China + Africa = Media Wishlist

April 19, 2007 6:05 PM

I'm looking for media detailing the growing relationship between Africa and China; specifically, the people living it first-hand.

Who are they? Do they bring their families? What's it like for them to live in such a foreign place?

Nonfiction books and articles are sort of what I'm thinking is out there (at least in English), but novels, documentaries, and anything else would be great too.

I have access to a public library and the Internet, and can head up to my local big-city library in Los Angeles to access their foreign-based materials. I don't speak Mandarin, but I can understand most written French. Finally, if any of your media pertain to Ghana or Senegal, where I've spent some time, that would be amazing!

Thanks!

posted by mdonley to Media & Arts (8 answers total)

Maybe not in depth enough, but the BBC world service did a number of pieces about Africa during the premier's most recent visit. Some included a close look at llocal impacts. For someone like me, who's not particularly knowledgeable, it was very interesting.
posted by idb at 7:36 PM on April 19, 2007

allAfrica's Australia, Asia, and Africa section might be a good place to start. Are you interested in the political and business relations as well as individual migration?

Also, are you interested in Chinese people in Africa, African people in China, or both?
posted by carmen at 7:44 PM on April 19, 2007

Dan Wei has a China and Africa category at his blog. And I recall reading some interesting articles in the Wall Street Journal in recent weeks (and years) about China's move into Africa. This article from Feb 2, 2007, "New Management: In Africa, China's Expansion Begins to Stir Resentment," was particularly interesting.
posted by mediareport at 8:30 PM on April 19, 2007

(With lots of details about "the people living it first-hand.")
posted by mediareport at 8:32 PM on April 19, 2007

Ah, here's the complete article.
posted by mediareport at 8:34 PM on April 19, 2007

Response by poster: Are you interested in the political and business relations as well as individual migration?
Yes.
Also, are you interested in Chinese people in Africa, African people in China, or both?
Both.

Great links so far - thanks!
posted by mdonley at 8:49 PM on April 19, 2007

BBC News has a *lot* of articles and video news reports on this issue.
posted by electriccynic at 1:14 AM on April 20, 2007

China in Africa: The New Debate
posted by Abiezer at 3:19 PM on May 3, 2007