Political Leadership in Africa: leaders and development south of the Sahara by Giovanni Carbone & Alessandro Pellegata Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2020. Pp. 386. $99.99 (hbk).

ports – qua title so to say – to be somewhat comprehensive and thus much more than a mere ‘guide of sorts’. This implied promise is, of course, hard to fulfil. Yet considering the format of the Historical Dictionary series, which takes the discrete modern nation state as its unit of analysis, this unfulfilled promise is perhaps a welcome counterpoint to the potential reification of its very unit of analysis. There is no doubt that theHistorical Dictionary of Niger serves as an ideal entry point and stepping stone for further research into issues related to Niger. Although some areas are covered more intensely than others (there is more on party politics than on Nigérien music, poetry and film-making, for example), I strongly recommend it to students and scholars interested in Niger.