A series of reminiscences of Schweitzer's early days in Gabon. BNS, 23 ill, 176pp, USA. SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY PRESS, 0815607431

2002 Paperback

The concept of territorial boundaries, both symbolic and actual, are examined with reference to the meeting of the French and the peoples of Southern Gabon in the second half of the nineteenth century which resulted in long term repercussions which affected the colonial areas and the post colonial Gabonese state. BNS, USA. UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER PRESS.

The petrol economy has been at the forefront of development in Gabon, this book pleads for a reconsideration and a re-prioritisation for the agricultural sector and considers environmental issues. In French BNS, 200pp, FRANCE. L'HARMATTAN, 2747506835

A survey of the country: economics, trade, politics, history, etc. 155pp, maps, statistics. ROUTLEDGE, 0415039061

Situated in the south-west of Gabon, the Punu are part of a group of people known essentially for their white masks. These objects, which have never ceased to impress collectors and enthusiasts of African art, had already fascinated Western artists at the start of the 20th century; Picasso, for instance, owned one. The idealized realism of the face covered with white clay, the slightly narrowed eyes, the mouth with finely-edged red lips and the sophisticated head-dress composed of several locks of plaited hair are some of the stylistic features of these masks. The volume studies the context of ritual use of these important objects, which the Punu and related peoples would bring out for their dances. This study of the Punu traditions and of their overlap-ping with other peoples in this region of southern Gabon, is also pursued through an examina-tion of other, far less well-known objects, such as the guardian statues of the bones of the deceased, amulets, musical instruments and some other elements of their material culture. Col & b/w illus throughout, annotated bib, 160pp, ITALY. FIVE CONTINENTS EDITIONS.

A detailed study of the political and economic condition of the Republic of Gabon, focusing on the years of the oil boom, from 1975 to 1985. The author analyses the political history of Gabon, the slave economy and French colonialism and asks why a country with the highest per capita income in sub Saharan Africa has a stagnant economy and is still dependent on France. Index, bib, notes, 249pp, USA. AFRICA WORLD PRESS.

In Libreville, the capital of Gabon, the colonial past has evolved into a present indelibly marked by colonial rule and ongoing French influence. This is especially evident in areas as essential to life as food. In this complex, hybrid culinary culture of Libreville, croissants are as readily available as plantains. Yet this same culinary diversity is accompanied by high prices and a scarcity of locally made food that is bewildering to residents and visitors alike. A staggering two-thirds of the country's food is imported from outside Gabon, making Libreville's cost of living comparable to that of Tokyo and Paris. In this study of food culture and colonialism, Jeremy Rich explores how colonial rule intimately shaped African life and how African townspeople developed creative ways of coping with colonialism as European expansion threatened African self-sufficiency. Index, bib, 220pp, USA. UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA PRESS.