Review by Choice Review
Although the roots of Pan-Africanism go back much further, the first half of the 20th century was its heyday. Once African states became politically independent (circa 1960 for most countries), pan-Africanism lost its perch as African leaders navigated the Cold War. Nevertheless, ties linking "diasporan Africans" to the continent remain, and the editors argue that "in the twenty-first century, as Pan-African ideology and consciousness dwindle in both Africa and the African Diaspora, the appropriation and performance of Pan-Africanism on continental, national, regional, local, and transatlantic levels offer an alternative solution for sustaining Pan-Africanism." Since the 19th century, significant numbers of "returnees" have settled or journeyed to Africa, and contributors examine the constructions of African citizenship and identity. The 13 chapters are grouped into three parts, with the most important focusing on "The Place of Pan-Africanism in Reverse Diaspora Migrations." Of the four essays in this second section, it is no accident that three focus on Ghana, a country that has a long history of proactively embracing diaspora "returnees." Repetition is often a drawback in such volumes; a number of unfortunate errors escaped the copyeditor's attention. The book will be welcomed by researchers and teachers as well as the interested lay public. Summing Up: Recommended. All levels/libraries. A. Ejikeme Trinity University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
