The contributors deal with the African family in a comparative global context, focusing on patriarchy, sexuality and marriage, and fertility; biological and social reproduction in Ghana under conditions of globalization and structural adjustment; Nigerian marriage relations under the impact of current conditions and; family changes in the North (Britain) from a family perspective of the South (South Africa). Notes, bib, tables, 124pp, SWEDEN. NORDIC AFRICA INSTITUTE.

Documents seven African women working to overcome devastating problems in their communities: Ann Wanjiru of Kenya, Edina Yahana of Tanzania, Celina Cossa of Mozambique, Pascasie Mukamunigo of Rwanda, Prudence Mwandla of South Africa, Aminata Dieye of Senegal and Jacqueline Goita of Mali. 192pp, USA. VENDOME PRESS.

The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights on Women's Rights grew out of a recognition that the African Unions Charter does not adequately address issues that affect women. The Protocol is arguably one of Africa's most ground-breaking and progressive rights instruments for gender equality, setting out a comprehensive legal framework providing for a broad range of women’s social and economic rights, such as the reproductive right to abortion, and the prohibition of genital mutilation. 172pp, KENYA. SOLIDARITY FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS COALITION.

This global survey of the female conditions starts from the belief that the significant transformations in women's lives deserve to be fully documented and interpreted. It illustrates the critical challenges faced by women in the 20th century using original data from countries in every world region. The case studies are written by teams of scholars, educators, and policy analyst and includes chapters on South Africa and Sudan. The catalysts for change in female well-being are identified from trends from 1900 to 2000 in infant mortality, maternal mortality, literacy, life expectancy, education, work, income, family structure, and political power. Trends are analyzed in the light of the century's major events, legislative initiatives, social policies, and leadership, to illustrate the processes that enhance, sustain, or detract from the female condition. The last chapter suggests ideas for how to improve female well-being globally. 448pp, UK. ZED BOOKS.

A study of civil society initiatives that have intervened in governance and brought about changes in institutional practice, aiming to secure gender interests. The four case studies in this volume are from Namibia, South Africa, Pakistan and India. 135pp, UK AND THE NETHERLANDS. OXFAM PUBLICATIONS, 0855985283

Argues that 10 years after the Beijing Conference on Women, and 30 years after the first United Nations Conference on Women, the situation of women in Africa has not improved. This also holds true for all other regions of the world, as governments admitted at the Beijing+10 meeting in New York in March 2005. This book provides an overview of existing international gender instruments, and critically examines the factors influencing their implementation in sub-Saharan Africa via essays by activists, academics, and policy-makers from across the continent. Building on discussions at a regional workshop, where these studies were first presented, it concludes with pragmatic suggestions for ending the impasse on women’s rights in Africa. 172pp, SOUTH AFRICA. INSTITUTE FOR GLOBAL DIALOGUE.

New edition. A personal and disturbing account of growing up in the Islamic world. el Sa'dawi relates the position of women in the middle east to the struggle between left and right in Islam. 395pp, UK. ZED BOOKS.

Laurie Charles finished her Ph.D., then took off to West Africa as a Peace Corps volunteer. Asked to create programmes to help adolescent girls stay in school, she found herself enmeshed in the politics and cultural barriers that prevent these girls from creating a better life. She found that love, sexual fulfilment, sexual harassment, and gender discrimination, all of which further complicated her stated mission. A narrative of interest both to those doing development work and to those interested in auto-ethnographic exploration of the self. Index, bib, 256pp, USA. LEFT COAST PRESS.

An analysis of the political participation of women in Africa. In particular, the authors look at the situation of South Africa and Uganda women, two countries credited with the most advanced gender politics. However, an analysis of the issues of gender violence and land in those countries respectively, reveals more complex patterns of effective participation. Index, refs, tables, x, 246pp, UK. ZED BOOKS, 1842771477

This edited volume surveys existing gender studies of Africa by both African and Africanist writers an interesting overview of the field for practitioners, and highly suitable as a teaching text, with each extract referenced, and notes on contributors. Chapters cover representation, identity, livelihoods, traditions and governance. Index, 248pp, UK. JAMES CURREY PUBLISHERS.

A collection of in depth studies giving special attention to the contextual effects of social structures and social organisation. A diverse range of topics are addressed such as adolescent sexuality, the effects of early child bearing and the impact of development on fertility. 224pp, USA. GREENWOOD PRESS.

A range of case studies revealing the varied and complex ways in which African ideas and ideals of what it means to be male or female broadly inform and give meaning to a wide range of transformative rituals. Index, refs, notes, ix, 310pp, UK. ATHLONE PRESS.

A collection of 17 essays that examine the many ways African women pushed the boundaries, individually and collectively, of 'acceptable' behaviour to produce changes in the gendered dynamics of power and a reconfiguration of broader moral and social orders. Maps, b/w photos, xv, 325pp. UK, JAMES CURREY

Examines women's movements and women's collective action from pre-colonial times, moving through the colonial period to the present. Discusses the arenas which collective action has and can influence, comparing the impact on economic growth, education, democratization, family formation, and women's rights. Steady uses Sierra Leone as the focus of her inquiry, but in every area makes comparisons to different parts of Africa. 224pp, UK. PALGRAVE.

Examines the impact and experiences of African women as they seek increased representation in national legislatures. Case studies (on South Africa, Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda, Mozambique and Senegal) allow cross-national comparisons of the range of strategies that African women have used to achieve greater involvement in national politics. 235pp, USA. LYNNE RIENNER.

This book's wide-ranging examination of African women leaders focuses especially on women in elected or appointed national government positions. The author provides an extensive analysis of the progress made by women leaders in each individual country, as well as an overall analysis of the historical role of women in African governments. In addition, the book offers in-depth profiles of eleven women in high-office positions, including current Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and Mozambique Prime Minister Luisa Diogo. Index, bib, b/w photos, 206pp, USA. McFARLAND & COMPANY.

A study looking at the role of women in tropical Africa. Chapters include Coniagui Women; The Position of Women in a Pastoral Society: the Fulani Wodaabe Nomads of the Niger; The Role of Women in the Political Organization of African Societies; Nzakara Women of the Central African Republic; Women of Burundi: A Study of Social Values; and Women of Dakar and the Surrounding Urban Area. First published in 1963, this edition includes an analytical bibliography. BNS, 328pp, UK. ROUTLEDGE.