A Continent for the Taking: The Tragedy and Hope of Africa Book

Having recently been powerfully moved by Uwem Akpan's short stories about suffering in different parts of Africa, and feeling guilty that I didn't know enough about some of the political struggles that ravaged that continent in the 1990s (the contexts, the varying perspectives, the cultural traditions and influences, the key players), when this book was recommended to me by a friend planning a trip to Ethiopia, I gladly borrowed it. Before I began the book I had a general sense of the devastating impact of colonialism, the long traditions of corruption and military dictatorship, and the tendency of the West (and the United States foreign policy) to disregard African human and civil needs in favor of superpowers' economic goals (keeping natural resources flowing into the hands of our corporations in the most cost-effective manner, with little regard or thought of impact on those living in these lands). This book taught me a lot, providing geography review while instructing in a range of national histories since colonialism ended--showing the evil legacies from that system that still thrive in Africa today, but also offering glimpses of hope and strength in the perseverance and vitality of traditional African cultures and peoples despite the anguish many must live with daily.

The author, Howard W. French, is an international writer for the New York Times, an African American who was raised in Africa by parents working for the World Health Organization, He knows these cultures and their intricate and complex political histories well, and is able to give first hand accounts of coups, crises, genocides, along with character descriptions not only of despots, generals, and diplomats, but also of popular authors, boy soldiers, or struggling single mothers.

The writing is cogent, and many of the exciting tales make for gripping narrative. Because so much is covered, occurring in so many different places on a huge continent, I recommend regularly flipping back to the excellent map immediately following the table of contents, cross referencing as the memoir moves from place to place within and across so many nations.

Among the major incidents covered were the overthrow of a government in Nigeria amid struggles for control of oil revenues; the Ebola outbreak in central Africa (who was helped and how); revolutions in Congo-Brazzaville and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (earlier known as Zaire)--and I want to note this book helps immensely in understandiong similarities and great differences between these two Congos, one a French colony the other Belgian, their capital cities just across the river from each other yet very distinct in their ambiances and traditions. Also covered are civil war in Liberia and the too often ignored vengenance genocide of the refugee Hutu in the jungles of the Congo following the Rwanda genocide of the Tutsi. All genocides are evil and wrong, and every time I read of politicians (including those representing me) turning a blind eye to overt ethnic cleansing, even if it is a vengeance claim of getting even, I am sorely depressed. Still, amidst the great pain and suffering--and wasted opportunity--that this book details, there endures a sense of hope of what Africa could and should become if it could only get more humanitarian and developmental support from world powers not so interested in using the continent's population as pawns in pursuit of their own selfish ends. On a less lofty note, French also offers some fascinating survival and strategy skills for dealing with corrupt border guards, sneaking into forbidden zones, or coping with malaria, as well as delightful introductions to the grand Mosque of Djenne, the pop music of Fela Anikulapo Kuti, and the reign of King Ibrahim in Cameroon.