Reference Reviews
Lawrence Looks at Books
Encyclopedia of the African Diaspora: Origins, Experiences, and Culture, edited by Carole Boyce Davies. 3 vols. 1,094p. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2008. 978-1-85109-700-5; 2008-11880.
With a relatively large number of excellent encyclopedias of African and African American studies already available, what more can another guide offer? The answer lies in the title. For the editors, a Diaspora involves more than the forced or voluntary migration of a people. The concept also implies a continuing connection to a homeland. The more than 500 articles of this encyclopedia reflect that connection in two ways. The first is the focus on cultural exchange as African migrants have spread around the globe. From agriculture, food ways and religion to music, dance and art, African cultures have significantly impacted the shape of the modern word and these influences are explored in many thematic essays. The other manifestation of the Diaspora is in the concentration of articles that demonstrate black awareness of the distinctive nature of African culture. These include articles on the development of Black Power, Négritude and African Diaspora studies, as well as selected biographies of individuals who have promoted that awareness in the world at large. From Richard Wright and Muhammad Ali to Phillis Wheatley and Billie Holiday, these figures have sometimes contributed to African identity through the conscious exploration of their roots. For others, their individual achievements have brought attention to African based culture. Additional articles focus on institutions that have fostered a shared African identity. Such institutions include immigrant communities, traditionally black colleges, political parties and cultural organizations. While this survey encompasses African American culture in the United States, the editors make particular efforts to explore the Diaspora in Latin America, the Indian Ocean, Asia and the Mediterranean. Hence, the unique contribution of this encyclopedia is its exploration of African identity on a global basis. As such, this guide is recommended for academic and public libraries.
—John R.M. Lawrence