Review by Jamie Miller
Africa Spectrum no. 1/2012

The Encyclopedia of South Africa is designed as a compendium of the history of the new South Africa. And make no mistake, the focus is firmly on the “new”. The 372-page volume evinces a distinct bias toward social, cultural, and black history, and is very sparse on more traditional topics and figures. There are entries for the trumpeter Hugh Masekela, Coloured author Alex La Guma, nineteenth-century Ndebele king Mzilikazi, and even pop songstress Brenda Fassie. But there are no entries for either John Vorster or PW Botha. Even the “Pretoria” entry is listed under “Tshwane”.