African Genius
1st Edition
Published on 1. January 2005
384 pages
978-0-8214-4565-5 (ISBN)
Description
The African Genius presents the ideas, social systems, religions, moral values, arts, and metaphysics of a range of African peoples. Basil Davidson points toward the Africa that might emerge from an ancient civilization that was overlaid and battered by colonialism, then torn apart by the upheaval of colonialism's dismantlement. Davidson disputes the notion that Africa gained under colonialism by entering the modern world. He sees, instead, an ancient order replaced by modern dysfunction. Davidson's depiction of the sophisticated "native genius" that has carried Africans through centuries of change is vital to an understanding of modern Africa as well.
Reviews / Votes
"Where would the field of African history be without Basil Davidson?...Davidson's book is an excellent overview of the many strands and themes of African history." (H-NET Book Review)More details
Edition
New Paperback Edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Athens
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Edition type
New edition
File size
9,38 MB
ISBN-13
978-0-8214-4565-5 (9780821445655)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Basil Davidson
The African Genius
Book
01/2005
Univ of Chicago on Behalf of Ohio Univ Press
€29.00
No shipping information available
Person
Basil Davidson is an honorary fellow of the School of Oriental and African Studies, London. He is the author or editor of some twenty-seven books on Africa.
Content
- Intro
- Frontispiece
- Series Page
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Dedication
- Epigraph
- Contents
- Author's Note
- Illustrations
- Prologue. A Scattered Wisdom
- Part One. Africa's World
- 1. 'Just plain nonsense . . .' and after
- 2. Formative Origins
- 3. The Physical Problem
- 4. Unity and Variation
- Part Two. Social Charters
- 5. Founding Ancestors
- 6. The Balance with Nature
- 7. A Moral Order
- 8. Elaborations I: Age Sets
- 9. Elaborations II: Secret Societies
- Part Three. Structures of Belief
- 10. A Science of Social Control
- 11. Of Witches and Sorcerers
- 12. Upside-Down People
- 13. Explanation and Prediction
- 14. The Danger Within
- 15. Useful Magic
- 16. Answers to Anxiety
- 17. Art for Life's Sake
- 18. The Dynamics of Reality
- Part Four. Mechanisms of Change
- 19. From Elders to Kings
- 20. The Nature of Kingship
- 21. Conquest and Clientage
- 22. Trade and Islam
- 23. Power, Rank and Privilege
- 24. The Crisis Opens
- Part Five. The Deluge and Today
- 25. From a Guerrilla Diary
- 26. The Great Transition
- 27. The Kings Resist
- 28. Twilight of the Old Gods
- 29. New Redeemers
- 30. The Modern Context
- 31. The Masses React
- Epilogue. African Destinies
- Acknowledgements
- Notes and References
- Select Bibliography
- Index
