'Silences in African History' by Jacques Depelchin

'Among those who have suffered enslavement, colonization, steady and relentless economic exploitation, cultural asphyxiation, religious persecution, gender, race and class discrimination and political repression, silences should be seen as facts, because silences are indeed facts which have not been accorded the status of facts.' So states Jacques Depelchin in this powerful and elegant discussion, which encompasses an examination of dominant theories - political, social, economic, cultural and ideological - on Africa. The author analyses the influence of capitalism on the continent in relation to historical events over centuries. He castigates those who envision Africa solely through the eyes of colonialism. He systematically erodes misconceptions about Africa and the nature of the 'black man', which have assumed historical status.