« Ces principes guideront l'examen des lois, des politiques et des pratiques fonctionnelles et constitueront une assise pour transformer la façon dont le gouvernement fédéral établit des partenariats avec les peuples et les gouvernements autochtones et les soutient. Les dix principes sont fondés sur la reconnaissance des peuples, des gouvernements, des lois et des droits autochtones, y compris le droit à l'autodétermination et le droit inhérent à l'autonomie gouvernementale. Les principes reposent sur l'article 35 de la Constitution et sur la Déclaration des Nations Unies sur les droits des peuples autochtones et sont façonnés par la Commission royale sur les peuples autochtones et par les appels à l’action de la Commission de vérité et réconciliation » -- Fourni par l'éditeur.

The result of years of work by scholars from all over the world, The UNESCO General History of Africa reflects how the different peoples of Africa view their civilizations and shows the historical relationships between the various parts of the continent. Historical connections with other continents demonstrate Africa's contribution to the development of human civilization. Each volume is lavishly illustrated and contains a comprehensive bibliography. This fifth volume of the acclaimed series covers the history of the continent from the beginning of the sixteenth century to the close of the eighteenth century in which two themes emerge: first, the continuing internal evolution of the states and cultures of Africa during this period second, the increasing involvement of Africa in external trade--with major but unforeseen consequences for the whole world. In North Africa, we see the Ottomans conquer Egypt. South of the Sahara, some of the larger, older states collapse, and new power bases emerge. Traditional religions continue to coexist with both Christianity (suffering setbacks) and Islam (in the ascendancy). Along the coast, particularly of West Africa, Europeans establish a trading network which, with the development of New World plantation agriculture, becomes the focus of the international slave trade. The immediate consequences of this trade for Africa are explored, and it is argued that the long-term global consequences include the foundation of the present world-economy with all its built-in inequalities.

The hardcover edition of volume 8 was published in 1994. This paperback edition is the eighth and final volume to be published in the UNESCO General History of Africa. Volume 8 examines the period from 1935 to the present, and details the role of African states in the Second World War and the rise of postwar Africa. This is one of the most important books in the entire series, and as such, it is an unabridged paperback.