African cultures and politics remain significantly affected by precolonial and postcolonial configurations of modernity, as well as hegemonic global systems. This project explores Africa's conversation with itself and the rest of the world, critiquing universalist notions of democratization.
'This book traverses numerous aspects of contemporary African modernity, institution-building processes and existence. The travails of current Nigerian democracy are addressed just at its knowledge-generating tertiary institutions are critiqued. In addition, the author explores the singular nature and rogue dynamics of African cities how they are continually shaped and propelled by local imperatives and global configurations. This makes them resilient and somewhat strangely survivalist in character even when besieged by extremely dire circumstances. This is a major contribution by a prominent voice grounded on the continent' - Francis B. Nyamnjoh, Professor of Social Anthropology, University of Cape Town, South Africa