Enige land se geskiedenis lewer figure op waarvan die grootsheid nie deur tyd en vergetelheid gestroop kan word nie. In die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks is Marthinus Theunis Steyn so ’n figuur: ’n man wat hom selfloos aan sy volk gewy het en bereid was om alles vir sy mense se vryheid op te offer. Die leser word op boeiende wyse betrek by Marthinus Theunis Steyn se kleurvolle lewensverhaal: hoe hy nooit sy herkoms as Vrystaatse plaasseun verraai het nie en selfs as president in voeling met die eenvoudigste Boere gebly het; hoe hy sy uitmergelende siekte met volharding bly beveg het en hoe sy geloof in God en sy liefde vir sy gesin en sy erfgrond hom in tye van beproewing staande gehou het.

The Epic of Sumanguru Kante contains the Bamana text and English translation of griot Abdoulaye Sako's oral narrative of the life of Sumanguru, recorded in 1997 in Koulikoro (Mali), together with explanatory notes, a scholarly introduction, and sections on the Bamana language and musical accompaniment. Sumanguru is a familiar figure within Manding epic oral traditions about ancient Mali. But while these narratives generally focus on Sunjata Keita, Sako's oral poem is rare in according Sumanguru the central role. In so doing he includes hitherto undocumented episodes relating to Sumanguru's life and role as the ruler of Soso, the little known state said to have flourished in the western Sudan between the fall of ancient Ghana and rise of ancient Mali.

To understand the current situation in Egypt it is necessary to see it in a broader historical perspective and examine the evolution of Egypt since Nasser's 1952 revolution. No one is better placed to offer this perspective than Aly El-Samman, previously a close advisor to Anwar Sadat and now a promoter of intergenerational dialogue to the young pioneers of today's revolution. In Egypt from One Revolution to Another, El-Samman offers a rigorous and vivid analysis of these last sixty years of Egyptian history. His memoir, rich in revelations and anecdotes, gives us a rare insight into the thinking of some of the most famous figures of the 20th century, including the leaders of the existentialist movement in France. But, more importantly, it sets out a real strategy of peace for the shores of Mediterranean Sea and far beyond.

For more than forty years Angola has faced conflict. From 1961-1975, there was the struggle for independence from Portuguese rule. This was followed by a period of civil war which, in one form or another, extended until 2001, when the UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi was killed in an ambush. This led to a cease-fire, armistice and peace. As a result of these 40 years of war the country has suffered a terrible legacy of unexploded mines and other weapons. Photographer Sean Sutton, who works alongside MAG (Mines Advisory Group) has recorded the impact that this has had on the country and its people, as well the work of those clearing the mines. MAG has been working in Angola for more than 10 years, clearing tens of thousands of landmines and items of unexploded ordnance. The book is introduced by Heather Mills who is a patron of MAG and has campaigned vigorously on the issue of landmines. There is also a text by the renowned photojournalist Tim Page whose photographs during the Vietnam War were published worldwide. Page is the subject of many documentaries, two films and the author of nine books. Lou McGrath, Director of MAG, contributes a further text contextualising the work of landmine clearance.

On 8 January 2012 the African National Congress (ANC) of South Africa, the oldest African nationalist organisation on the continent, celebrated its one hundredth anniversary. This historic event has generated significant public debate within both the ANC and South African society at large. There is no better time to critically reflect on the ANC's historical trajectory and struggle against colonialism and apartheid than in its centennial year. One Hundred Years of the ANC is a collection of new work by renowned South African and international scholars. Covering a broad chronological and geographical spectrum and using a diverse range of sources, the contributors build upon but also extend the historiography of the ANC by tapping into marginal spaces in ANC history. By moving away from the celebratory mode that has characterised much of the contemporary discussions on the centenary, the contributors suggest that the relationship between the histories of earlier struggles and the present needs to be rethought in more complex terms. Collectively, the book chapters challenge hegemonic narratives that have become an established part of South Africa's national discourse since 1994. By opening up debate around controversial or obscured aspects of the ANC's century-long history, One hundred years of the ANC sets out an agenda for future research. The book is directed at a wide readership with an interest in understanding the historical roots of South Africa's current politics will find this volume informative. This book is based on a selection of papers presented at the One Hundred Years of the ANC: Debating Liberation Histories and Democracy Today Conference held at the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg from 20-23 September 2011.

The Africa Yearbook covers major domestic political developments, the foreign policy and socio-economic trends in sub-Sahara Africa - all related to developments in one calendar year. The Yearbook contains articles on all sub-Saharan states, each of the four sub-regions (West, Central, Eastern, Southern Africa) focusing on major cross-border developments and sub-regional organizations as well as one article on continental developments and one on African-European relations. While the articles have thorough academic quality, the Yearbook is mainly oriented to the requirements of a large range of target groups: students, politicians, diplomats, administrators, journalists, teachers, practitioners in the field of development aid as well as business people.

Africa Reimagined is a passionately argued appeal for a rediscovery of our African identity. Going beyond the problems of a single country, Hlumelo Biko calls for a reorientation of values, on a continental scale, to suit the needs and priorities of Africans. Building on the premise that slavery, colonialism, imperialism and apartheid fundamentally unbalanced the values and indeed the very self-concept of Africans, he offers realistic steps to return to a more balanced Afro-centric identity.

Historically, African values were shaped by a sense of abundance, in material and mental terms, and by strong ties of community. The intrusion of religious, economic and legal systems imposed by conquerors, traders and missionaries upset this balance, and the African identity was subsumed by the values of the newcomers. Biko shows how a reimagining of Africa can restore the sense of abundance and possibility, and what a rebirth of the continent on Pan-African lines might look like. This is not about the churn of the news cycle or party politics – although he identifies the political party as one of the most pernicious legacies of colonialism. Instead, drawing on latest research, he offers a practical, pragmatic vision anchored in the here and now.

By looking beyond identities and values imposed from outside, and transcending the divisions and frontiers imposed under colonialism, it should be possible for Africans to develop fully their skills, values and ingenuity, to build institutions that reflect African values, and to create wealth for the benefit of the continent as a whole.