The Africans

Rating:
Summary: Africa unbiased and critical
Review: David Lamb provides a firsthand unbiased and critical examination of the continent from his own experiences which is both complimentary nad harsh it is critique of this continent. I could not put this book down and was surprised that it was such an easy-flowing read. I had anticipated a more text book style approach and was plesantly surprised.

Rating:
Summary: A great introduction to Africa and Africans
Review: Don't be put off by it's age. I spent over a year in Africa in 1993/4, and it was there I first heard of this book - it was worth the wait. A little heavy on the statistics (I've no idea where he got them all from and how accurate they are/were), but otherwise a painfully accurate observation of a complex continent. If you're going there - read it. It should be compulsory reading for all African heads of state and the military leaders who are about to depose them.

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Summary: A Must Read ....
Review: I first read 'The Africans' in 1992 and I've been promoting it ever since. Lamb provides social, political and economic insight into why a minerally and agriculturally rich continent struggles to survive. Exposing the crippling effects of tribalism on Africa, Lamb supports his observations with both detailed text, and emotional sensitivity. Lamb has managed to present a serious topic with a sometimes comical undertone which leaves the reader not knowing whether to laugh or cry - but certainly never bored!

Rating:
Summary: Just but fair in his assessment of a dismal situation
Review: I found "The Africans" at a local bookstore - the only book of its kind in the "African/Third World" section. As someone who has visited Africa and talked frequently with those who have I can only say "Amen" to the abominable conditions he describes.

Yet, even as he describes the tribal slaughters, the tortures, the theft of entire nations, insane human engineering schemes that moved millions around like chess pieces - he remains not only concerned but profoundly sympathetic. He tries to make us understand how leader after leader chose the pathway of dictatorship and bankrupt economies while preaching freedom and self-determination. The chapter on the OAS is a much-needed humorous interlude. He keeps reminding us that the story of post-colonial Africa is NOT just politicis and raving madmen in control of millions of people. He keeps the story on the people of the continent.

The book is dated but the observations are truer now than then. Since then apartheid was abolished but a million people have been slaughtered in Rwanda, 2 million have died in the interminable "Congo" war, hundreds of thousands have been killed in Sudan, Angola and Liberia and whole nations exists in name only. What the author stresses over and over is the potential for greatness on the continent, the mineral wealth, the food potential, the resourcefulness of the people, the determination of ordinary people to thrive in such conditions.

Today this is a politically incorrect book in that he casts a wide net of blame - colonial powers, Americans, Soviets, Chinese and, in the end, Africans themselves.

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Summary: a slap in the face for those familiar with african history
Review: I read this book more than a decade ago and have to agree with the good reviews this book is still getting.

I was at the time pleasantly surprised to find a foreign journalist writing such a balanced account on Africa. When I read the book (in the mid Eighties) South Africa was still very isolated from the rest of Africa. This book gave me a window on Africa north of us and fascinated me. I always judge any media (newspaper, books TV, whatever) on their coverage of that with which I am familiar. If I find that to be well balanced and true, I will trust the rest of the material covering things I might not be familiar with. This book passed with flying colours. For example it pointed out the lunacy of Apartheid, while not hiding the fact that it was the only African country with a well functioning infrastructure, civil service etc

The book is neither left nor right. It gives it as it is. Indeed a very rare talent for a journalist. Lamb for example pointed out the world's hypocrisy regarding South Africa. The country was internationally isolated because of statutory racial discrimination and a lack of democracy. Yet the ethnic cleansing going on all over Africa on a grand scale was (and still is) ignored. There was (and still is) virtually no democracy anywhere, massive corruption, very little human rights etc, etc while nobody batted an eye.

That is tragically still the case. Africa is in bigger chaos than when David Lamb wrote his book, but still nobody seems to be willing to take a tougher stand and condemn African governments for what they are - useless.

He pointed out this *real* racial discrimination. South Africa was not allowed to run an undemocratic outfit because "white people can't behave like that!" Everybody on the other hand seems to expect the rest of Africa to be in chaos - "after all they are only blacks." I found this form of racism very relevant in the way the world interacts with Africa. Very few writers have this insight in where the political correct pseudo liberals lost the plot.

This is why this book is a classic and I still remember most of it, though I read it nearly 15 years ago!

