West Africa magazine2025-11-122025-11-121972-01-07https://nigeriareposit.nln.gov.ng/handle/20.500.14186/2321The Issue 2847 of West Africa Magazine (week ending 7th January 1972) rings in the new year with sober reflections and big news. Published in London/distributed in Apapa, it surveys 1971’s lessons for West Africa, dissects Nigeria’s Ibadan riot aftermath, and spotlights three hot African literature tomes. Plus: Ghana’s shocker devaluation and OAU defence talks. Highlights include “Lessons of Africa’s year”, pondering shared challenges/opportunities; “Ibadan riots verdict” publishes the delayed probe findings, months later; Books raves about Ramsaran/Cartey/Heywood on African lit, from fresh angles to poetic “whispers”. Elsewhere: Ghana slashes its cedi by 48% after Nixon’s dollar move (Commercial news); Emperor Haile Selassie opens OAU defence talks in Addis (Dateline Africa). A cerebral, turbulent start to ’72 West Africa recalibrates.■ Lessons of Africa's year: What did West Africa countries most obviously share together in the year that has passed and what will they share ■ Ibadan riots verdict: After several months consideration the federal government has released the report of the commission of enquiry ■ Books and publications: The African experience: New approach to African literature 2nd Ed. By J. A. Ramsaron; Whispers from a continent by Wilfred Cartey; Perspective on African literature Edited by Christopher Heywood ■ Commercial news: Ghana devalues by 48 per cent: Following the US decision to devalue the dollar by 7.9per cent ■ Dateline Africa: OAU:Defence commission meeting: Opening the fourth session of the OAU defence commission in Addis Ababa Emperor Harle SelasseenArticle