Although its title identifies this book as a
dictionary, it’s more
accurately a type of encyclopedia. That’s due to
the structure of its
presentation of information. There isn’t simply a brief definition of
the term in boldface at the beginning of each entry. Rather, there is a
detailed account which elaborates upon the meaning of the word(s) in
boldface. Consequently, this
dictionary offers readers a wide
assortment of information about Africa. More specifically, under
individual entries organized according to alphabetical order, it allows
readers to learn more about various groups of people residing on the
African continent. The first entry in the dictionary is
“adornment” and the last “Zulus.” The former enlightens readers about
how people use
accessories in dressing themselves, while the latter
describes the tribe of people in South African known by that name. In
reading about adornment, readers learn that men wear brighter and more
eye-catching accessories than do women. Further, the way in which
people adorn themselves contributes to their ability to express
themselves. In other words, the adornment itself becomes a form of
unwritten language. Since it was not possible to identify and
report on every single tribe and/or society in Africa, the entries
reflect the preferences and biases of the authors.As French
Africanists, who spend appreciable time in the field getting to know
the people of Africa, the authors attempt to give readers a
representative sampling of what they’ve discovered. As a result, the
entries make references not only to cultural aspects of African life,
but also to the geography of the continent, the history of its people,
and the social relationships which have developed over the centuries.Accompanying
the alphabetical listing of entries are black and white photos. In many
instances, they are photographs of artwork, especially pieces of
sculpture. Additionally, there are photographs of people, at work and
at play. Only 350 pages long, the book is a useful reference
work for researchers and others wanting to know more about societies in
black Africa.