The information revolution is transforming the world, especially the industrialised world. But what are its implications for the implementation of an African renaissance? Based on a Focauldian analytical framework, this book argues that the Internet has become a major Western instrument of domination in Africa. By extending the reach of Western hegemonic discourses, the Internet adds another dimension to Western discursive power. However, by allowing for the active participation in the process of naming the world, the Internet also affords unprecedented means of transcending dependency. 128pp, GERMANY. LIT VERLAG.

Contextualizes Africa within the rapidly changing global media, shows how patterns of media ownership and state control have evolved and the huge difficulties facing most African media workers. Drawing on the example of Cameroon, Nyamnjoh explores the question of media ethics and professionalism in Africa, and the important roles that rumour and political satire have played as sources of information and opinion formation. Argues that African governments have done very little to encourage independent media, but that the media must also share some of the blame. He concludes by laying out some ideas for the reform of public policy and journalistic behaviour. Index, bib, 308pp, UK. ZED BOOKS.

Documents from historical and contemporary perspectives, the situations, trends and issues of cartooning in a number of African countries, and profiles the individuals, forms and phenomena that stand out. All types of cartooning are covered, including comic books, comic strips, gag and political cartoons, and humour magazines. 304pp, USA. HAMPTON PRESS.

Addresses the negative impact of social cleavages on the development of many African countries. It proposes new ideas on how the development crisis in Africa may be addressed by conceptualizing the underlying problem as a communication issue. Discusses how communication strategies can help to promote national integration and social, economic and political development. Index, bib, tables, UK. ASHGATE PUBLISHERS.

Using media case studies from Africa, Asia, Latin America, Turkey, Korea, India, the Caribbean Canada and Britain, the authors discuss expanding corporate hegemony and the impact of media globalisation. Index, refs, vii, 307pp, USA. STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK, 0791458229

Argues that indigenous modes of communication (oral tradition, drama, entertainment forms, cultural modes and local language radio) are essential to the societies within which they exist and which create them. Coupled with newer, or modern forms of communication technology such as the internet and digitised information, endogenous modes of communication are paramount to the processes of human development in Africa. BNS, 282pp, GHANA. GHANA UNIVERSITY PRESS. 9964303068

Volume three in the series on ICTs for development in Africa documents the processes used and institutions created to bring computers and connectivity into schools. These initiatives are designed as a means to improve the use and integration of ICTs into learning and teaching, and ultimately to empower African communities to apply new information and communication technologies to their own social and economic development. The study explores a range of project, administrative and cultural settings and a wide variety of technical solutions. BNS, 264pp, SENEGAL. CODESRIA. 155250008X

The second in this series of studies on the state and status of ICTs in a development context in Africa examines the setting, operations and impacts of community telecentres. It describes the telecentres of a variety of local, and often rural communities, exploring the management structures and mechanisms that have been established to support them. The book profiles telecentre usage and discusses the potential and challenges of developing and maintaining community telecentres given poor information structures and limited human capacity. It further considers questions of universal and public access and progress thus far, towards achieving these goals. BNS, 226pp, SENEGAL. CODESRIA. 2869781156

Using an international political economy approach, the author focuses on how the internet is used by ethnic minorities to communicate and interact with each other. Franklin argues that from these online activities postcolonial politics of representation are emerging. BNS, 240pp, UK. ROUTLEDGE, 0415339405

Includes the following chapters on Africa: 'To Enlighten South Africa': The Creation of a Free Press at the Cape in the Early Nineteenth Century - J.M.Mackenzie; 'The Thinking is Done in London': South Africa's English Language Press and Imperialism - J. Lambert; The Media and the Exile of Seretse Khama: The Bangwato vs. the British in Bechuanaland, 1848-56 - S. Williams. 288pp, UK. PALGRAVE.

Assessment of the role of the media in sub-Saharan Africa. Though still relatively weak in comparison with their position in liberal democracies, the diverse media operations in Africa continue to play an important role in political change and are beginning to take their place in society. Index, refs, notes, tables, ix, 260pp, SWEDEN. NORDIC AFRICA INSTITUTE, 9171064950

This in-depth investigation of the role that local news media play in Central African conflicts combines theoretical analysis with case studies from nine African countries: Burundi, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Republic of Congo, and Rwanda. Each case study is a comprehensive discussion of media influences during the conflict. Includes a chapter by Jean-Paul Marthoz (director of information at Human Rights Watch) focuses on the ways in which the media in the global North cover crises on the African continent. Index, bib, 286pp, USA. LYNNE RIENNER.

A study exploring and comparing why and to what extent national governments decide to control the internet and how this impacts on crucial socioeconomic activities and fundamental civil rights. The author provides detailed studies of US, Germany, Italy and further case studies of South Africa, Switzerland, Brazil, Canada, India and The Netherlands. BNS, 240pp, UK. ROUTLEDGE.

This is the French translation of Information and Communication Technologies for Development in Africa. Volume 1. The Experience with Community Telecentres (CODESRIA, 2003). The second in this series of studies on the state and status of ICTs in a development context in Africa examines the setting, operations and impacts of community telecentres. It describes the telecentres of a variety of local, and often rural communities, exploring the management structures and mechanisms that have been established to support them. The book profiles telecentre usage and discusses the potential and challenges of developing and maintaining community telecentres given poor information structures and limited human capacity. It further considers questions of universal and public access and progress thus far, towards achieving these goals. TEXT IN FRENCH. BNS, 234pp, SENEGAL. CODESRIA. 2869781164

The US model of media control and policy making corrupt and dominated by powerful special interests is being rapidly exported across the world. Some countries are attempting to preserve their own cultural production. Focuses on both local and international forces and critiques the bargains struck between local operators and transnationals. Extensive African examples include Nigeria, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Malawi in essays on Nigerian media ownership and on the political economy of media in Southern Africa. Index, 330pp, UK. ZED BOOKS.