Routledge Handbook of Francophone Africa

The Routledge Handbook of Francophone Africa brings together a multidisciplinary team of international experts to reflect on the history, politics, societies, and cultures of French-speaking parts of Africa.

Consisting of approximately 35% of Africa's territory, Francophone Africa is a shifting concept, with its roots in French and Belgian colonial rule. This handbook develops and problematizes the term, with thematic sections covering:

French and Belgian colonialism

The Maghreb

Francophone Africans in France

Francophone African Literature and Film

International relations beyond colonialism

The chapters demonstrate the evolution of "Francophone Africa" into a multi-dimensional construct, with both a material and an imagined reality. Materially, it defines a regional territorial space that coexists with other conceptualisations of African space and borders. Conceptually, Francophone Africa constitutes a shared linguistic and cultural space within which collective memories are shared, not least through their connection to the French imperial imagination. Overall, the Handbook demonstrates that as global power structures and relations evolve, African agency is increasingly assertive in shaping French-Africa relations.

Bringing this important debate together into a single volume, this important Handbook will be an essential resource for students and scholars interested in Francophone Africa.