"Continental Complexities: A Multidisciplinary Introduction to Africa" is a practical introduction to African Studies. This collection provides contextualized information in order to educate, clarify, and illustrate the story of the continent.
The topics have been deliberately chosen to highlight issues that are currently relevant to discourse on Africa. These topics are also commonly covered in Introduction to Africa courses. They include:
- geology and geomorphology
- history
- religion
- social institutions
- gender relations
- literature, drama, theatre and music
- regional integration
"Continental Complexities" is unique in that the selected readings have been written by scholars with highly specialized expertise on their chosen topics and with years of teaching experience in the area. Additionally, many of the contributors have spent extensive amounts of time in Africa or are currently teaching their respective topics in courses at African universities.
Each of the fourteen chapters in the book is followed by a set of review questions and a detailed bibliography which cites all references. There are also suggestions for additional reading.
This multidisciplinary anthology offers deep insight into Africa and its people, leaving readers with a much greater understanding of the continent and its issues.
Ibigbolade Aderibigbe received his Ph.D. from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Currently he teaches African religion and the Religions of Africa in the Diaspora in the Department of Religion and African Studies at the University of Georgia, Athens. Previously, Dr. Aderibigbe taught at Lagos State University, Ojo, in Lagos, Nigeria, where he also served as Chair of the Department of Religion. His areas of interest and research are the philosophy of religion, African indigenous religion, and the religions of Africa in the diaspora. Dr. Aderibigbe has written and co-edited numerous books. His articles have appeared in refereed journals and his work has been included in edited volumes. For many years he served as the editor of "Religious Educator," the "Journal of Nigerian Association for the Study of Religions and Education." His latest book is "Abortion, Religious Belief and Medical Ethics: Historical and Philosophical Perspectives," published in April, 2011.
Akinloye Ojo is an associate professor in the Department of Comparative Literature and the Director of the African Studies Institute at the University of Georgia. His teaching and research focus stem from an interest in the socio-linguistic and socio-cultural situations of Africans on the African continent and African descendants in the diaspora. Dr. Ojo has written on Yoruba language and linguistics, applied linguistics and language pedagogy, and language, culture, and society. He has taught Yoruba language and culture courses to non-native speakers, as well as courses in linguistics, African studies, and comparative literature.