West Africa in History

The Making of Modern West Africa: From Colonial Rule to the Dream of Unity.
How did fourteen separate colonies become the vibrant, independent nations of West Africa today? In this concluding volume, W.F. Conton tracks the relentless forces of the 19th and 20th centuries-from the technological shift of steam and iron to the political firestorms of nationalism.
Written with the perspective of a dedicated Africanist during the height of the decolonization era, this volume provides a rare, side-by-side analysis of how both British and French territories navigated the path to freedom.
Inside this volume, you will explore:

• A Comparative History: Uniquely covers both Anglophone (Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, The Gambia) and Francophone West Africa, revealing the different paths taken toward sovereignty.
• The Mechanics of Change: How the 19th-century advance of the sailing ship and the power of steam "tamed the geography" and set the stage for modern borders.
• The Pan-African Dream: A deep dive into the movement toward African Unity-not as fourteen separate movements, but as a single, continental surge for dignity.
• The Republic of Liberia: An essential look at the unique trajectory of Africa's oldest modern republic.
• The First Decade of Freedom: An "eye-witness" account of the early years of independence, recorded by the author up to the pivotal events of 1966.