Encyclopedia Of Africa: South Of The Sahara Edition 1.

Encyclopedia of Africa: South of the Sahara Edition 1.

Summarizing current knowledge of the world's second largest continent,this 4-volume set covers its people, its culture, and its complex history. Intended for students and the general reader, the Encyclopedia provides current and accurate information in over 1,000 articles on the sub-Saharan region. The articles describe such topics as the intricate ties of family and kinship, the complex matrix of government, politics, and law, and the beauties of African arts, cultures, and languages. There are individual entries on each nation in modern sub-Saharan Africa.From Library JournalMiddleton (African studies, Yale Univ.) and his editorial board have compiled a model encyclopedia that includes 896 entries, all written by scholars in the field of African history. Significantly, many of the entries range far afield from the usual geographical and historical items to include broader, more abstract topics like "nationalism, forms and aims of research, [and] modes of thought." In addition, three historiographical essays at the beginning of the work frame the context. Middleton has also ensured geographical diversity in his 532 contributors, with entries written by scholars from Africa, North America, and Europe in roughly equal proportions. Although there can be no central theme in a work of this scope, the editor does adopt a "single global viewpoint" as the articles reflect the decline in European cultural hegemony over Africa. This splendidly presented, well-written, informative compendium (containing 391 illustrations and nearly 100 maps) should be in every major public and academic library. [This book was one of LJ's "Best References of 1997."?Ed.]?A.O. Edmonds, Ball State Univ., Muncie, I.-?A.O. Edmonds, Ball State Univ., Muncie, INCopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.