West Africa magazine2025-12-162025-12-161980-05-26https://nigeriareposit.nln.gov.ng/handle/20.500.14186/2402Issue 3279 of West Africa Magazine (May 26, 1980) tackles Guinea's presidential assassination attempt, Nigeria's oil exploration, and Africa's food self-sufficiency push. Published in London/distributed in Apapa, it covers OAU's Lagos summit, oral historian Mbalifele Janneh's legacy, and Ghana's timber trade woes. Key stories: “Stability and change” notes attempt on Guinea's Touré; “Prospecting for oil” eyes Nigeria's new oil deals; OAU plans food drive. Elsewhere: oral historian Janneh dies, Ghana timber firm in trouble, Africa spotlight at Frankfurt Book Fair, and cocoa trade updates. A mix – politics, oil, and culture.■ Stability and change: Questions about the difference between stability and longevity (as regards West African regimes) have been dramatically raised by the news that there has been an attempt on the life of President Sèkou Tourè of Guinea ■ Prospecting for oil in Nigeria: In the first of two articles on the Nigerian oil industry Martin Quinlan, of the Petroleum Economist, looks at the prospects for a new attitude towards oil companies over exploration and financial arrangements. ■ OAU’s plan for food: A drive towards self-sufficiency in food production is one of the main recommendations of the Plan of Action agreed at the OAU's special summit in Lagos last month. ■ The story of an oral historian of genius: In Africa, says the Malian author Hampathe Ba, when an old man dies it is like setting a whole library on fire and burning. it down if Mbalifele Janneh, the octogenarian sage of Bakau who died last month was no library, he was certainly a good number of books combined ■ Timber in trouble: John Kugblenu adds a postscript to our articles on the timber trade: African timber and plywood (Ghana) limited (ATP) at Samreboi in the Western region apparently in serious difficulties at present ■ Books and publications: Who is who: Dictionary of African biography: volume 2. Sierra Leone and Zaire (reference publications) ■ Africa focus at Frankfurt: The world s biggest Book Fair is paying especial attention this year to African publishing. A. C. Imfeld of Evangelical Press Service reports on some of the preparations involved. ■ Economic and business news: A cocoa consuming view: Britain's Cocoa, Chocolate and Confectionery Alliance held its annual general meeting last weekenArticle