This volume focuses on the directions that African cultural studies has taken over the years and covers the following central themes: contemporary issues in African cultural studies; Gender and the making of identity; the dual discourses of Afropessimism and Afrofuturism; problematizing the African diaspora and methodology and African cultural studies. The second of two volumes, the book predominantly pulls together a rich reservoir of previously published articles from Critical Arts: South-North Cultural and Media Studies. Taken together the two volumes re-expose for international readers sets of theories, methodologies and studies that not only have been influenced by global trends, but which themselves have contributed to shaping those trends. While the first volume addressed foundational themes and issues in African cultural studies, this second volume focuses on the directions that African cultural studies is taking; the complex ways in which gender can be seen at work in the making of identity; the juxtaposition of two relatively new themes in African cultural studies, namely Afropessimism and Afrofuturism; the ways in which the presence of continental Africans in the diaspora problematize taken-for-granted conceptions of diaspora and diasporic identity; identifying some of the methodological issues and approaches that have been taken up in African cultural studies work. This book will be a key resource for academics, researchers and advanced students of African cultural studies, media and cultural studies, African studies, history, politics, sociology, and social and cultural anthropology, while also being of interest to those seeking an introduction to the sub-field of African cultural studies.

A wedding could be a happy ending for some or simply a new beginning for others. While celebrating their cousin’s wedding, sisters Julia and Alisa encounters two different men who are about to turn their worlds upside down. Julia finds herself instantly attracted to accomplished young law graduate Bazli Sulaiman, while Alisa finds herself instantly repulsed by his best friend and superior, Gadafi Wahid. While Bazli courts Julia, Alisa and Gadafi find themselves reluctant chaperones, forced to get to know each other despite their initial dislike toward each other. In this modern reimagining of Jane Austen’s beloved novel, Pride and Prejudice, two sisters learn the true meaning of moving forward and that while chasing their own happy endings, they are learning to create new beginnings as well.

Some of my best friends are white is a collection of sharp, satirical essays on contemporary South African issues from the point of view of a successful corporate professional - who just happens to be Zulu. Crossing various controversial, amusing and downright confusing racial divides, the title delivers a healthy dose of black - and white - humour as it explores some of the rainbow nation's defining characteristics, its many colourful characters and its myriad mysterious idiosyncrasies.

In this third installment of the Chronicles of the Medieval Underworld, a primordial force strikes the countryside, causing death and destruction in its wake. It's up to Thurmond, Sarah, Roscoe, and Torgul to figure out what's happening and stop it before a war breaks loose. After years of difficult missions and escaping death, Thurmond and his witch companion, Sarah, have finally been initiated into the Brotherhood of the Underworld Adventurers. Their dedication is tested quickly as the people of Gorgonholm have fallen under a dark and dangerous spell—wives poison husbands, old friends viciously attack each other and, most importantly, the wild neighboring Keltin clans plan to invade and slaughter them all. To save the city, Thurmond and his steadfast comrades are tasked with finding Malaichai, the only wizard powerful enough to defeat this eldritch force. Their perilous journey is filled with old foes and haunted traps. Worse yet, the wizard Malachai has gone mad with necromancy and has an obsession with melding humans and animals to create hybrid creatures. Their mission keeps getting stranger, but with a war quickly approaching, the crew will risk anything to save the people of Gorgonholm. From the subterranean vaults of a malicious necromancer to the crash and chaos of a medieval battlefield, The Battle of Gorgonholm will have you on the edge of your seat rooting for the unlikely heroes.

Jesse Rigsby hates video games—and for good reason. You see, a video game character is trying to kill him. After getting sucked in the new game Full Blast with his friend Eric, Jesse starts to see the appeal of vaporizing man-size praying mantis while cruising around by jet pack. But pretty soon, a mysterious figure begins following Eric and Jesse, and they discover they can't leave the game. If they don't figure out what's going on fast, they'll be trapped for good! With black-and-white illustrations throughout and a cliff hanger at the end of every chapter, this is a great series for kids who think they don’t like to read!