A book to look out for in 2025

“Can social institutions in a society be created by another power, especially when those two societies are at different levels of development?” asks James Kahoza in this groundbreaking book. 

To explain, the author begins by looking at Africa prior to colonization and then examines the effects of colonialism. 

One of these effects is that African polities atrophied into what are derogatively known as laggard states. 

Their previous economic linkages were re-routed towards linking European industries to African raw materials, cheap labour and markets. 

Ergo, Africa’s native and somewhat nascent development took on a structural schizophrenia characterized by a peasant and modern dislocation of polity. 

Mentally, the African outlook existed in the twilight of the peasant’s estimation of the world. In this vein, colonisation artificially advanced African development. 

This ‘development’ was choreographed by an underlying backwardness where identity politics prevails against the espousal of nationalism. 

This contrariety has led to conflict. 

At independence, presidents or prime ministers were elected and their powers were ostensibly derived from the people through the ballot. 

However, the electorate largely consisted of rural peasants who still viewed leadership as its pre-colonial idiom. 

“Peasants do not see power as something that must be accounted for. 

They view it as absolute, making true democracy impossible. Democracy, as understood in the West, requires a different cultural foundation that is lacking in predominantly peasant societies,” writes the author.

He adds: “Peasants, unfamiliar with the modern state structures imposed by colonial powers, support only policies that benefit them directly. Common interest is an abstract concept that makes sense only to the educated.”

Mr Kahoza’s book is sure to provoke debate on where, when and why Africa’s development went pear-shaped. True, you have heard arguments advanced that colonialism set us upon a downward spiral. 

And you have probably heard or seen Africa’s problems being diagnosed in a manner which points the accusatory finger at a number of socio-economic ailments compounded by political grievances. 

However, I doubt you have read a more succinct dissection of African politics at a cellular level. 

Where African peasants and urbanites alike are viewed not through the roseate lens they have been viewed through before by well-meaning Africanists. 

Nor shall you find the unforgiving criticisms that come with the question, What is Africa’s problem?

Instead, in this book, you are exposed to a balanced treatise on the African realities, before, during and after colonialism. 

But one might ask, is there a post-colonial phase? To be sure, colonialism is as much in evidence today as it was in the 1950s. It is just less overt.

Without a doubt, however, the legacy of colonialism has cast a long shadow over the continent; a neocolonial night exists and persists everywhere from Cape to Cairo. 

Subsequently, there are several hurdles to sustained socio-economic growth and self-determination.

Our former colonial powers still exert indirect influence over Africa’s economic and political landscape, trammeling any hope of progress. 

To address and redress these hurdles, as it were, Mr Kahoza casts a prime eye on what kind of mindset is keeping Africa down and how this can be challenged with not only Marxian elixirs that promote fair trade practices and other means by which African can regain control over her resources and economies, he also looks at strengthening governance and institutions, and fostering a more equitable global economic order. 

It is likely to be a major literary work. So brace yourselves for the new year.