People, Predicaments and Potentials in Africa

edited by Takehiko Ochiai, Misa Hirano-Nomoto and Daniel E. Agbiboa

The term ‘African Potentials’ refers to the knowledge, systems, practices, ideas and values created and implemented in African societies that are expected to contribute to overcoming various challenges and promoting people’s wellbeing. This collection of articles, focused on African societies, is based on the idea that ‘Africa is People’. In this book, African people are placed at the centre of the discussion. The book’s contributors, all of whom believe in African people and their potentials, consider women, minors and young people, people with disabilities, entrepreneurs, herders, farmers, mine workers, refugees, migrants, traditional rulers, militiamen and members of the political elite, and examine their predicaments and potentials in detail. Africa is people, and African potentials can be found only in African people themselves.

Takehiko Ochiai

Takehiko OCHIAI is Professor of African Studies and International Relations at Ryukoku University, Kyoto, Japan.

Misa Hirano-Nomoto

Misa HIRANO-NOMOTO is Professor of the Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies and Center for African Area Studies at Kyoto University, Japan.

Daniel E. Agbiboa

Daniel E. AGBIBOA is Assistant Professor of African and African American Studies at Harvard University.