Season of Rains
by Stephen Ellis
(Jacana, R180)
This book posits arguments that aim either to put excuses of Africa’s inability to “develop” into context, or throw them out of the window.
In it, Ellis looks at Africa’s stature in the world. He begins by exploring that which many would say was the wrench in the continent’s mechanisms, colonialism. By doing so, he challenges the belief that Africa did not have a place in history before the great invasion.
One of the views presented on this is that the continent simply operated on social and political systems that were different from those introduced to it by colonial powers. Its system of governance was based upon leaders (chiefs/royalty) of independent groups who formed many of their decisions through council, religion and beliefs.
When colonial agents were faced with this type of governance, which existed out of formal or articled law, they dismissed it as archaic because they did not have a clear understanding of it.
However, he doesn’t completely reject the viewpoint that colonialism put Africa on the historic map, as the book elaborates on many aspects of this, which there are.
After colonial rule, politics, policies and capital became the order of the day. Ellis looks at how the world’s perspective on Africa as an economy may be misled.
Though not always apparent, since the continent receives huge amounts of financial aid from international powerhouses, the fiscal assistance given to it plays an even bigger role in determining which of those giant economies receive contracts from the countries they support.
As Ellis describes it, finance and corruption go hand in hand like two sides of the same page, just with different writing on each. There’s the transparent side to business and power, that is made to gain the confidence of those who support it, and as he states, another side that is just as crucial, but isn’t as illuminated because of the illicit nature of its dealings.
He also explores in great depth the modus operandi of hegemons, both on the continent as well as abroad, and their ability to take advantage of the status quo. Hegemony is the word used by Atonio Gramsci to designate the situation in which a ruling elite is so widely accepted as to be uncontested.
The book’s cover is exquisite, and Ellis is successful in examining Africa’s development with precision and from a broad perspective.
The only peeve is that he paraphrases a lot of his views throughout the chapters.
Historians, political scholars and those who have an interest in anthropology will enjoy reading this book. – Tshepo Tshabalala