Developing the Rivers of East and West Africa : An Environmental History

How did rivers contribute to the economic and political development of modern Africa? How did African and European notions of nature's value and meaning differ? And how have these evaluations of Africa's rivers changed between 1850 and the present day? Drawing upon examples from across the African continent, Developing the Rivers of East and West Africa explores the role African waterways played in the continent's economic, social, and political development and provides the first historical study of the key themes in African river history. Rivers acted as more than important transportation byways; their waters were central to both colonial and postcolonial economic development efforts. This book synthesizes the available research on African rivers with new evidence to offer students of African and environmental history a narrative of how people have used and engaged the continent's water resources. It analyzes key themes in Africa's modern history - European exploration, establishment of colonial rule, economic development, 'green' politics - and each case study provides a lens with which to view social, economic and ecological change in Africa.

“Serving as a useful introduction to hydrological themes in African environmental history, this book adds to the historical coverage of Africa's waterscapes (e.g., Robert O. Collins's 1990 book The Waters of the Nile (CH, Feb'91, 28-3491) and Kate B. Showers's work on southern African waterways (e.g., Imperial Gullies, CH, Jan'06, 43-2788) by focusing primarily on East Africa, with a chapter on Ghana's Volta River. However, the Rufiji River region of Tanzania dominates. These sections most clearly demonstrate the author's themes, notably, the juxtaposition of European scientific knowledge and local ecological knowledge, as well as the recurrent need to gain historical context before embarking on hydrological projects. One weakness of the book is its patchwork nature. Derived from a series of articles, the narrative jumps from one region and theme to the next, reducing the thrust of the argument. The second chapter, while a solid account of the history of the British exploration of the Niger, is a puzzling addition. Yet overall, Hoag (Univ. of San Francisco) present a well-documented environmental history and delivers fascinating insights into how both East African and colonial populations have understood and misunderstood the rivers on which they depended. Summing Up: Recommended. All academic levels/libraries” —J.R. Kenyon, University of Idaho, CHOICE

“One of the strengths of this study is its treatment of conflicting goals within colonial and early independence planning regarding the regulation of rivers. Hoag is very effective in her examination of the varied goals and effects of development programs linked to rivers. This is a very original study on a topic that is of paramount importance in understanding changing conceptions and results of development. The book's organization and wide scope would work well in an advanced undergraduate or graduate course. All in all, this book is highly recommended.” —Jeremy Rich, Marywood University, International Journal of African Historical Studies