This is a fascinating book which addresses an important topic that remained dormant for decades not to say centuries. No previous research had analyzed pan-Africanism in a manner as complex,insightful and informative as Dr Traore does in his book. It raises in a "cutting edge" manner the problems that mined the relations between Blacks and all those who affiliate themselves in one way or the other with the African continent. The book succeeds in staying away from essentialism and skillfully drags Postcolonialim in the pan-Africanist debate and the author does that in such a magnificent way in the sections where Francophone and Anglophone African authors like Ama Ata Aidoo, Ayi Kwei Armah, Kofi Awoonor, Kofi Anyidoho, L.S. Senghor, and several others are brought into the discussion. One of the features that impresses much about the book is the passion and critical mind with which the author approaches the woes of contemporary Africa, and then links those problems to the failure ofAfrican political leaders, a failure that the author ultimately weaves within the pan-Africanist debate.