Mode of Production Analysis and Historical Production

A striking feature of Gambian society is its tripartite social structure composed of nobles, artisans and descendants of former slaves. Among the artisans, the role of the finoo, or Islamic bard, is by far the least understood. While there is hardly any documentation on finoos, indications are that they have specialized in the Islamic traditions. This article records the life story of Mariama Fatty, a successful Gambian female finoo. In addition to sketching a portrait of her profession, it provides an account of a Muslim woman’s involvement in Islamic practices, her engagement in the propagation of Islam, and her understanding of proper Muslim womanhood. By focusing on the female finoo’s manoeuvring between her cultural obligations and her religious tenets, it emerges that she exercises her profession in what is not so much a contradiction as a dialectic between submission and religious empowerment.     

The Evolving Role of the Africa Scholar in African Studies

This paper explores – through a geo-political perspective – the changes and continuities in South African foreign policy over the period 1990–2010, focusing on the themes of military relations, migration, democratization, and pan-Africanism. The demise of apartheid led to significant changes in South Africa's relations with southern Africa and the rest of Africa, including: transition of South Africa from pariah state to a key leader of the continent; an end to South Africa's destabilization of its immediate neighbours; transition toward more humane treatment of migrants; and transition toward a commitment to democracy promotion in Africa. Yet, continuities among the apartheid and post-apartheid eras persist, including: the persistence of nationalism and realism as guiding principles; ongoing economic and political constraints imposed by neighbouring countries; the persistence of socio-cultural divisions amongst South African and migrant workers; and overall ambivalence about pan-African identity and policies.     

Myron Echenberg and African Studies in Canada

Myron Echenberg's scholarship resides on the frontier of both African Studies in Canada and historical research in general. He has helped not only to establish African history as a valid field for historical study but also to transform the parameters of history as a discipline, both the opening up of the study of non-Western societies and the increasing focus on newer kinds of history. He made his mark with a prize-winning study of the social history of African soldiers in the French army; and he spent the latter part of his career doing original work on medical history. The profound influence of his work is celebrated in this special issue. Three of the contributions to this issue, all dealing with medical history, are by Echenberg's former graduate students; two contributions are by close colleagues. In both his teaching and his writing, Echenberg has contributed to an understanding of the social issues of our time; but perhaps more important, he has through his teaching and his mentoring very much enriched the educational experience and well-being of his students and his colleagues.     

全球化进程中的非洲经济

当今的全球化不仅涉及经济,而且涉及政治、军事和文化等方面,本文重点仅就全球化过程中的非洲经济发展的若干问题进行初探。 经济全球化无论对发达国家还是对发展中国家均具有两重性。它是一炳双刃剑,对二者都既有利也有弊,给二者均带来了风险和威胁。其不同之处在于,发达国家的垄断财团和跨国公同在这一过程中长期处于绝对优势,它们获得的利远远大于弊,并且几乎控制或影响着全球化的整个过程,捞取了数以百亿千亿美元的巨额利润。它们面临的风险和威     

触摸非洲雕刻的脉搏

当飞机快到苏丹的首都喀土穆时,从空中望下去视野之内极少绿色.这里的大地、楼房的颜色都像还没有出炉的砖似的颜色,土色中夹杂着红色与黑色.整座城市除沿尼罗河两岸是绿色以外,几乎满是黄沙,因这是撒哈拉沙漠边缘的缘故.一踏上非洲这片土地,一股干而热的风就迎面扑来,仿佛进入了一个大浴池一般.刚到的几天还有些新鲜感,但日子久了就感到十分地平淡,觉得在这里已经没有什么事值得我惊奇得大呼小叫的.日子就这么一天天平淡地过去,直到有一天……