This collection of essays bring historical perspectives to the present
and future of Africa. The contributors argue that at the time when the
'nation state' is in crisis after some forty decades of factitious
sovereignty, the challenge remains to renew the pan-African ideal,
beginning with the rediscovery of historical consciousness. They
conclude that aspirations for regional integration must be reconciled
with a unified continental assembly; and that pan-Africanism must be
reactivated as a political project to promote viable economic
development and an African renaissance. Thieno Bah is Professor of
History at the University of Yaounde, Cameroon. He has written several
books on military history. He is a founder member of the Association of
African Historians, and was editor of the journal Afrika Zamani
(Codesria) from 1975 until 2001. Other contributors are Abdoulaye Gueye,
Antoine Tine and Kalilo Sylla. (In French.)