Synopsis
Provides insight into the land and peoples of Nigeria with an emphasis on the country's economic development.
| Details | | Publication Date: | 1996-09-01 | | Series: | Economically Developing Countries Series |
| Size | | Height: | 11.0 in | | Width: | 9.3 in | | Thickness: | 0.5 in | | Weight: | 16.8 oz |
Publisher's Note
Provides insight into the land and peoples of Nigeria with an emphasis on the country's economic development.
Industry Reviews
Gr 4-7 The series title conveys the emphasis here. Opening with chapters on land, climate, and peoples, life in the city and countryside follows, with the final chapters discussing development and the hopes for the future. Colorful illustrations are adequately captioned and well laid out. The maps are attractive and understandable, though none show the historical kingdoms of this country or present-day states mentioned in the text. The writing is clear and well organized, but the use of the terms "tribe" and "animism" may confuse and encourage stereotyping. Generally, explanations of geographic/economic factors are stronger than the discussions of political/cultural ones. "In the Countryside" is particularly good, and the chapter on poverty has solid examples of the destructive effects of colonial rule on already existing mining and farming. On the other hand, the material on early "empires" is weak, and the critical impact of colonial indirect rule on Nigerian political and ethnic relations is barely touched upon. Casual references to Nigeria's "violent history" as well as a sidebar on "Crime in Lagos" encourage superficially negative impressions. Yet the discussions of poverty and crime skirt mentioning the Nigerian government's overspending on the military, violations of human rights, or extraordinary levels of corruption. The final chapter offers an upbeat view of plans for more sustainable development. Given the complexities of Nigeria's great promise and discouraging present realities, Dorothy Sutherland's Nigeria (Children's Press, 1995) seems superficial, while Patricia Levy's Nigeria (Marshall Cavendish, 1993) has problems of fact and interpretation. The strength of Tenquist's book is the economic emphasis that gives it focus. Loretta Kreider Andrews, Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore, MD
Lopate
Charts, graphs, and maps are not always adequately labeled for young readers, but most of the time they work well to add information and visual interest. The attractive book design features culturally specific decorative borders as well as many well-selected color photographs. The information on political leaders, such as Nigeria's president Abacha, means [this book] will date fairly quickly, but the depth and quality of the analysis and the concise format in which it is presented make [it a] tempting choice for libraries.
Annotation copyright H.W. Wilson Company.
Lempke
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