This eight-hour series covering Africa from ancient times to the present should not be confused with the recent PBS broadcast series The Africans. Writer/narrator Basil Davidson is a personable and totally enthusiastic host as he unveils the depth and richness of African history and culture. In addition to a wide variety of contemporary locations and interviews, the documentary uses primary sources, art, film clips, and dramatized reconstructions to cover every part of the African continent in thorough detail. Beginning with Nubian civilization in the first program, successive episodes feature medieval trade routes, the political organization of kingdoms such as Kano in Nigeria, early European exploration, the slave trade, the 19th century "scramble" for African colonies, and the post--World War II struggle for independence. The final segment examines the problems of modern Africa. The failures of parliamentary government, internal conflicts, poor balance of trade, and catastrophic damage to the ecological system seem at first glance to be insurmountable problems. Davidson, however, sees hope in the rich un developed areas. (Mozambique's program of self-development and people power is showcased as a possible solution for some of Africa's difficulties.) Two themes are predominant throughout the series. First, in classical and medieval attitudes, blacks and whites were seen as different in history and appearance, but equal in human terms. The slave trade and colonization led to a distorted view of blacks as uncivilized, depraved, and inferior. Second, Davidson, a British historian, is highly critical of European interventions on the African continent. The aims of colonization were to extract wealth, seize land, and treat native peoples as inferior beings. According to Davidson, even missionaries brought little good to the people. Reasonably priced, this series is a gem for public and academic library collections. Highly recommended. Available from: Home Vision, 5547 North Ravenswood Ave., Chicago, IL 60640; 1-800-826- 3456. (Carolyn Ferguson )
Africa: A Voyage of Discovery
(1984) Home Vision, 456 min., in English, not rated, DVD:
Africa
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