African Textile Technologies
Volume 7 No. 2

FEATURES - Textile Industry

Textiles in Nigeria

Nena Uche

Nigeria's fashion industry was forced to innovate when the Government placed a ban on imported clothing. The lessons learned from this policy action provide insight into ways in which Africa's industries can be promoted.

A Failed Industrial Revolution: Merchant Capital and Textile Consumption in West Africa.

A. B. Zack-Williams

The high popularity of West African textiles all around the world has failed to bring about any improvements in production techniques or in the income level of hardworking producers. What went wrong with Africa's industrial revolution?

Small Scale Weaving Technology

Research by a number of organizations has produced simple and innovative methods of textile production. Here we provide a practical review of weaving fundamentals, with technical details for a number of handlooms suitable for various types of textile products.

Human Resources

Colonialism and African Indigenous Technology

Gloria T. Emeagwali and Nurudeen Abubakar

There is evidence to suggest that British colonial policies often work against the development of African indigenous technology, and in some cases sought to destroy it. Glassmaking, tool manufacturing, and textiles are only a few of the industries that were virtually eliminated as a result of these policies.

Agriculture

Organic Fertilizers: A Solution to Africa's Agricultural Problems

Roger I Lippman

For decades, Africa's farmlands have decreased, providing less food while the population has continued to grow. An alternative is needed to increase production and restore farmland. One possible solution is the Kozgro Agricultural Program, which includes significant incentive for a project owner and gives farmers what they need to do a better job.

Telecommunications

AT&T Promises Clear Phone Lines for Africa

Mawuli Tse

The American communications giant is proposing a multi-billion dollar scheme to put Africa's communications at the forefront of any system in place today. Will it really happen, or is this another promise of technological "leapfrogging" for the third World?

New Communication Technologies: Oppressors or Liberators?

Jerry Komia Domatob

New communication technologies can play leading roles, either in the development or underdevelopment of sub-Saharan Africa. Whether these technologies will uplift or oppress Africans will depend on the efforts of policy makers to educate and empower their constituents.

Information Systems

Internetworking with TCP/IP

Peter Orondo

Computer networking has become one of the major components of the information revolution. Today, information can be retrieved from almost anywhere in the world, provided the source and destination have access to a common network, such as the internet. This article explains the basic functions of the Internet and provides a starting guide for readers interested in setting up their own systems.

Computers Empower Independent Newspapers in Cameroun

Mitchell Land

African publications have made great strides in expressing their freedom of speech since the wave of democratization swept across the continent a few years ago. This survey of Camerounian newspapers shows that press freedom has also brought with it new technologies and the opportunity to reach more at lower cost.

Opinion

Editor's Note

What Does Appropriate Technology mean to you?

Jeremy Ascough

Appropriate technology, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. Technology should be seen as a tool for solving a specific problem in a specific context.