African Books Collective

Battles of the Ugandan resistance; a tradition of maneuver.

Lt. Colonel Kainerugaba of Uganda analyzes military aspects of the campaign of the Ugandan National Resistance Army of Yuweri Museveni (current President of Uganda and also the author's father) against the Ugandan National Liberation Army forces of Milton Obete in the early 1980s. He first discusses whether there is a specifically African way of warfare, the similarities between the clandestine operations of the early part of the conflict and conventional special operations, and the psychological elements necessary for sustaining a war of rebellion. He then proceeds to analysis of seven battles illustrating the different phases of a people's war (in the Maoist sense) — guerilla warfare, mobile warfare, and regular/conventional warfare — before drawing conclusions about the strategy of the National Resistance Army of his father and lessons for the present day Ugandan military. Distributed in North America by the African Books Collective. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

The Cameroon-Nigeria border dispute; management and resolution, 1981-2011.

This volume on African geographical and political conflict resolution provides a detailed history of the border dispute between Cameroon and Nigeria from 1981 through 2002. Topics discussed include the consequences and causes of the initial dispute, bilateral management of the border dispute, external influences, including the United Nations and European Union and the eventual settlement reached through the International Court of Justice. The volume includes several illustrations and maps. Lukong is doctoral student in conflict management and resolution at the University of Yaounde, Cameroon. Distributed in North America by the African Books Collective (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Cameroon political story; memories of an authentic eye witness.

As a journalist, trade union activist, and parliamentarian, Mbile came to play a significant role in the independence and reunification politics of Cameroon from the 1950s to the early 1970s, as Cameroon emerged from the colonial era, before he was dropped from government in 1972. In this volume, he combines memories of his own life with the political history of those years in order to elucidate the political development of Cameroon in independence. Distributed in North America by African Books Collective. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Christianity and socio-cultural issues; the Charismatic movement and contextualization of the gospel in Malawi.

Munyenyembe (theology and religious studies, Mzuzu U., Malawi) traces the path of incarnational theology in Malawi, investigating why the Charismatic movement is highly successful in attracting members despite its apparent lack of enthusiasm for enculturation, which mainstream denominations argue make Christianity more relevant and attractive to the Malawian masses. His hypothesis that in view of the multi-faceted cultural dynamics being experiences in Malawi, there is much more enculturation and contextualization going on in Charismatic circles than in non-Charismatic churches, despite the conscious efforts of the latter group. Distributed in North America by African Books Collective. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Climate change and the management of natural systems in Cameroon.

Ndenecho (geography, U. of Yaoundé, Cameroon) has undertaken answering a perplexing question: What can be done — in addition to reducing carbon dioxide emissions — to enhance the resistance and resilience of natural systems to better withstand climate change? He discusses a variety of ecosystems (such as rainforests, coastal, marine, and others), the need for planning and that the conservation measures used in the past may not be effective in a changing, warmer environment. Distributed in North America by the African Books Collective. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Decentralisation and spatial rural development planning in Cameroon.

This interesting work on spatial planning explores the emerging necessity for rural planning, as opposed to a focus on urban planning, in developing nations. Using Cameroon as a case study, the volume discusses rural habitat and cultural preservation, national agricultural development through regional farm planning, stemming the tide of urban immigration, strategies for rural settlement development and decentralizations and regionalism. The material includes numerous illustrations, tables, technical drawings and maps. Ndenecho is a professor of geography at the University of Yaoundé, Cameroon. Distributed in North America by the African Books Collective. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Determinants of sustainable utilization of plant resources in the former Kakamega District, Kenya.

Shisanya (agroclimatology, Kenyatta U., Kenya) inventories indigenous botanical plant resources and their use, in light of gender dynamics, the impact of new technology, conservation measures, and the quest for sustainable development. He argues that socio-economic status and ecological conditions determine the level of indigenous knowledge and sustainable use of ethnobotanical plant resources in the district. The core of his study covers knowledge of respondents about indigenous plant genetic resources; and definition, conservation, and changing trends in the use of plant genetic resources. He also reviews the literature and empirical evidence, and explains his methodology. Distributed in North America by the African Books Collective. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Ethnobotanic resources of tropical montane forests; indigenous uses of plants in the Cameroon highland ecoregion.

