African Books Collective

A contemporary geography of Uganda.

This comprehensive text on the geography of Uganda provides modern information on all aspects of the physical, political and human characteristics of this growing African nation. Chapters cover climate, geomorphology, soils, forestry, water and wetland resources, population geography and demographics, urban geography, medical, political and economic geography and geography and development. The volume includes numerous maps, charts, tables and illustrations. This volume is of particular importance as it appears to be the only comprehensive work on Ugandan Geography published since 1975. The work is a collaborative effort of several authors and government and independent experts. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

A concise history of South Sudan.

Intended for secondary school students in South Sudan, this important and timely textbook, perhaps the first of its kind, examines the history of this new nation which declared its independence from Northern Sudan July 9th, 2011. The volume provides a brief introduction to the practice of writing and reading history and covers, in survey, the history of the region from pre-history to the present, examining important population trends, cultures, political figures and social movements. The work includes numerous illustrations, maps and tables. The volume is a collaborative effort of several South Sudanese scholars. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Framework and tools for environmental management in Africa.

There is no need for more science, proclaim Nhamo (business and climate change, U. of South Africa) and Inyang, a poet and playwright as well as environmental scholar and activist: the extent and mechanisms of environmental degradation in Africa are well enough known that no more time or effort need be expended rehearsing them. What is urgently needed are the frameworks and tools for addressing that degradation. In particular, they say, it is necessary to move outside the colonial and postcolonial contexts, which privilege the interests of the colonial powers over those of Africans. The framework they set out includes global landmarks for environmental governance, international environmental law, an African agenda, uncertainties, and global environmental problems. The tools include conservation, impact assessment, environmental education, and sustainability reporting. There is no index. Published by the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Philosophy and African development; theory and practice.

This collection reprints 13 journal articles originally published in Africa development, vol.29, no.1 in 2004. Both American and African philosophers rebuff the objectivity of neo-classical economics, challenging Western views of African history, intellect, religion, culture, education, decolonization, modernization, political structures, and economic innovation. Published by the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa. Published by the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Universities and economic development in Africa; pact, academic core and coordination.

Cloete, a researcher at the Centre for Higher Education Transformation (publisher of this report), et al. synthesize data from eight African case studies and interviews conducted between 2001 and 2009 to detail findings that formed part of the HERANA (Higher Education Research and Advocacy Network in Africa) Higher Education and Economic Development research program. The report aims to understand the contributions of African universities to economic development and the context in which universities operate, their internal structure and dynamics, and the interaction between the national and institutional contexts, as well as factors and conditions that facilitate or inhibit their ability to contribute to economic development. It analyzes the data in terms of the existence of a pact on the role of universities in development, the nature and strength of their academic core, and the extent of knowledge policy coordination and the connections between key stakeholders. No index is supplied. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)