Book Reviews

The African Studies Companion: A Resource Guide and Directory. By Hans M. Zell and Cecile Lomer. 2nd rev. ed. London: Hans Zell Publishers, 1997. xvi, 276 p. ISBN 1–873836–41–4.

Hans Zell Publishers is well–known and admired for its output of directories and bibliographies on Africa and on African publishing. This reference tool, first published in 1989 and now considerably expanded and updated, brings together, in one handy volume, quick and easy access to a broad range of information, from major reference sources, current bibliographies, and journals, to libraries, publishers, dealers, donors, prizes, and abbreviations. It is exactly what it says it is: a desktop companion for African Studies scholars, teachers, and students; and, indeed, anyone else involved in any aspect of African Studies. Purpose, scope, limitations, and exclusions are clearly identified in the main introduction and the introduction to each section. An index to authors (or editors), corporate bodies, and titles provides some alternative ways of access. Layout is clear and precision formidable.

For those using the Companion, it is currency and coverage which will be of key importance. Revisions and updates for the new edition have been substantial. Fax numbers, e–mail addresses, and websites are included. The number of entries has increased by about a third. Within the reference sources, superseded titles have been dropped and new titles and new editions added. The revision to Section 1, the list of major general reference sources, is based on the annual listings that have appeared in The African Book Publishing Record. The information on journals, libraries, publishers, African Studies associations, donors, and awards and prizes has been updated through questionnaires. Entries where information has not been updated or verified are flagged accordingly. So, yes, the information is as current as it can be and substantially adds to what is in the first edition.

The extent to which coverage is comprehensive and the way in which items are evaluated also adds value to a handbook such as this. Within its defined aim of identifying general and current sources of information, mostly in English, I could find no serious omissions. The handbook does succeed in bringing together information which could otherwise be found only by consulting a number of separate sources. That in itself is useful. The annotations are descriptive rather than critical. But they place each item, whether it is a book or an organization, within the context of African Studies. And alternative or additional sources of further information are always indicated, through extensive cross–referencing.

It goes without saying, that a work of this kind must reflect the interests and judgement of its compilers. And in two sections, I did find the items selected for inclusion a little idiosyncratic. It is acknowledged that the list of African–published journals is very selective. But of the twenty–five cited, twelve are from South Africa and Zimbabwe. Why these particular titles and countries were chosen is not obvious to me. Why Moto from Zimbabwe and not Wajibu from Kenya? (Both cover topical issues from a religious standpoint.) And why Journal of Humanities from Malawi and not Legon Journal of Humanities from Ghana (a country which is not represented at all)? The journals listed are, by their very inclusion, given a weight and prominence against those which are excluded. And I wonder if this is justified.

The section which identifies foundations, donor agencies, and network organizations in African Studies or active in Africa (my emphasis) also has some omissions. Christian Aid is not there. Nor is ActionAid. Yet both are very active in Africa. Senegal is the only country in Africa to have such organizations listed. Yet, for example, the Leventis foundation in Nigeria has supported many projects concerned with African Studies.

The compilers made the decision not to include libraries in Africa, referring the user to another directory. Yet to add this information to that of libraries sited in the rest of the world would have completed the picture. African university libraries, in particular, are strong in local collections. Perhaps consideration could be given to this in the next edition.

It is frequently prophesied that the bound reference book will soon become a thing of the past, to be found only in the libraries and homes of the most die–hard Luddites. Instead, information seekers will gather their facts by means of the new technologies and the escalating Internet. The new edition of the Companion has met this challenge. It includes references to five guides to sources on the Internet. Itemized are some electronic publications available only on the Internet, and where print material is also accessible through the Internet, this is indicated together with the URL. But one can only conclude that as far as African Studies are concerned the electronic future is still some years away. Although the majority of libraries, publishers, and organizations have websites, very few of the major reference sources, current bibliographies, and journals are either available electronically or have electronic alternatives.

However, I am left wondering whether this aspect of African Studies has been researched as thoroughly as is needed. Many more of the journals have electronic versions than is indicated. Information on CD–ROMs is especially lacking. The two NISC discs, one on African Studies (an anthology of databases including the catalogue of the African Institute and SOAS, SARDIUS, etc.) and the other on South African Studies (containing the Index to South African Periodicals, the Index to South African Theses and Dissertations, etc.) receive mention only en passant and are not given entries in their own right. A lot more of what is available both on the Internet and on CD–ROM could be included in the Companion and in detail. For example, a section giving details on the major Africa–related listserve discussion groups would complement the section on current bibliographies and continuing sources. They are certainly a way of keeping up to date with the most recent developments. In fact, I can envisage a future electronic version of the Companion itself, a version in which citations are linked to the actual items, and references to organizations and associations are linked to their home pages.

For those concerned with African Studies this work is without doubt indispensable. It is a veritable mine of information. However I would go further and recommend its acquisition by general libraries. There it will prove invaluable both m deciding which of the many reference works on Africa to stock and as a source for tracing information on Africa.

About the author

Diana Rosenberg is Head, Special Programmes, International African Studies, London, England