From: gpope@iat.holonet.net (george pope)
Subject: African books, news
Organization: HoloNet Internet BBS: 510-704-1058
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1992 00:25:54 GMT

 
AFRICAN NEWS AND BOOKS, SHAREWARE AND DOORWAYS, A SURVEY, 
  
 
	"Something new is always coming out of Africa," 
Pliny, Roman historian.   
  
	Many of us would like to be in closer touch with 
African friends including those whom we would like to 
come to know. 	For example, overseas visitors come 
through town who may want to meet others working in their 
field or simply visit a black american home.   
  
	Beyond functioning as efficient meeting places how 
might BBS's better serve as cultural resources 
interconnectors?   
 
	Two recent events underscore these needs and 
potentials:   
                              
	1. Ghana's head of state Flt-Lt. Rawlings has just 
"unbanned" multiparty politics.  Elections are scheduled 
for the fall.  Many hope that this time Ghanaians will 
be able end the cycle of coup d'etats begetting 
corruption begetting more coups and law breaking...etc.  
  
	2. Mr. T. H. Ewusi-Brookman the editor of THE 
PIONEER of Kumasi, Ghana has just completed a USA tour. 
If frequent quotation in World Press Review constitutes 
fame this is a famous African newspaper. In any case it 
is read avidly in Ghana.  
  
	THE PIONEER is an independent (not a party) 
newspaper which has stood since 1941 for factual 
reporting, constitutional reform, legality.  Physical 
danger has always been part of the job at the   
PIONEER.  Illegal detentions for example are routinely 
protested by this newspaper as were the execution of 
three (3) judges.  They were just doing their jobs as 
judges but then this happened to embarrass the current 
regime.  In such context "What may happen next?" must be 
quite a dreadful question.   
  
	Mr. Brookman who is also a personal friend happened 
to give me the new compilation from THE PIONEER entitled 
"POLITICAL REFLECTIONS ON THE MOTHERLAND", 212 pages, 
which came out last February.  This little volume speaks 
to the excitement and hope that now prevails in the land 
of Ghana.   
  
	Given economic feasibility there are many titles 
from lesser known third world publishers, as well as 
historic out of print books (available usually only at 
great university libraries) that could benefit interested 
readers by virtue of low cost world wide electronic 
circulation.  Also the effect of mass marketing to   
Western readers just to get published might be placed in 
better perspective.   
  
	To peak your interest in electronic books and to 
encourage participation in our questionnaire the results 
of which will be used to obtain the attention of African 
authors and publishers we are including three short 
excerpts from POLITICAL REFLECTIONS ON THE MOTHERLAND. 
With the qualification that this tiny sample is   
but a capsuleization they do seem this foreigner to Ghana 
to epitomize political life there.  
	   
	The first by PIONEER editor T.H. Ewusi Brookman 
describes a all too ordinary repressive political 
incident which occurred at Accra Bukom Square. The second 
by career diplomat and one time cabinet minister K.S.P 
Jantauh reminds that coups also determined the character 
of the Organization of African Unity and supplies an   
example of The Economic Community of West African States 
which sent the ECOMOG force to Liberia ostensibly as 
peace keeper, but with a real mission to maintain..."the 
inhuman and autocratic rule of Master Sargent Doe..." 
(perhaps in unenlighted combination with U.S. interests 
in continuing radio operations there). Finally an 
interview with history Professor A. Adu Boahen   
in which some of the difficulties of Ghanaian politics 
are described.  (Complete stories from: pp. 64, 107, 191 
from MOTHERLAND are at the end of the questionnaire.) 
  
	I would be extremely grateful to you for your help 
in contributing to this survey. This may be done by down- 
loading the file named: news!bks and fill in the blanks 
in the questionnaire plus any observations you may wish 
to add and mail it back to: me at this bbs/news group.  
  
	Thanking you in advance for your consideration in 
answering these questions. I will share findings with 
you on this bbs.  Your answers will help us bring the 
things you want from Africa at least to your computer. 
Please append further suggestions as they occur to you. 
Please stay in touch.   

PLEASE MAIL TO:  George Pope
                 2280 Bunker Hill Drive
                 San Mateo, CA 94402 

VOICE:  (415) 574-2799)

EMAIL ADDRESSES: George Pope on The Blacknet
		 gpope on other boards
                 gpope@holonet.net on the Internet