Richard Dowden is perhaps our leading journalist of African affairs. Since first arriving in Idi Amin's Uganda in 1971 he has never stopped learning about and reporting on real Africans and the realities of life in Africa's many and varied lands. Like many young Westerners, he first went to Africa to 'save' it, but he stayed to learn from it. Africans taught him how to laugh and dance, how to tease but not command, how not to expect the truth and never to blurt it out, how to avoid danger, and how to be patient. Very, very patient. Such patience has served Dowden well, for he returns now from his decades-long journey among Africans with a report on their various ways and dreams, their priorities and pressures, that is far more revealing about the past, present and future of this fascinating and bewildering continent than any number of war stories or economic reports. Dowden combines a novelist's gift for atmosphere with the unblinking scholar's grasp of historical change to produce one of the most compelling and revealing accounts of modern sub-Saharan Africa yet. His experiences there required him to re-evaluate all he had been taught to believe, his landmark book enables its readers to see and understand this miraculous continent in a new light too.
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Review
'A masterly overview of the world's most troubled continent ... This is non-fiction writing at its most authentic' -Daily Telegraph -- Review
'A superb collection of essays ... Dowden's journalism is provocative and refreshing' -Financial Times -- Review
'An authoritative and eye-opnening survey of Africa today' -Independent
-- Review
'This book is an inspiring gift of hope about a continent that never ceases to surprise' -The Times -- Review
`A wonderfully honest book that makes more sense of the current situation than any other' -Spectator -- Review
'A superb collection of essays ... Dowden's journalism is provocative and refreshing' -Financial Times -- Review
'An authoritative and eye-opnening survey of Africa today' -Independent
-- Review
'This book is an inspiring gift of hope about a continent that never ceases to surprise' -The Times -- Review
`A wonderfully honest book that makes more sense of the current situation than any other' -Spectator -- Review
Review
'A masterly overview of the world's most troubled continent ... This is non-fiction writing at its most authentic' -Daily Telegraph
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
50 of 52 people found the following review helpful
By David Kobia
Format:Hardcover
This book is almost 600 pages long, and still feels like an abridged account of Africa. I actually thought it was pretty bold to call the book 'Africa' - like a little boy with a toy gun calling himself a cowboy, so I approached the book expecting to disparage it immediately. Having grown up in some of the countries written about in the book, I realized Dowden had actually lived through it enough to warrant telling the tale. I believe this book far outranks many of the history books on Africa, and should be required reading for all high school kids.
Post colonial Africa evokes different types of emotions depending on which side of the railway line you grew up on, so its easy to understand why descendants of the colonialists themselves might not find this an easy read. Dowden places a great deal of the blame for Africa's woes squarely on them and other factors like foreign aid. My opinion is biased because I tend to agree.
Those without any type of bias will find the book extremely fascinating. Discovering Africa through Dowden has left me feeling that I should make the same commitment and re-discover the beautiful continent of Africa.
Post colonial Africa evokes different types of emotions depending on which side of the railway line you grew up on, so its easy to understand why descendants of the colonialists themselves might not find this an easy read. Dowden places a great deal of the blame for Africa's woes squarely on them and other factors like foreign aid. My opinion is biased because I tend to agree.
Those without any type of bias will find the book extremely fascinating. Discovering Africa through Dowden has left me feeling that I should make the same commitment and re-discover the beautiful continent of Africa.
23 of 25 people found the following review helpful
By Peter Mills
Format:Hardcover
This book should be required reading for anyone with an interest in Africa. The author has a profound understanding, through many years of experience, of what makes Africa tick. His writing is underscored by an evident personal commitment and compassion for the continent and its inhabitants. Africa is at a cross roads in its development following the momentous developments at the end of the last century and with a new, powerful influence from Asia and China in particular. The old practices which have led to rampant corruption might at last be under threat with the emergence of a new middle class who understand the need for change for the betterment of their countries. Time will tell but this book gives cause for cautious optimism although the road ahead is a long one. Don't hesitate, read it!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By A. Taylor
Format:Paperback
Dowden does understand the nature of Africa and you can really sense his passion for the continent. I must admit learning the politics and history of some countries can be muddled and often irrelevent, looking at wikipedia can be helpful but doesn't exactly evoke integrity? Dowden gives snippets of personal stories, history and importantly his own assessments of past and future Africa. It is a long book but in a sense it could be longer, the treasure of it all is how he manages to inform you so well in so little time!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Nala Scoorb
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is simply gripping and illuminates both the miseries and joy of the wonderful continent of Africa: all its ambiguities and complexities. Having travelled many times, its a perfect account and explanation of all the unseen political and socioeconomic things that effect what you observe, but have no real explanation for when in any country there. For me it gives great hope that eventually African countries will be able to break away from the colonialism of the past and make there own peace in the their own African way.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Sara B.
Format:Paperback
Richard Dowden, before taking up the post for the Economist, has been for many years the Africa Editor of the Independent. I was very curious to read his work and I have found, first of all, the immense love he feels for the continent! According to me this is important... he can transmit passion to the reader. I believe the author has a profound and intimate understanding of the topics he writes about thanks to the many years he has spent in Africa... some of his points are arguable but for sure give rise to your brain to think.
I would recommend this book as it is updated, easy to read and very positive! After reading it, you will have a very different picture of Africa, compared to what you generally see on the media (often portrayed, sometimes by some aid agencies, as a pitiable place of poverty). It is a message of hope, optimism (but not the blind one!) and richness. Anyway I was expecting more on the "ordinary miracles" stated on the title! However, in general, I really like it... I have found some parts very moving, and loved the chapter on the "positive positive women".
