The State of Africa: A History of the Continent Since Independence'As a narrative of Africa's political trajectory since independence, this book is hard to beat Elegantly written as well as unerringly accurate' Financial Times The fortunes of Africa have changed dramatically in the fifty years since the independence era began. As Europe's colonial powers withdrew, dozens of new states were launched amid much jubilation and to the world's applause. The circumstances seemed auspicious. Africa was a continent rich in