Rating: 
Summary: Light dispelling the dark
Review: With all the force of a shuttle launch, Reader lofts us to a sweeping vista of our home continent. A passionate narrative, supported by a wealth of material, he ensures the pejorative "dark continent" will never again be uttered by his readers. Far too many of us have allowed years of ignorant press to cloud our perception of the continent of our origins. Reading this book provides a new base of knowledge about the continent giving us birth."Base" suggests Reader's starting point, which opens with a description of the cratons forming Africa, the world's oldest bedrock. Rocks alone don't make a continent, and Reader continues with a discussion of how Africa's climate has been instrumental in guiding many aspects of Africa's development. The issue of rainfall or lack of it, its impact on river courses and lake formation are brought to bear as the story progresses. Reader goes on to describe the rise of life in Africa, most significantly, of course, the emergence of humans. His use of science is impressive, clearly the result of extensive and careful research. From human beginnings he moves to the development of African civilizations. For years Egypt dominated western thinking in the equation of Africa and society. Reader's takes us through the societies that emerged apart from Egypt. He describes societies that developed in sub-Saharan Africa and how circumstances vary with location. That Africa set examples for later communal development is frequently overlooked, and he describes representative societies that developed in Africa. The Niger Delta and Aksum, two of the communities, one agricultural and the other a commercial centre, are samples of successful human organization in Africa. Clearly, the tradition of scattered tribes with garden farms supporting chancy hunting as the typical African condition is false and misleading. Reader's chapters on slavery and the slave trade are enlightening. The Western Hemisphere remains self-congratulatory on the extinction of slavery, even though it took a war to accomplish it. Reader makes clear that the impact of the slavery endured into modern times, and the social consequences are both intense and widespread. Raiders and victims persisted for decades, and today's political clashes have roots in the slave trade. If we are to comprehend the African scene, Reader reminds us, we can start with a firmer knowledge of slavery's impact than our media has given us. Reader's account of modern nation building in Africa is captivating reading. One glaring fact emerges - Africa has more national borders than any other continent. This artifact of colonization should be a starting point of any course on the continent. Reader notes that 177 "ethnic cultural areas" are crossed by these artificial boundaries, with predictable results. Uncertainties, lack of communication with urban centres, and rivalries all contribute to the failure of European and North American policy-makers to properly formulate responses to
African "national" conditions. The scope of Reader's portrayal of Africa is too broad to allow a detailed account of modern events. This book being a "Biography of the Continent" and not a "current events" report precludes deep analysis of contemporary affairs. The fascinating life of Idi Amin, for example, is omitted entirely from Reader's roll call of African figures. That shouldn't dissuade anyone wishing to begin to understand the continent of our birth. Start with Reader's account then seek through his bibliography for further reading. This book is essential as a starting point in learning about the land of our beginnings and beyond.
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