100 Great Africans - Hardcover

Rake's work covers all areas and time periods of Africa, from Queen Hatshepsut of ancient Egypt to Nelson Mandela, and is divided into ten general categories (e.g., those who resisted the imposition of colonialism). Given its historical bent, it complements Rake's Who's Who in Africa: Leaders for the 1990s (LJ 6/1/92), which lists current leaders. Collections seeking a strictly historical emphasis may wish to consider Mark Lipschutz and Kent Rasmussen's Dictionary of African Historical Biography (Univ. of California Pr., 1986. 2d ed.) or Makers of Modern Africa (Africa Books, 1991. 2d ed. o.p.); although their coverage stops earlier than Rake's, they include more names. Brockman's dictionary, on the other hand, excludes North Africa and Egypt while listing 549 names and emphasizing the postcolonial period. Entries are arranged alphabetically. A few portraits are included as well as some suggestions for further reading. If an emphasis on contemporary names is desired, in addition to Brockman collections may want Africa Who's Who (Africa Books, 1991. 2d. ed. o.p.), which has 12,000 entries. Despite their overlap, larger collections will want all these volumes; smaller ones would find either Rake and Brockman (or, alternately, the volumes published by Africa Books) sufficient.
Paul H. Thomas, Hoover Inst. Lib., Stanford, Cal.
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