Governmental Organizations Active in Sub-Saharan Africa (1995). Directory lists address, objectives, activities, future interests, contact person for Africa  dosfan.lib.uic.edu/ERC/bureaus/afr/950501NGOAfrica.html

Zimbabwe Resources  www.joeant.com/DIR/cat/10921/Zimbabwe

SPORTS

    With the success of African teams and individual athletes in international competition, the world wide focus on sports in Africa has increased significantly. Here are some books and internet resources that will help to discover yet another rich and interesting aspect of modern African life.

Books include:

Sport in Africa by Ossie Stuart (London:Macmillan, l993)

Sport in Africa: essays in social history. William Baker and James Mangan, eds. (New York:Africana l987)

Sport in Africa and Asia: a comparative handbook. Eric Wagner, ed. (New York: Greenwood, l989)

African Sports: Yesterday and Today  by Ernst Naumann (Cologne:Deutsch Welle, l970)

Africa at the Olympics by Ramadhan Ali (London :African Books,l976)

* * * * * * *Internet Highlights * * * * * * *

Africa  Sports Links-  UPENN links to numerous sites  www.sas.upenn.edu/African_Studies/About_African/ww_sprt.html

African Basketball Players  -www.internationalbasketball.com/africanbasketball.html

African Soccer News- An excellent and continent-wide resource www.sportscheduler.co.sz/afsocnews.htm

African Tennis  A link from the NCAA website to Algerian and South African tennis links www1.ncaa.org/membership/enforcement/amateurism/international/tennis/africa

Aikido in Africa  Directory of Aikido clubs and schools in, mainly, South Africa. www.aikido.org.za/

AthleticsAfrica.com  Recent site provides excellent content and graphics of African athletes www.athleticsafrica.com/

Comrades Marathon  South African ultra marathon www.comrades.org.za

United Cricket Board of South Africa - Official web site for the governing body for cricket in South Africa. www.cricket.co.za/

Dakar Rally Offroad race from Spain to Dakar, Senegal 1997 with cars, trucks, and motorcycles. www.dakar.com

Nigerian Sports Site Good treatment on the history of team sports in Nigeria as well.  www.nigerian-sports.com www.motherlandnigeria.com/sports.html

South African official rugby page www.sarfu.org.za

South Africa Sports Illustrated  www.sasi.co.za/