histories arena

BOOK REVIEW: TO AFRICA AND BACK MEMOIRS By J. D. Fage. Birmingham: University of Birmingham Press, 2002. Pp. iv, 220.  ISBN 0704423308, Paperback, £10.00.

Indeed, Memoirs represent an important material that highlights the past experiences of individuals. In fact, scholars such as Edward Baum adroitly states that Diaries, notes, autobiographies, and memoirs are invaluable sources for scholars and historians who would understand better the currents and movements of history.  Necessarily, J D Fage To Africa and Back Memoirs continues in this line of thought to provide a body of knowledge invaluable to scholars and academics alike.

The author in the words of Dr. Stewart Brown “was one of that small group who more or less invented African studies in Britain, institutionalized it in British universities and worked to establish its claim and credentials in the wider world”. Fage’s work could be said to be a personal history which more or less focuses on the author’s intellectual career which in some sense, can be categorized as an outsider’s contribution to the study of the continent Africa.

Fage begins his memoir in a somewhat nostalgic tone recounting his uninteresting early beginnings in Teddington were he was born into a family of professionals. Indeed, given their background the author points out that “it was undoubtedly of major importance to them that their children should receive a good education” thus, began the authors journey as a student in Pembroke house which so far as he recalled did not impart enough for him to achieve scholarship level  proceeding further, to Tonbridge hill side boarding school were none of the teachers could raise is enthusiasm in the sciences and thus generally led to his entrance into the classics were he became accustomed with German literature, French, history and English literature. While Tombridge wasn’t much Fage indeed developed interest in debates, school press, music and even cinema which in some sense became an hobby for the author so much so that he considered writing a book on the subject much later in his life. While he struggled to earn a scholarship into Cambridge he eventually earned a scholarship into Magdalene college in Cambridge.

Much unlike many other individuals of his time who’s advance in education was halted by the Second World War which began on 3 September 1939. Fage points out that his services as a soldier which began on 12 October 1939 was deferred due to his scholarship. In Cambridge he was introduced into the academic discipline History where he was lectured by individuals such as Kitson Clark, Kenneth Pickthorn among others. Fage’s fascination with aircraft indeed during his time in Cambridge paved the way for the termination of his commitment to the army which was substituted to joining the Royal Air Force which remained his major contribution to the war. Interestingly Fage’s time in the Air Force brought him in close contact for the first time to continents he had only heard off such as Africa, and Asia which would prove useful much later in his life. Fages account continues with his return after the war to Cambridge to complete his B.A degree. And much later post graduate studies.

One can indeed say that Fage’s PhD could be described as his first attempt to study African history since his thesis mainly centered on issues in southern Rhodesian history. Interestingly, according to Fage after the completion of his PhD “he did not think exclusively in terms of an academic career” in fact, he seemed more willing to go back to the Royal Air Force. Nevertheless, his academic sensibilities prevailed and saw him accepting an appointment of lectureship in the gold coast college which offered a better pay and in his words he had already come to the conclusion that if he specialized in the history of Africa it would be better to specialized in base which was actually in the continent.

According to Fage the Gold Coast College at Legon posed an onerous task for him given the exigencies of the period. His time in the college involved strengthening the staff and pioneering the development of the department of history which graduated its first students in 1952. Nevertheless the author adds that his time in the gold coast kindled an interest in West Africa and saw him indoctrinating himself with useful materials on the region which resulted much later in the book A History of West Africa: An Introductory Survey. Other works he went on to write were an Atlas of African History, Ghana: A Historical Interpretation. Another prominent contribution to African studies he notes was the creation of the Journal of African History.

He returned later to London were he became part of the School of Oriental and African Studies (S.O.A.S) and much later went to Birmingham particularly the University of Birmingham were he pioneered the establishment of the Centre for West African Studies(C.W.A.S).

While Fage’s memoir is emphatic on his years as an intellectual and contributor to the development of African history he was also active in administrative work which culminated in him being a Pro Vice Chancellor for the University of Birmingham. In the closing chapters of Fage’s memoir he highlights his time with UNESCO particularly in relation to creating a landmark text on African history UNESCO General History of Africa much from the perspectives of Africans he also adds his co-edited work with Roland Oliver which resulted in the Cambridge history of Africa which boasts of five volumes that covers African history from earliest times.

Indeed, from the foregoing one cannot but appreciate the insight by an historian of Africa who though a Non-African chooses to share his experiences and nostalgic past in the writing of African history. It is not gainsaying to point out that Fage’s memoir stands in the same hierarchy of similar memoirs by Non-African Historians such as Roland Oliver’s In the Realms of Gold: Pioneering in African History and Living with Africa by Jan Vansina. What this Indeed show in the words of Toyin Falola  is nothing but an indication that African studies is held in sufficiently high regard to support the publication of memoirs by its leading lights. In fact, he points out that these books would inspire those who are about to enter the field and lift the spirits of those who are experiencing frustration and self-doubts about their own careers. The body of knowledge produced through these memoirs indeed provides historians, historiographers and academics from other discipline with a better understanding on the development of history and the invaluable contributions of Non-African Historians to the writing of African history.

But one must necessarily point out that some pitfalls are unavoidable in a work such as this given it is solely written from the author’s perspective. Fage’s memoir seem to be unavoidably filled with  details and facts which in some cases are unimportant but one cannot readily fault the author on this basis given his professional antecedent as an historian.

Also, in consensus with Toyin Falola who reviewed a similar work by Roland Oliver In the Realms of Gold: Pioneering in African History the authors seemed rather emphatic on their contribution as pioneers of African studies throughout their work. Fage pays little attention to African historians in fact, where their names are mentioned such as in the case of Kenneth dike, Adu Boahen among others their contributions to African historical scholarship is either taken piece-meal or regarded as an overbearing effect of the authors contribution to African historical scholarship.

Nevertheless, one must readily point out that To Africa and Back Memoirs provides a bulk of information for historical enthusiasts and neophyte historians. It essentially quenches the thirst of academics of varying discipline interested in understanding the herculean task embarked on by a plethora of individuals in restoring Africa to the world of history.