I would recommend this book as it is updated, easy to read and very positive! After reading it, you will have a very different picture of Africa, compared to what you generally see on the media (often portrayed, sometimes by some aid agencies, as a pitiable place of poverty). It is a message of hope, optimism (but not the blind one!) and richness. Anyway I was expecting more on the "ordinary miracles" stated on the title! However, in general, I really like it... I have found some parts very moving, and loved the chapter on the "positive positive women".
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Richard Dowden suffered the misfortune of being held responsible for an ill-advised cover of "The Economist" about a decade ago. The cover depicted a teenage African boy wielding a heavy weapon and suggested that the entire continent was a lost cause.
Dowden has redeemed himself by writing this excellent book. It does not pretend to be anything more than an introduction to a continent in which he has spent much time and knows intimately. Conscious of being accused of taking too broad a brush to a vast and very varied continent, Dowden explains in the book that his audience is not the Africa veteran; rather, it is the dismissive European who, like that stupid "The Economist" cover, thinks of Africa as a place beyond redemption.
This was a very difficult balancing act to perform and I congratulate Mr Dowden on having done a marvellous job. Now what he must do is a Winston Churchill: break it all up and write every last detail, there's a good chap, Richard!
Dowden has redeemed himself by writing this excellent book. It does not pretend to be anything more than an introduction to a continent in which he has spent much time and knows intimately. Conscious of being accused of taking too broad a brush to a vast and very varied continent, Dowden explains in the book that his audience is not the Africa veteran; rather, it is the dismissive European who, like that stupid "The Economist" cover, thinks of Africa as a place beyond redemption.
This was a very difficult balancing act to perform and I congratulate Mr Dowden on having done a marvellous job. Now what he must do is a Winston Churchill: break it all up and write every last detail, there's a good chap, Richard!
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Neutral
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
This book was a pleasure to read. It's informative, personal - yet detatched - observant, critical and, above all, written by someone who understands and has a passion for Africa, its traditions, strengths and its weaknesses. Fifty years ago it was fashionable to write off the collapse of democracy in Africa as a developmental stage in the politics of nationalism. Dowden does not fall for such a naive account. What he makes clear is that "Africa's nation states were formed by foreigners, lines drawn by Europeans on maps they had often never been to." The result is that all but two of Africa's nations combine several ethnic groups and some such as "Nigeria and Congo are home to hundreds of different socities with their own laws and languages." Conflict was written into twentieth century African nation-states from the outset.
Dowden restricts his coverage to Africa south of the Sahara which in geographical terms is diverse and includes deserts, scrublands and tropical forests. Old cultures lie at the heart of African society. These cultures are not the vestige of religion or the neurosis of insecurity or poverty but a belief that the spirit world can be successfully invoked to deal with the present. This leads to "weak communal solidarity" and facilitates forays into brutality such as the genocide in Rwanda where the Tutsis and Hutus fought a civil war on ethnic lines. The Tutsi's who make up 13% of the population are in power and will do everything they can to remain there.
What is also clear is that many western states and organisations, including the IMF, propped up despotic regimes for their own policy ends with scant regard to the principles of democracy and freedom.... Read more ›
Dowden restricts his coverage to Africa south of the Sahara which in geographical terms is diverse and includes deserts, scrublands and tropical forests. Old cultures lie at the heart of African society. These cultures are not the vestige of religion or the neurosis of insecurity or poverty but a belief that the spirit world can be successfully invoked to deal with the present. This leads to "weak communal solidarity" and facilitates forays into brutality such as the genocide in Rwanda where the Tutsis and Hutus fought a civil war on ethnic lines. The Tutsi's who make up 13% of the population are in power and will do everything they can to remain there.
What is also clear is that many western states and organisations, including the IMF, propped up despotic regimes for their own policy ends with scant regard to the principles of democracy and freedom.... Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Learnt so much!
Having grown up in South Africa I was shielded from a lot of the reality of what was going on in Africa. This book has made me want to read more about the history of the continent.
Published 8 days ago by Alan Mcgilvray
1.0 out of 5 stars
a masterpiece?
I'm puzzled by this book's reception. It has some excellent reviews from critics and Amazon and I thought it began well. But I soon got really irritated by it. Read more
Published 23 days ago by Charles Clifford
5.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting
This book introduces you to Africa in a way very few books can! It is a 'tour de force', taking you through sub-Saharan Africa, almost on a country-by-country basis. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Faleti, A.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Encapsulates African beliefs, culture, ills, and the damage caused by...
From one author to another, I gasped at the thickness of the book, but once I started could not put it down. This book summarises Africa truthfully. Read more
Published 3 months ago by CM
5.0 out of 5 stars
My Dad loves this book
This is a well written book and has a great intro. My Dad is married to a ugandan lady so requested this book for his birthday. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Laura
1.0 out of 5 stars
Short on accurate details
Entertaining coffee table book, I must say. Being an African myself I found much of it lacking in proper detail, dates were wrong, political and military detail, especially for... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Babgess
3.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent read.
This is an excellent read, well written and filled with great insight. However, the book should be subtitled; 'The wars I've visited'. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Andrew Campbell
5.0 out of 5 stars
Original, well written, refreshing.
Why 5 stars?
1. Because it is one of those rare books on Africa that portrays its peoples with empathy and understanding. Read more
1. Because it is one of those rare books on Africa that portrays its peoples with empathy and understanding. Read more
Published 22 months ago by gwaan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very good read
This book equals Meredith's 'The State of Africa' as a very well written account of areas of African history in an easily accessible writing style. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Aftiti
3.0 out of 5 stars
Exposure!
A revealing account of the political sleaze in Africa. Richard Dowden attempts to show how the political and economic chaos has panned out as a consequence of the actions and... Read more
Published 23 months ago by JAM
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