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Book Review
by Jerry W. Bird

Related Links
Great Cities of Africa
World Urban Forum. UN

 

It is timely that I am writing this review the same month as Africa Travel Magazine launches the most important, in-depth, photo-illustrated series of editions and supplements in its 12 year history as worldwide voice of the Africa Travel Association. Our topic is "The Great Cities of Africa: Capitals of Culture and Gateways to Sustainable Tourism." Many of our conclusions are in line with what author David Fick has discovered and relates to in his outstanding 500-page book, Africa: Continent of Economic Opportunity. Mr. Fick states the key elements of his presentation as follows:

"Africa: Continent of Economic Opportunity is meant to tell the story of people and their communities that are successful in developing Africa. It is meant to get across the idea that all ethnic groups native (Africans, Europeans, Arabs, Asians and Americans) can be successful in Africa, which like the Americas, welcomes immigrants and prospers through their efforts. All citizens of Africa will benefit and all can become successful in Africa if they have the imagination, education and persistence. It also will tell how these people give back to the communities that they live in. It will advocate that African countries do more business with each other by means of regional groupings."

How precisely on target the preceding statement is! Each case history throughout the book is backed by positive, achievable results by numerous successful entrepreneurs and enterprises. We saw dozens of individual and family operated businesses - from carvers and kente cloth weavers to furniture makers and palm oil producers - in mile after mile of roadside commerce during our most recent tour of Ghana, and have had similar experiences throughout the continent. These hands-on efforts are creating jobs in 53 African countries, with the end result of improving the quality of life in hundreds of communities.

Further examples from our review of this exciting, thought-provoking book will appear soon, so please return to this web page. If you wish to provide some personal input, send an e-mail to
africa@dowco.com

Table of Contents:

Introduction

I.   African Continent 

  1.     Economic and Political Policies

  2.     Challenges and Opportunities

II.   West Africa

  3.    Ghana

  4.    Nigeria

  5.    The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Guinea-Bissau, and Cape Verde.

III. Southern Africa

  6.    Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, and Swaziland 

  7.    Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Comoros, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe

  8.    South Africa: Mining, Agriculture, Construction, Transport and Tourism

  9.    South Africa: Business, Manufacturing, African Arts & Crafts, Health, Education, and Media

 10.   South Africa: Investors, Bankers and Exchanges

IV.   East Africa

  11.   Horn of Africa: Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, and Somalia

  12.   Kenya

  13.   Tanzania

  14.   Uganda

V.   Central Africa

  15.   Congo, Gabon, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, and

São Tomé and Principé

  16.   DRCongo, Rwanda, and Burundi

  17.   Angola, Zambia, and Malawi

VI.   North Africa

  18.   Egypt and Sudan

  19.   Arab Maghreb Union: Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya

VII. Africa's Future

  20.  Commentary and Conclusions

Index

This information was from David Fick, author of books concerning successful entrepreneurs creating jobs in Africa and improving the quality of life in their African communities:

Entrepreneurship in Africa, A Study of Successes (Quorum Books, March 2002)

Africa: Continent of Economic Opportunity (STE Publishers, Johannesburg, South Africa, November 2006

African Entrepreneurs in the 21st Century (being researched for 2008 publication).

For delivery in the United States at US$65 total by check, shipping included, please contact the author, David S. Fick. Address: 8012 West 114 Terrace, Overland Park, Kansas, 66210-1819, United States,Tel: 913 451 5850, E-Mail: whlgeagle@aol.com Book Description on Website: www.ste.co.za.  

For delivery in Africa or Europe please contact publisher bksales@ste.co.za

The above book cover art is a reproduction of an original batik painting titled "African Connection" by Nuwa Nnyanzi of Uganda (www.nnyanziart.com)