Introduction: Incantations for a ‘Barbarous Relic’

Roman Grynberg () and Fwasa K. Singogo ()
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Roman Grynberg: University of Namibia
Fwasa K. Singogo: University of Namibia

Chapter Chapter 1 in African Gold, 2021, pp 3-19 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract According to the World Gold Council (WGC), the African region is now geographically the largest producer of gold in the world with some 821 tonnes produced in 2018. Gold, it is said, is less a word than it is an incantation. In Africa, this incantation first conjures up images and realities, as elsewhere, of great personal wealth but only for the very few. It also conjures up many horrors throughout African history. This chapter introduces the reader to the commodity—gold and its long history on the African continent. It illustrates how the industry has changed profoundly in Africa with the geographic dispersion of production away from South Africa. The chapter then briefly discusses the various statistical sources used throughout the book. Their reliability, limitations and the context in which they are used are also considered.

Keywords: Africa; Gold history; Trade; Mining; Statistical sources (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-3-030-65995-0_1

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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-65995-0_1

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