The State of Africa: A History Of Fifty Years Of Independence (also published under the title The Fate of Africa: From the Hopes of Freedom to the Heart of Despair; republished in 2011 as The State of Africa: A History Of The Continent Since Independence) is a 2005 book by British writer Martin Meredith.
The State of Africa: A History Of Fifty Years Of Independence
The book is an in-depth investigation into the history of Africa since European decolonisation. Meredith examines the many challenges much of Africa has faced including civil conflict and lawlessness, government corruption and dictatorships. Africa is described as a continent where "bad-news stories (famine, genocide, corruption) massively outweigh the good (South Africa)."
ReceptionEdit
Australian The Age newspaper writer Pamela Bone wrote that in "this big, exhaustive history Martin Meredith leaves us in little doubt as to what he believes is the primary cause of Africa's pain: its corrupt, tyrannical, incompetent, thieving, "vampire-like" leaders... It documents, country by country, decade by decade, a depressing litany of wars, revolutions, dictatorships, famines, genocide, coups and economic collapse".[1] While Bone wrote that the book is an "impressive history, well told" she criticised the fact that "the book misses the spirit of Africa, the joyfulness and strength of the people, which persists despite their appalling hardships, and which gives hope".
Writing in The Independent, Alex Duval Smith described The State of Africa as a "dispassionate analysis" that "does more than perhaps he (Meredith) realises to set the past 50 African years in a continuum"[2]
Chris Nkwatsibwe, a human rights activist from Uganda praised the book. Nkwatsibwe wrote that "Meredith works with the colossal spatial and temporal span of this subject with ease, weaving chapters together in a loose chronological order to present the narrative as a patchwork quilt of Africa, rather than as a rigid country-by-country timeline".[3]
^"The state of Africa - Reviews - Books - Entertainment". theage.com.au. Retrieved 2017-08-15.
^"The State of Africa by Martin Meredith". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-06-18. Retrieved 2017-08-15.
^"A Brief Review of 'The State of Africa' – Martin Meredith | Young Leaders Forum". ylf-eastafrica.org. Retrieved 2017-08-15.
August 25, 2023
state, africa, history, fifty, years, independence, also, published, under, title, fate, africa, from, hopes, freedom, heart, despair, republished, 2011, history, continent, since, independence, 2005, book, british, writer, martin, meredith, history, fifty, ye. The State of Africa A History Of Fifty Years Of Independence also published under the title The Fate of Africa From the Hopes of Freedom to the Heart of Despair republished in 2011 as The State of Africa A History Of The Continent Since Independence is a 2005 book by British writer Martin Meredith The State of Africa A History Of Fifty Years Of IndependenceAuthorMartin MeredithCountryUnited KingdomLanguageEnglishSubjectHistory of Africa Politics of AfricaPublishedLondonPublisherFree Press Simon amp SchusterPublication date2005Pages752ISBN9780743232210OCLC607697514Dewey Decimal960 32 Contents 1 Background and synopsis 2 Reception 3 See also 4 ReferencesBackground and synopsis EditThe book is an in depth investigation into the history of Africa since European decolonisation Meredith examines the many challenges much of Africa has faced including civil conflict and lawlessness government corruption and dictatorships Africa is described as a continent where bad news stories famine genocide corruption massively outweigh the good South Africa Reception EditAustralian The Age newspaper writer Pamela Bone wrote that in this big exhaustive history Martin Meredith leaves us in little doubt as to what he believes is the primary cause of Africa s pain its corrupt tyrannical incompetent thieving vampire like leaders It documents country by country decade by decade a depressing litany of wars revolutions dictatorships famines genocide coups and economic collapse 1 While Bone wrote that the book is an impressive history well told she criticised the fact that the book misses the spirit of Africa the joyfulness and strength of the people which persists despite their appalling hardships and which gives hope Writing in The Independent Alex Duval Smith described The State of Africa as a dispassionate analysis that does more than perhaps he Meredith realises to set the past 50 African years in a continuum 2 Chris Nkwatsibwe a human rights activist from Uganda praised the book Nkwatsibwe wrote that Meredith works with the colossal spatial and temporal span of this subject with ease weaving chapters together in a loose chronological order to present the narrative as a patchwork quilt of Africa rather than as a rigid country by country timeline 3 See also EditElephant Destiny another book by the same authorReferences Edit The state of Africa Reviews Books Entertainment theage com au Retrieved 2017 08 15 The State of Africa by Martin Meredith The Independent Archived from the original on 2022 06 18 Retrieved 2017 08 15 A Brief Review of The State of Africa Martin Meredith Young Leaders Forum ylf eastafrica org Retrieved 2017 08 15 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The State of Africa amp oldid 1099257098, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
