This is not, strictly speaking, a ‘Tale of Two Continents’ so much as a number of eclectic offerings about parts of Africa and parts of Asia, crossing time, space, races, and cultures. Indeed, it is rewarding precisely for this reason, and for trying to move scholarship forward in ways that, building on broad historical foundations, endeavour to be fresh, critical, and self-reflexive.The book offers a colourfully presented and decidedly mixed, wide-ranging menu, rather than a sustained argument. . . .Afrasia: A Tale of Two Continents will likely benefit those with some familiarity with its subject areas more than those new to, or starting to engage, its core themes. Overall, it offers an enlivening and unconventional contribution, with the potential to catalyse further work in positive ways. Its critical invocation of the need for a discourse about discourse on Africa’s relations with China, Japan, or India points the way to promising scholarly directions, including, as Ngugi wa Thiong’o would like to see, ways that go beyond the age of European empires and post-colonial influence. This can only be a good thing, especially if it catalyses further such insightful works by leading African scholars that properly enrich and advance these avenues of enquiry.

E-International Relations

In a volume of over four hundred pages Afrasia: A Tale of Two Continents offers many interesting questions to ponder. The chapters are glimpses, reflections, and in some cases lengthy discussions on many issues[.] . . .Afrasia: A Tale of Two Continents contain sufficient thoughts, arguments, and references for further investigation of the layered complexities of Afro–Asian relations. [It will] certainly will generate debates and induce more critical research.

African Studies Review