African Rivers
History, Utilities, and Knowledge

By (author) Professor Toyin Falola,Victor Angbah

ISBN13: 9781847014405

Imprint: James Currey

Publisher: James Currey

Format: Hardback

Published: 25/11/2025

Availability: Not yet available

Description
The Nile, Congo, Niger, Chad and Zambezi are names that evoke watershed periods in Africa's history. Yet, until now, scholars have paid little attention to Africa's riverine environment or how it has shaped the continent's civilizations. African rivers are not only part of the ecosystem but also hold immense ecological, political, economic, and sociocultural significance. At the same time, there are numerous challenges to their exploitation and sustainability due to human activities, transboundary conflicts, and climate change. This book explores major thematic preoccupations with the study of African rivers. The first section discusses the epistemology of rivers in Africa, reviewing historical perspectives and identifying associations of rivers with identity and spirituality in Africa. The second section turns to the economy of African rivers, namely their commercial and economic benefits, political perspectives and dimensions, ecological and hydrological impacts, as well as their impacts on agricultural management and food security in the continent. In the third section, challenges associated with the exploitation, management, and sustainability of African rivers are discussed including geopolitics, dam construction, eco-tourism, transboundary disputes, and water scarcity. Beyond merely pointing out these challenges, however, the authors also propose solutions for the future of sustainable river resources in Africa. Ultimately, the book aims to promote knowledge of African rivers to help governments, corporations, and communities define and address their future needs
Maps and Figures Preface Acknowledgements INTRODUCTION PART ONE: EPISTEMOLOGIES 1. Studies on African Rivers 2. Historical Perspectives on African Rivers 3. Rivers as Sources of Knowledge 4. African Rivers and Culture 5. African Rivers and Spirituality PART TWO: ECONOMIES 6. Rivers and Intra-African Trade 7. African Rivers and World Trade Systems 8. African Rivers and Agricultural Development 9. Rivers and Artisanal Mining PART THREE: DEVELOPMENT 10. Rivers and Geopolitics in Africa 11. Rivers and Eco-Tourism in Africa 12. Rivers and Urbanization in Africa 13. Rivers and Environmental Change 14. Rivers and Industrialization in Africa CONCLUSION: The Future of African Rivers Appendix Bibliography
  • The environment
  • Limnology (freshwater)
  • Professional & Vocational
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List Price: £115.00