150-WORD BOOK REVIEW: The History of Africa – Molefi Kete Astante

africaThis is not an easy book to read. Coming in at 400 pages and with very concentrated text on each page, this took me more than three weeks to read. Astante knows his history, but his writing style is stodgy.

Was it worth it? Mmmm, just about. The very density of the copy made it feel like a chore, like reading a history exercise book during the most distracting times of teenage education.

It is, however, a respectable effort in communicating 35 million years of history, from the formation of the Rift Valley to the death of Nelson Mandela.

The takeaways for me were the times of the Mali empire and the evolution of Egypt, or Kemet as it should rightfully be called. I also scribbled down some names of great African writers that I have yet to read, so for that I’m thankful. As for the history of Africa, I am now better-informed, but it took a lot of time and effort.

Five million Sahel children face starvation

sahel_crisisAction Against Hunger UK/ACF International is calling for urgent support for the 15 million people facing food insecurity in the Sahel region.

According to the latest regional analysis, 15 million people in six countries of the Sahel region are currently food insecure, with just under four million requiring immediate assistance. These countries include the Gambia, Senegal, southern Mauritania, central Mali, Burkina Faso, southern Algeria and Niger as well as northern Nigeria and Cameroon, central Chad, southern Sudan, and northern South Sudan. Continue reading