Who's Who in Africa: Leaders for the 1990s

by Alan Rake

Overview

This book puts a spotlight on the political leaders of the ever-changing African continent. Concentrating on those in power, those recently in office who are likely to make a comeback, and those struggling to reach the top, it is particularly significant at a time when most African countries are changing from single party rule to multi-party democracy. The pattern of leadership has seen convulsive change over the last two years. Containing lively descriptions of Black Africa's top leadership, the book gives essential curricula vitae and goes much further, weighing the political importance and potential of hundreds of top personalities. Probing beyond the bare facts and dates, Rake puts the top leaders in true perspective.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780810825574
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	03/01/1992
Pages:	456
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Alan Rake(B.A., Politics, Philosophy and Economics, Brasenose College, Oxford) is Managing Editor of the monthly London-based magazine New African. After living in East, West, and South Africa for a dozen years, he returned to England but still travels regularly throughout the continent. He has specialized in African affairs for the last 35 years, working with many other magazines and newsletters, and is the author of a number of books and reference works on Africa, including a similar Who's Who in Africa last published in Britain in 1973. In preparing the book he has been comprehensively assisted by correspondents based in most of the main African capitals.

Editorial Reviews

...a welcome addition...

New African

This long-awaited volume has the benefit of the author's formidable experience of Africa...lucidly written and packed with illuminating detail, making his work an essential reference source

Africa Analysis

...an important reference work.

West Africa

...valuable...presents them not just as politicians, but also as people.

Wilson Library Bulletin

...a sweeping view of the turmoil and political intrigue that have engulfed this part of the world over the last 35 to 40 years...a welcome addition to most reference collections...

American Reference Books Annual

...Perhaps no one is more qualified to paint Africa's leadership portrait than Alan Rake.

The African Guardian

...a sweeping view of the turmoil and political intrigue that have engulfed this part of the world over the last 35 to 40 years...a welcome addition to most reference collections...

American Reference Books Annual (ARBA)

Researchers anticipating the staccato style of the familiar Who's Who format will be surprised at the length of each entry in this welcome new biographical source on Africa's political leaders. The author, managing editor of London's New African magazine, aims to present not only facts but ``insight, anecdote and comment and a general assessment.'' Each listing consists of a brief evaluative overview of the subject's personality and career, followed by a longer chronological biography detailing significant events and contributions. The book is arranged alphabetically by nation and then by individual, with an essential personal name index at the end. It covers only countries south of the Sahara and within those nations only those individuals who are politically important or demonstrate ``political potential'' (e.g., leaders, recent past leaders, and political hopefuls). Entries range in length from half a page to four pages. The spelling is British, and despite the biographical essay format the text tends toward a somewhat dry recital of dates, acronyms, and appointments. While its specialized focus and lengthy entries may have limited the scope of its contents, its 323 articles on individuals from 47 countries will fill a gap in most African collections. Its only comparable competition is the continuing Encyclopaedia Africana Dictionary of African Biography series (Reference Pubns., Vol. 1: 1977, Vol. 2: 1979, Vol. 3: 1992), whose first volume is already 15 years old. For public and academic libraries.-- James Moffet, Baldwin P.L., Birmingham, Mich.

Library Journal

Filling a gap in current African biography, this book provides profiles of more than 300 political figures in the 47 African countries south of the Sahara. Persons included are "those in power, those recently in office, and those most likely to succeed, whether from the ranks of the opposition or from relatively minor positions in the ruling structure." It has been 10 years since "Who's Who in Africa" was last published as a section of Europa Publications' "Africa South of the Sahara". A previous book by Rake and John Dickie, "Who's Who in Africa: The Political, Military and Business Leaders of Africa", was published in 1973 (African Development). According to Rake, three-quarters of the persons covered in the old book are not included in this new one Entries here are arranged by country, and then alphabetically by name. Each country section begins with a list of facts: population (mostly from 1990 World Bank figures), date of independence, head of state, a description of the type of government, and a list of active political parties, including underground groups. The section on Sudan, for example, describes the government as "military rule by the Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation," states that political parties have been banned since June_ 1989, and lists four parties that exist underground. Information for most countries is current as of the summer of 1991 Numbers of persons listed within each country section range from one (Equatorial Guinea) to 21 (South Africa). Entries vary in length from one-half page to two or three pages for major figures. The variety and depth of information contained in each entry is the strength of this book. Rake is managing editor of the London-based "African Business" and "New African" magazines. In his preface, he states that he has attempted to "produce a book which includes insight, anecdote and comment and a general assessment as well as a list of dates and events." He has achieved his goal admirably. Each entry is rich in fascinating inside information and packed with facts and dates that would be time-consuming to compile from other sources. Each begins with a brief, italicized paragraph summarizing points covered in the main body of the entry plus fairly subjective information about the person's physical appearance, personality, habits, and other characteristics. For example, Frederik De Klerk is "a worrier and chain smoker who conceals a nervous disposition behind a bland exterior and perfect manners. The body of each entry includes the person's date of birth, tribal membership (if appropriate), education, military training (for example, Prince Johnson of Liberia was trained in military police tactics at Fort Jackson, South Carolina), career history, political alliances and positions over the years, party affiliations, and current position. Entries are usually limited to the person's professional and political life; personal information, such as names of spouses or other family members, is not included unless it is politically significant. Although concise, the entries contain a number of surprises. For example, Amos Sawyer, interim president of Liberia, holds a Ph.D. from Northwestern University. The Marxist Leninist League of Tigre Province, Ethiopia, is modeled on the Albanian version of socialism. Relevant political movements within African countries are discussed within the context of each person's entry. For example, the entry for Legesse Zenawi of Ethiopia explains briefly the difference between the Tigre People's Liberation Front and the Tigre Liberation Front An alphabetical index of persons is included in the back of the book. It includes only those people who have entries, not those mentioned within entries It is difficult to find concise, up-to-date information on many of the political figures covered in "Who's Who in Africa". This book will be a valuable complement to "Dictionary of African Historical Biography" ["RBB" Ap 1 87]. Although the latter book contains a "Supplement of Post-1960 Political Figures," "Who's Who in Africa" provides more extensive coverage of current leaders. It is an essential purchase for academic and large public libraries and will be useful in any library that serves a clientele interested in Africa.

Zom Zoms

Provides in-depth profiles of the most prominent political figures in Africa, south of the Sahara, concentrating on those in power, those recently in office, and those most likely to succeed, whether from the ranks of the opposition or from relatively minor positions in the ruling structure. The profiles are presented on a country by country basis, with a brief introduction giving essential country facts. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews