Issues dealt with in this study of democracy in Africa, include underdevelopment and economic marginality, ethnic consciousness and the nature of political power in Africa. A true African democracy, Ake argues, is both a second independence and a deep need for self- realisation. The late distinguished scholar outlines, in a sweeping continental survey, how the democratic commitment has transformed Africa's legacy of dictatorship, military regimes and single-party rule. He also demonstrates how cleverly conservative autocrats have spoken the democratic message and subverted its promise. The danger of trivialising democracy into successive multi-party elections is now very real, and the books spells out the hazards facing nascent democratic movements.