The materials I used for my colonial Africa course last fall were as follows:
1. Harrison, Christopher. France and Islam in West Africa,
1860-1960. Cambrige University Press, 1988;
2. "Afrique, je te plumerai." Jean-Marie Teno, Cameroun, 1992
(88 min., in French with English subtitles). Distributed by California
Newsreel, San Francisco, CA (415) 621-6196. Most of the major West
African film makers are from francophone countries, and many of their
historical works are very effective portrays of colonial conditions.
For a broader treatments, see:
Chipman, John. French power in Africa. Cambridge University
Press, 1989.
Suret-Canale, Jean. French colonialism in tropical Africa,
1900-1945. New York, Pica Press, 1971.
For an excellent study of one of colonialism's classic features, the use of
"subject" troops in both colonial and European conflicts, see:
Echenberg, Myron. Colonial conscripts: The Tirailleurs Senegalais
sin French West Africa, 1857-1960. Heinemann/James Currey, 1991. [cf.
Lawler, Nancy Ellen. Soldiers of misfortune : Ivoirien Tirailleurs of
World War II . Athens : Ohio University Press, 1992. By the way, critical
comparison of these two works, with some attention to their contrasting
methods of historical research and the dynamics of oral history, would make
a great student paper....)
For research purposes, see:
Westfall, Gloria. French colonial Africa, a guide to official
sources. London: Hans Zell, 1992.
Finally, don't forget the historical novels, especially, of course, Ousmane
Sembene's God's bits of wood (see also his numerous films, esp. Emitai and
Camp de Thiaroye).
Peter A. Rogers
Department of History
Williams College
Williamstown, MA 01267
U.S.A.
e-mail: peter.a.rogers @williams.edu
fax: (413) 597-4088
phone: (413) 597-2527