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Thursday, March 12th

Public Affairs

Price: $29.95

RICHARD DOWDEN

will discuss

 

Africa:

Altered States, Ordinary Miracles

Harvard Book Store is pleased to welcome veteran journalist and director of Britain's Royal African Society RICHARD DOWDEN for a discussion of his new book, Africa: Altered States, Ordinary Miracles.

After a lifetime’s close observation of the continent, one of the world’s finest Africa correspondents has penned a landmark book on life and death in modern Africa. In captivating prose, Dowden spins tales of cults and commerce in Senegal and traditional spirituality in Sierra Leone; analyzes the impact of oil and the internet on Nigeria and aid on Sudan; and examines what has gone so badly wrong in Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Congo. From the individual stories of failure and success comes a surprising portrait of a new Africa emerging—an Africa that, Dowden argues, can only be developed by its own people. Dowden’s work is an attempt to explain why Africa is the way it is and calls for a re-examination of the perception of Africa as “the dark continent.” He reveals it as a place of inspiration and tremendous humanity.

CONTACT:

General Info:
617.661.1515

Media:
617.661.1424 ex.1

Email:

Richard Dowden is director of the Royal African Society. He spent a decade as Africa Editor of the Independent, and then another decade as Africa Editor of the Economist. He has made three television documentaries on Africa, for the BBC and Channel 4.