Zaire remains a relatively unknown country, despite the fact that it is one of the largest and most geopolitically strategic nations in Africa and has played a significant role in recent African and international affairs. Europeans first arrived in the area when the Portuguese explored the Congo River Basin in 1483. Isolated from developments in other parts of Africa until the mid-1950s, Zairians subsequently became conscious of the liberation struggles taking place in neighbouring countries and finally gained full independence themselves in 1960.

This volume investigates the development of biographical study in African history and historiography. Consisting of 10 case studies, it is preceded by an introductory prologue, which deals with the relationship between historiography and different forms of biographical study in the context of Western history-writing but especially African (historical and anthropological) studies. The first three case studies deal with the methodological insights of biographical studies for African history. This is followed by three case studies dealing with personas living through fundamental societal transitions, and four case studies focusing on the discursive dimensions of biographical subjects (including religion, cosmology and ideology). Countries or regions discussed include South Africa, Zambia, Gold Coast, Cameroon, Tanganyika, Congo-Kinshasa and the Central African Republic in colonial times. Contributors are Lindie Koorts, Elena Moore, Iva Peša, Paul Glen Grant, Jacqueline de Vries, Duncan Money, Morgan Robinson, Eve Wong, Klaas van Walraven, Erik Kennes.