Continent of Mothers, Continent of Hope Understanding and Promoting Development in Africa Today

by Skard, Torild

• ISBN13: 9781842771075
• ISBN10: 1842771078
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-06-14
• Publisher: Zed Books

Summary

Cutting through the Western media's stereotype picture of Africa as a continent wracked only by civil conflict and AIDS, Torild Skard has written an engrossing introduction to a continent in change. Based on her extensive travels through the region, Skard combines eyewitness accounts, lively description and deeply informed insight to portray the human reality of Africa today. With honesty, cultural sensitivity, and a commitment especially to women, she frankly describes the social, health, and other problems experienced by its people, but also the sources of hope for the future represented by courageous individuals, community-level projects, and programs being implemented in the region.

Author Biography

Torild Skard is a well-known public figure who has built a significant reputation as a writer, researcher and politician in her own country, Norway, as well as internationally.

Table of Contents

Glossary	vii
Abbreviations	xi
`Bereavement -- What Do We Mean by Bereavement?'	1	(3)
Out in the Unknown with UNICEF	4	(5)
Part I Working with Women and Children	9	(104)
Betrayed, Bereaved and Brutalized: The Merciless Realities of War	16	(14)
Concealed Calamity: Stopping the Ravages of the HIV/AIDS Pandemic	30	(11)
An Exploding Agenda: Chasing Childhood Killer Diseases	41	(11)
Mysterious Modern Medicine Men: Towards the Goal of Health for All	52	(13)
Motherhood and Martyrdom: Breaking Centuries of Silence and Neglect	65	(12)
Searching for the Excluded from School: Experiments with New Forms of Education, Particularly for Girls	77	(17)
The Lost Children: Ruthless Exploitation of the Weakest	94	(9)
Dangerous Food and Drink: Progress with Simple Means	103	(10)
Part II A Journey in History and Society	113	(100)
From Emperors of the Desert to the White Man's Yoke: Centuries of History with Greatness and Humiliation	124	(15)
Poor Amid the Riches: Hard Work with a Meagre Outcome	139	(14)
Democracy in Khaki: Western Models and African Realities	153	(15)
Queen Mothers and Market Women: Modernization with Regard to Discrimination against Women	168	(15)
Where the Masks Speak: Undervalued Traditional Culture	183	(16)
Between Village and Metropolis: Mixture of Traditional and Modern	199	(14)
Part III Conclusion	213	(26)
Our Beloved Africa: Is a Renaissance Possible?	215	(12)
Hidden Hope: The World's Least-touched Resources	227	(12)
Appendix	239	(3)
Select Bibliography	242	(9)
Index	251