A Gambian social scientist, Dr Jeggan C. Senghor, has co-edited a book titled Towards Africa’s Renewal, published by Ashgate Publishers in London.

Dr Senghor is a Senior Research Fellow at the School of Advanced Study, University of London, and the co-editor of the 340-page book is Nana K. Poku, John Ferguson Chair and Professor of African Studies at University of Bradford, England.

For the preparation of the book Dr Senghor put together an international multidisciplinary team of 16 academic researchers and analysts. Within the field of specialization of each contributor, a major issue-area was identified and in-depth study conducted on a related major problem or set of problems.

Areas covered include: the state, democratization and leadership, regional integration, civil society, gender, migrants’ remittances, industrialization, and trade issues.  Of particular emphasis are a critical appraisal of future challenges in each issue-area and the policy options which can lead to renewal in Africa.

As put by a reviewer of the book, Professor Timothy Shaw of Royal Rhodes University, Canada, "Africa is an increasingly diverse set of political economies from a few developmental states to many fragile ones, in part consequences of uneven globalizations. This welcome collection brings scholars and policy-makers together from on and off the continent to focus on contemporary issues and debates…. It will inform students and decision-makers alike as they respond to further emerging challenges."

The book will be released on 18 June 2007 and local bookshops and individuals interested in ordering copies can contact the publishers at: www.ashgate.com.

Editor’s note: We warmly congratulate our compatriot on this significant achievement.