Fourth Congress of the Association of African Historians

The Africa Review of Books  

The Africa Review of Books (ARB) is a publication of the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA). It is managed by the Forum for Social Studies of Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) in collaboration with the Centre for Research in Social and Cultural Anthropology based in Oran (Algeria).  

Objective 

ARB arose out of the need to provide a multidisciplinary forum for the critical discussion of African books and African issues. It is intended to bring to the attention of a wider audience books published by young and promising scholars as well as seminal works by established academics and writers. It proposes to give prominence to the African voice that has been barely audible in the discussion of books on Africa and to dispel the Afro-pessimism that has become prevalent in some Western circles.  

Above all, it aspires to bring to the attention of a wider reading audience works that are published in Africa but are not sufficiently disseminated. It is hoped that the Review will serve not only as a gauge of trends in the study of Africa but also as a pace-setter for an all-round improvement in standards and quality. 

Scope and Format 

With a view to transcending traditional disciplinary boundaries, ARB features reviews and essays on art, literature, theatre, film and the media, as well as on the standard disciplines in the social sciences broadly defined. ARB solicits and accepts reviews, review articles and essays on African issues of crucial importance. 

Emulating the well-established Reviews, ARB appears in tabloid format. While the main mode of distribution will be in print, an electronic version of each issue will be posted on the CODESRIA website www.codesria.org.

Frequency 

Initially, ARB is designed as a biannual publication. It is hoped that eventually it will be issued on a quarterly basis. 

Editorial Team 

As a bi-lingual review (English and French), ARB has two editorial groups: contributions in French are edited by a team based at the Centre for Research in Social and Cultural Anthropology, whereas the Forum for Social Studies, which provides overall editorial leadership, has designated a team for editing English contributions.  Their work is monitored by an International Advisory Board, which is composed of high-profile African academics and writers. 

Endorsements 

The appearance of ARB has been an event eagerly awaited by the CODESRIA constituency as well as all those who are committed to the advancement of African studies. Following is a sample of the endorsements given on the occasion of the publication of the maiden issue of ARB:

UNESCO welcomes CODESRIA's new initiative, the Africa Review of Books. …As a mirror of African science and culture and as an instrument serving African solidarity, union and integration, this publication looks set to become a lively forum of dialogue among Africans as well as between Africans and the rest of the world.

Koïchiro Matsuura

Director General, UNESCO

At its best a Review of Books is a procession of great ideas in print, a stream of literary thought. CODESRIA is to be congratulated on a major initiative.

Ali A. Mazrui

Albert Schweitzer Professor in the Humanities

Director, Institute of Global Cultural Studies

State University of New York, Binghamton

 Le projet de publication d’une Revue africaine de Livres …est une initiative dont je voudrais saluer l’opportunité et l’utilité dans l’histoire de la publication universitaire. Offrir aux lecteurs de toutes origines le privilège de disposer de comptes-rendus critiques de livres écrits sur l’Afrique, ainsi qu’un espace de débats multidisciplinaires, ambition ne peut être plus noble pour combler l’important déficit en matière de production et de diffusion de la connaissance africaine.

Professor Abdel Kader BOYE

Recteur, Président de l'Assemblée de L'Université Cheikh Anta DIOP de Dakar

The appearance of the Africa Review of Books will represent an important milestone in our collective efforts to advance the process of acquiring sovereignty in the production and reproduction of knowledge in Africa. It will strengthen our ability to effectively focus on literature generated in Africa, dealing with Africa with primarily an African audience in mind. 

Professor Kwesi Prah

Director, The Centre for Advanced Studies of African Society (CASAS)

Cape Town, South Africa

For more information on the Africa Review of Books,

please contact the editorial team at the following address:

Africa Review of Books

Forum for Social Studies

P.O. Box 25864 code 1000

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Tel: 251-1-572990/91

Fax: 251-1-572979

E-mail: arb.fss@telecom.net.et

Subscription and advertising enquiries are to be directed to:

Publications & Communication Department

CODESRIA

Avenue Cheikh Anta Diop

X Canal IV, BP3304, CP18524

Dakar, Senegal

Tel: 221-8259814

Fax: 221-8640143

E-mail: codesria@codesria.sn

Website: www.codesria.org

ARB Annual Subscription Rates:  Africa – Individual $10, Institutional $15;

                                                                           Rest of the World – Individual $15, Institutional $20.

Advertising Rates (in USD)