Continental Shift: A Journey in Africa's Changing Fortunes

by Kevin Bloom, Richard Poplak

Africa is failing. Africa is succeeding. Africa is betraying its citizens. Africa is a place of starvation, corruption, disease. African economies are soaring faster than any on earth. Africa is squandering its bountiful resources. Africa is a roadmap for global development. Africa is turbulent. Africa is stabilising. Africa is doomed. Africa is the future. All of these pronouncements prove equally true and false, as South African journalists Richard Poplak and Kevin Bloom discover on their 9-year road trip through the paradoxical continent they call home. From pillaged mines in Zimbabwe to the creation of an economic marketplace in Ethiopia; from Namibia's middle class to the technological challenges facing Nollywood in the 21st Century; from China's investment in Botswana to the rush for resources in the Congo; and from the birth of Africa's newest country, South Sudan, to the worsening conflict in CAR, here are eight adventures on the trail of a new Africa. Part detective story, part report from this economic frontier, Continental Shift follows the money as it flows through Chinese coffers to international conglomerates, to heads of state, to ordinary African citizens, all of whom are intent on defining a metamorphosing continent. 'In the aftermath of this book, approaches to China, Africa and international relations will never be the same' - Achille Mbembe, author of On the Postcolony

Genres: Africa, Nonfiction, History

553 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 15, 2015

Reviews

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

road trip narrative:
Africa is not one thing;
change is not one thing

[Erik Surewaard · Rating 1 out of 5]

Although I find the topic of Africa an interesting one, this book did not appeal to me...

The author writes first of all on his experiences whilst travelling through several African countries. Further, the story is mixed with historical events and facts.

The book is very tough to go through. Very complex sentences are mixed with many many names of people or organizations. As such, it is very difficult to follow the story. I found myself lost many times during reading the book. I hesitated several times on whether to continue reading. In the end I prevailed in finishing the book.

Two chapters were worthwile. The one on Ethiopia, with a story on the importance of having a commodity exchange (+ the lauch of it), was a decent one. The chapter on the central african republic was also okay, but merely so because I am pretty aware of the situation in that country including the names of factions.

Concluding, I unfortunately can not recommend this book.

[Jorge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book. Very insightful.
A great journey through contemporary Africa.