Neba (geography, U. of Yaoundé I) presents case studies of mountain dwellers and indigenous knowledge of useful plants, cultural survival, and plant-dependent livelihood in tropical mountain areas. From this evidence, he he argues that mountain dwellers have for millennia been at an ecological balance with available plant and animals resources, that is, the rate of exploitation of these resources was in balance with natural regenerative capacity. This, he says should be the basis for new directions in conservation thinking and in managing protected areas. There is no index. Distributed in North America by the African Books Collective. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

The Ewe people; a study of the Ewe people in German Togo.

This is an English translation of the 1906 study Die Ewe-Stämme: Material zur Kunde des Ewe-Volkes in Deutsch-Togo, which was produced by German missionary Jakob Spieth as a comprehensive ethnography of the Ewe people of German Togoland, which geographically encompassed contemporary Togo and portions of present-day Ghana, after 20 years of missionary work in the country. Originally published as a bilingual text in the German and Ewe languages, Spieth's work is notable for its ambitious scope, which addressed the history, geography, socio-political organization, religion, cultural life, language, and oral traditions of the Ewe people, as well as (according to a pair of contemporary Ghanaian academics introducing the text) for its unusual respect for the essential humanity of the Ewe people, which stands in stark contrast to Spieth's contemporaries, who were prone to characterize the Ewe as possessing "the ordinary characteristics of the uncivilized negro." Given the importance of the Ewe language to Spieth's treatment, the bilingual nature of the text has been retained, with English replacing the German and the Ewe text included alongside. Distributed in North America by the African Books Collective. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Field guide to the acacias of South Africa.

With this field guide, Smit (animal, wildlife, and grassland sciences, U. of the Free State, South Africa) helps readers identify 48 species, subspecies, and varieties of acacias of South Africa, including four newly described species such as Acacia ormocarpoides and A. robbertsii, a hybrid, and four species which previously formed part of the A. karoo complex. Included are color photos; national tree numbers; information on the habitat, general appearance, main stems, shoots, thorns, leaves, pods, seeds, and inflorescence of each form; distribution maps; and scientific names and names in English, Afrikaans, and other languages. Distributed by African Books Collective. Newly available in the US. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Guide to the aloes of South Africa, 2d ed. (reprint 2003)

Van Wyk (plant taxonomy, U. of Johannesburg) and Smith (The South African National Biodiversity Institute) present a user-friendly field guide to all South African aloes, with stunning color photographs of the plants in natural settings or gardens. The species are arranged in such groups as tree aloes, rambling aloes, speckled aloes, and grass aloes; they are also indexed. Introductory essays consider such topics as cosmetic and tonic use, gardening and landscaping with aloes, and pests and diseases. No date is cited for the first edition, but the second — here in its fourth printing — includes scientific names along with common names, imperial as well as international units of measure, and the altitude of typical habitats. They have not tried to keep up with taxonomic changes. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Local livelihoods and protected area management; biodiversity conservation problems in Cameroon.

Neba (geography, U. of Yaoundé, Cameroon) presents case studies from sub-Saharan African to argue that conservation projects need a broader perspective linking environmental protection and human welfare. This is necessary, he says, in order to address the rights and needs of local people and more marginal groups in society, and to ensure that fundamental conservation objectives are achieved with the participation of the local people. He does not provide an index. Distributed in North America by African Books Collective. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Manilal Ambalal Desai; the stormy petrel.

Arriving in East Africa in 1915, Manilal Ambalal Desai quickly became involved in the activities of the Eastern Africa Indian National Congress, an umbrella body of Indian Associations in East Africa engaged in the political struggles against colonialism and racism, remaining active in leadership roles and activism until he died from a heart attack in 1926. This biography, commissioned by the Desai Memorial Foundation, describes his life, focusing in particular on his work with the Indian Associations of East Africa. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Mass media & democratisation in Cameroon in the early 1990s.

Nyamnjoh (social anthropology, U. of Cape Town, South Africa) explores the role of the mass media in the democratic process in Cameroon between 1990 and 1994. He investigates the extent to which the media figures themselves were adequately informed and educated on the importance of democratic pluralism, worked to socialize a democratic consensus, and worked to reduce social tensions and cleavages in the country. He further considers the influence of the political and legal environment, the media's economic and financial situation, and level of professionalism amongst media practitioners as factors influencing the previous issues. Distributed in North America by African Books Collective. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Medicinal plants of South Africa, 2d ed.

