Introduction: Africa - problems and perspectives; the contemporary map of Africa. Part One The African past: prehistoric Africa; aspects of early African history; Islam and African societies; Africa and Europe before 1900; the colonial era; decolonization, independence and the failure of politics. Part Two Society and culture: social organization in Africa; economic life in African villages and towns; African systems of thought; African art; African music; popular culture in urban Africa; African literature; social change in contemporary Africa. Part Three Economics and politics: African politics since indepemdence; economic change in contemporary Africa; the African development crisis; African resources for undergraduates - a bibliographic essay.