■ Clearing Nigeria’s air: Misunderstanding of remarks made by General Gowon on his return to Lagos from the OAU conference has led many eagerly to grasp the possibility of immediate Nigeria-Biafra talks without conditions ■ A month in the country—6: Saviours with (and without) a sword: Professor Dennis Austin, concluding his series of articles on Ghana politics, examines the prospects after the general election ■ A New mood in the African novel: Contemporary African writing has seemed, over the past two decades in which it has been growing, to be moving in a single direction, that is towards a comprehensive exploration of the implications, social and spiritual, of the African encounter with the West ■ Books and publications publications: Hard-line critics- Vive le President by Daniel Ewande; Lettre a la France Negre by Yambo Ouologuem ■ OAU decisions at the summit: A part from the resolution on Nigeria which wax Delta with last week, the OAU summit conference in Addis Ababa also passed a number of other resolutions ■ Commercial news: Plans for West Africa's rice: All West African states are eligible for membership of the West African rice development association established after a conference in Monrovia but membership is to be opened to other African countries. ■ Dateline Africa: Sierra Leone: Reaction to Foray's support for Biafra: Great surprise has been expressed in Lagos at Sierra Leone's stand at the OAU conference at Addis Ababa this month