Rating:
Summary: Big Surprise
Review: I received this book and, flipping through it, thought it looked like a dull, university-text type slog that I would never read. When I actually started in on it, I was hooked. It is very well written with lots of detailed history and insights into the problems facing Africa. How accurate it may be I cannot really judge without reading some competing books. However, in my estimation, this book is sympathetic and sensitive to Africa's problems without pulling any punches. All in all, very readable and incredibly interesting. I wish I could find more books like this one.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent mix of journalism and history
Review: Journalism is sometimes called "the first draft of history", and in David Lamb's "The Africans" we see that to be true. This is a very fine introduction to and overview of Sub-Saharan Africa. Lamb mixes first-hand reporting with an effective presentation of Africa's colonial and independence-era past. The entire book is well written, packed with information, and well worth the time it takes to read its 300-some pages. The original edition was published in 1983, before the AIDS crisis and Nelson Mandela's transformation from prisoner to president, and this is one small problem: what is written in the present tense in the book is nearly as historical as what is presented as prior history; its a bit difficult to keep straight when the various notes and epilogue were written. A quick look at a few websites (like the CIA World Factbook) should provide the most recent information. This sort of thing is sure to be a problem with any book that covers recent history. Nevertheless, this book's strengths far outweigh this small weakness. This is an outstanding and very fair look at Africa's cultures, history, politics, societies, and traditions.

Lamb's book starts with an overview of African politics circa the early 1980's and a chapter about the difference between traditional and modern Africa. The next chapter covers some of Africa's "big men" bad and good: Mobutu, Bokassa, Moi, Nyerere, et al. Uganda's Idi Amin gets an entire chapter, as does the OAU. In the next chapter, African coups are discussed. Then the end of the colonial era, Portugal's African colonies, and African relations with the U.S. and U.S.S.R. The contrasts between the Ivory Coast (led by President Houphouet-Boigny) and Guinea (led President Sekou Toure) make an interesting chapter. Westerners' African Culture Shock is the next chapter's subject, followed by a chapter about journalism in Africa. Health and sickness is treated next, then some sense about African money and economies. Finally Nigeria and South Africa each get a chapter.

Anyone looking for a relatively short and easy to read book about Africa would do well to read David Lamb's "The Africans".

Rating:
Summary: Excellent mix of journalism and history
Review: Journalism is sometimes called "the first draft of history", and in David Lamb's "The Africans" we see that to be true. This is a very fine introduction to and overview of Sub-Saharan Africa. Lamb mixes first-hand reporting with an effective presentation of Africa's colonial and independence-era past. The entire book is well written, packed with information, and well worth the time it takes to read its 300-some pages. The original edition was published in 1983, before the AIDS crisis and Nelson Mandela's transformation from prisoner to president, and this is one small problem: what is written in the present tense in the book is nearly as historical as what is presented as prior history; its a bit difficult to keep straight when the various notes and epilogue were written. A quick look at a few websites (like the CIA World Factbook) should provide the most recent information. This sort of thing is sure to be a problem with any book that covers recent history. Nevertheless, this book's strengths far outweigh this small weakness. This is an outstanding and very fair look at Africa's cultures, history, politics, societies, and traditions.

Lamb's book starts with an overview of African politics circa the early 1980's and a chapter about the difference between traditional and modern Africa. The next chapter covers some of Africa's "big men" bad and good: Mobutu, Bokassa, Moi, Nyerere, et al. Uganda's Idi Amin gets an entire chapter, as does the OAU. In the next chapter, African coups are discussed. Then the end of the colonial era, Portugal's African colonies, and African relations with the U.S. and U.S.S.R. The contrasts between the Ivory Coast (led by President Houphouet-Boigny) and Guinea (led President Sekou Toure) make an interesting chapter. Westerners' African Culture Shock is the next chapter's subject, followed by a chapter about journalism in Africa. Health and sickness is treated next, then some sense about African money and economies. Finally Nigeria and South Africa each get a chapter.

Anyone looking for a relatively short and easy to read book about Africa would do well to read David Lamb's "The Africans".

Rating:
Summary: Icky-poo
Review: Sigh, Lamb is a fine example of how you cannot understand Africa if you don't have at least some inkling of its history -- something journalists of his ilk don't often bother to garner. This book represents a shallow observation of African conditions in the mid-80's. Far better introductions to Africa exist. Try Davidson's _Black Man's Burden_ for example.