Africa is not a country : notes on a bright continent
Dipo Faloyin (Author)
"An exuberant, opinionated, stereotype-busting view of contemporary Africa in all its splendid diversity by one of its leading new writers. A lively and diverse continent of fifty-four countries, over two thousand languages, and 1.4 billion people, Africa has long been painted with a broad brush in Western literature, media, and culture, flattening it into a monolith. In Africa is Not a Country, the acclaimed journalist Dipo Faloyin boldly counters the stereotypes and highlights the realities of Africa's communities and histories. Starting with the complex urban life of Lagos, the largest city on the continent, Faloyin then traces the history of modern Africa, revealing how arbitrary boundaries drawn by colonizers led to tribal and cultural clashes, before telling the story of democracy in 10 dictatorships. He unravels the perils and ubiquity of the "white savior complex," explores the rivalries at the heart of the African Cup of Nations tournament, and joins the heated debate over which West African country makes the best jollof rice. And with an eye towards the future promise and potential of the continent, he speaks with local activists, artists, and writers who are defining Africa on their own terms. Witty and insightful, Africa is Not a Country is an idiosyncratic and entertaining exploration of a diverse continent that deserves to finally be understood, respected, and celebrated"-- Provided by publisher
Print Book, English, 2022
First American edition View all formats and editions
W.W. Norton & Company, New York, NY, 2022
380 pages ; 22 cm
9780393881530, 0393881539
1315574543
Identities
Part One: Lagos
Part Two: By the Power Vested in Me, I Now Pronounce You a Country
Part Three: The Birth of White Saviour Imagery or How Not to Be a White Saviour While Still Making a Difference
Part Four: The Story of Democracy in Seven Dictatorships
Part Five: There Is No Such Thing as an African Accent and Binyavanga Wainaina Is Still Right
Part Six: The Case of the Stolen Artefacts
Part Seven: Jollof Wars: A Love Story
Part Eight: What's Next?
"First published in the United Kingdom by Harvill Secker, an imprint of Vintage, a part of Penguin Random House UK under the title Africa is not a country: breaking stereotypes of modern Africa."