Open AccessBook Review: Africa: An Encyclopedia of Culture and Society
Author(s) -
Kristin Henrich
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
reference and user services quarterly/reference and user services quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.443
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 2163-5242
pISSN - 1094-9054
DOI - 10.5860/rusq.56n1.55
Subject(s) - encyclopedia , originality , diversity (politics) , sociology , history , anthropology , media studies , social science , library science , computer science , qualitative research
Africa: An Encyclopedia of Culture and Society was created to “challenge stereotypes and assumptions and invite the reader into the world of African Studies” (vii) by featuring entries written by over fifty scholars, experts in African Studies or related fields who “have lived in Africa or are Africans, themselves. . . . The voice of Africa’s people is alive and well in these volumes” (viii). The originality and diversity of voices represented in this three-volume series is a positive and unique feature of this encyclopedia, but may not be enough to inspire acquisition, for some, in light of questions of the efficacy of these volumes as a quality reference work.