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African Population Studies/Etude de la Population Africaine, Vol. 12, No. 2, September/septembre 1997 Book Review Francis Gendreau, La population de l’Afrique, manuel de démographie, Paris, Karthala-CEPED. 463 p. ISBN: 2-86537-431-9. Elizabeth Omoluabi-Siegert Département de Sociologie, Université de Witwatersrand Code Number: ep97018 This manual on demography is intended for future demographers and statisticians of the African continent. Francis Gendreau is well known in Francophone Africa for his contributions both to research and the teaching of demography particularly at the Yaoundé-based Demographic Research and Training Institute (IFORD). Here he is sharing this experience with us. This book is divided into three parts entitled Observe, Analyze and Organize to "chronologically follow the major steps of scientific thinking necessary for the conduct of a demographic study", as the author rightly indicates. In the first part, the author deals with demographic data collection methods, stressing on the need to ensure continuity between data collection and analysis. He does not content himself with a simple discussion of each of the different types of data collection but provides us with an in-depth work on its historical background, its objectives and sensitizes the reader on problems related to its implementation. A chapter is thus devoted to censuses, another one to demographic surveys, and third to vital registration in Africa, while showing the interrelation between one type of collection and another. He also provides us with extracts of census and demographic survey questionnaires to illustrate the points, even going into details of the methodology of demographic surveys as well as the content of these questionnaires. As we all do, he deplores, the poor quality of vital registration systems in Africa. According to him, "The situation of vital registration statistics in Africa is altogether disappointing. First of all, published figures are scarce. Where they do exist, they are not regularly published and often largely behind schedule." However, he gives exceptions to this sad record (Cape Verde, Egypt, Mauritius, Reunion, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles). Finally, he proposes solutions mainly based on the political will to promote vital registration. The first part ends with three chapters devoted to the questionnaire as a data collection instrument, a quick overview of sampling techniques and the author’s reflections on the quality of observation. Here, Gendreau shares with us his experience as a field-worker in Africa. He stresses the importance of the choice of the statistical unit targeted by any collection operation for collection per se and for the analysis of the data collected. The author explains the advantages of choosing the household as a statistical collection unit. It is a pity that he waited until the end of the first three chapters to show the importance of the household as a unit of analysis of demographic phenomena. Chapter VI, devoted to sampling techniques, deals with the basic principles and provides good definitions of the concepts of this discipline which often appears obscure for students. Accustomed to more elaborate work on previous themes, the reader may be somewhat dissatisfied, hoping at least for a discussion on the historical background of sampling operations carried out in Africa. Logistic problems, namely the absence of detailed maps and a recent and complete sampling base in several African countries are not tackled with. On practical aspects like what one does once on the field, after having adopted a sampling technique in the office, is seriously lacking in this chapter. On this theme, the author certainly did not wish to share his rich experience with his readers. The second part, "Analysis", deals with the main aspects of demographic analysis, making the distinction between the status and movement of population. Basic principles for the study of either aspect are provided and definitions taken into consideration in data collection. The author devotes an entire chapter to the treatment of the age and sex variables, namely to difficulties encountered in the former’s collection, and to the methods frequently used to avoid them. The distribution of population according to these variables and the influence of demographic phenomena are also reviewed. Using the Lexis diagram, the author explains the concepts of time and duration in demography. By the same means, he quickly looks at the definitions of cohort, generation, progression, rate and quotient, all measures that are used in subsequent chapters devoted to the analysis of demographic phenomena such as (mortality, fertility, migrations). After having disclosed the "imperfect" side of African data, one is somewhat surprised by the absence of a discussion on the indirect methods for analysis of the demographic phenomena mentioned upon which would have justified a manual on African demography. In these chapters, one has the impression of reading any European manual on demography. In the second section of the book, Gendreau provides elements of a comprehensive analysis of population dynamics. He does not only deal with the measurement of population growth, but also the models that have made it possible to describe it. The demographic transition model is thus reviewed but without really applying it to Africa. Population projections are often relegated to the end of the course on demography and this book is no exception to the rule. However, the merit here is the placing of Africa and the third world in a global context in terms of its growth and distribution. Population policies conclude the book with a discussion on the inextricable links between population, development and the environment. Different elements in the debate, the malthusian model, Esther Boserup’s contribution, do point to its complexity. The crippling economic crisis facing several African countries today is studied here in a context of population growth and urbanization. Population pressure affects both urban and rural areas; thus further complicating a situation that has already been rendered gloomy by drought, falling export earnings, micro-economic difficulties, political crises. Destined for the teaching of demography in the first and second cycles of the university, this book is written in a clear and relatively accessible style. As has been the wish of its author, this book can serve as a reference for the definition of concepts, the presentation of the main instruments for collection and analysis and the description of demographic data. However, as a manual on demography, the book suffers from the absence of an index , which would have facilitated quick reference to definitions. Its format is perhaps non-participatory for a student - absence of images and colour, of excercises geared towards greater understanding of the technical aspects of the discipline. Demography is a very technical discipline and a manual that breaks with tradition by trying to stimulate the student’s interest, through tips well-known to good teachers, will be highly successful. Elizabeth Omoluabi-Siegert |
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