Van Wyk (botany, U. of Johannesburg); Bosch van Oudtshoorn, retired from teaching pharmacy; and Nigel Gericke, a physician specializing in South African ethnobotany present a photographic guide to the most commonly used and best known South African plant medicines. In addition to several color photographs of each species — different parts, different stages or seasons, varieties — the text includes a botanical description, parts used, medicines uses preparation and dosage, active ingredients, pharmacological effects, distribution, and references. Articles also contain a distribution map and molecular diagrams. Among the back matter are a glossary of medical terms, references to further reading, and plants listed according to ailments. No date is noted for the first edition. Newly available in the US, where it is distributed by the African Books Collective, (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Mesembs of the world; illustrated guide to a remarkable succulent group

Also known as "flowering stones," mesembs are succulents of the Aizoaceae family. Smith (U. of Pretoria, National Botanical Institute) and botanists primarily from South Africa describe all currently recognized mesemb genera, organized in 14 groups, with color photographs of a representative selection of species. Introductory chapters cover their horticultural and other traditional uses, distribution and ecology, conservation, and cultivation. Bringing a monograph on these unique plants to a U.S. audience for the first time, the volume includes further reading and an updated key to the genera. Distributed by African Books Collective. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Money and credit in an indigenous African context; principles, empirical evidence, and policy implications.

This small volume on non-western economic structures examines money and credit from the perspective of indigenous African institutions and cultures. The work explores local money structures, saving and investment practices in indigenous societies, social security and insurance, interactions between indigenous and non-indigenous systems and policy implications. The text includes relevant statistical and financial data. Chipeta is the director of the South African Institute for Economic Research. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

My life's journey.

Descended from a line of Ugandan tribal chiefs, Janet Kataaha Museveni is now the first lady of Uganda, married to President Yoweri Museveni; she also holds the positions of MP for Ruhaama County and Minister of State for Karamoja. She has worked tirelessly to help orphans, women, and HIV/AIDS patients in Uganda. In this memoir, she tells how her faith in God and her love for her family and her culture sustained her during her life in exile. The memoir describes her early life in the village of Irenga, her education, her exile and her years in Sweden, and her return to Uganda, as well as her religious conversion, motherhood, and her campaign for Parliament. The book is illustrated with personal b&w photos taken throughout her life, including photos with world leaders. The book is distributed in North America by the African Books Collective. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

No trifling matter; contributions of an uncompromising critic to the democratic process in Cameroon.

This volume collects 75 essays written weekly for the Cameroon Post by Tangwa (philosophy, U. of Yaounde I, Cameroon) in the early 1990s — under the pen name Rotcod Gobata — criticizing the government of President Paul Biya for failing to live up to promises of democratization. Central concerns identified by Tangwa as running through the essays include democracy, meritocracy, public fair-play, development, accountability, unity, and assimilation. Distributed in North America by the African Books Collective. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Nso' and its neighbours; readings in the social history of the western grassfields of Cameroon.

This collection of 19 essays adopts a variety of approaches to the social history of the Nso' people of the northwest region of Cameroon from precolonial times to the present and includes regional, area, and ethnic studies, as well as examinations of specific subjects. Topics include political relations among the peoples of the region prior to German colonization, the indigenous iron industry, cooperation as a social institution, Nso'-German relations at the beginning of colonization, the leadership structures of the Nso', women and agricultural production in the 20th century, and ideological conflict between the tribute and land tenure of the Nso' on the one hand and colonial tax policies and land ordinances of independent Cameroon on the other. Distributed in North America by the African Books Collective. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

The politics of neoliberal reforms in Africa; state and civil society in Cameroon.

Konings (African Studies Center in Leiden, the Netherlands) presents reworked versions of 11 articles written over the past couple decades on the impact of neoliberalism on Cameroon and the forms of resistance to neoliberal economic and political reforms exhibited both by Cameroon's authoritarian and neo-patrimonial state and by civil society groups. Topics include forms of elite-state resistance, the role of the opposition Social Democratic Front, the effects of privatization and the push for globally open markets on relations between the state and private capital accumulation, secessionist movements in Anglophone Cameroon in relation to the neoliberal project, the border conflict between Cameroon and Nigeria over the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula, the impact of the growing economic engagement of China, the economic motivations behind the student strikes at the U. of Yaoundé in the early 1990s, and the impact of neoliberal economic and political reforms on the political power and bargaining strength of organized labor. Distributed in North America by the African Books Collective. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)