F. Abiola Irele and Biodun Jeyifo are currently teaching in the African and African-American studies department at Harvard University. Irele's The African Experience in Literature and Ideology is a fundamental text in the field. Biodun Jeyifo is a former director of the WEB DuBois Institute at Harvard.

"...the well-researched and readable content along with the attractive layout and quality binding will entice scholars to purchase their own sets. Highly recommended for academic libraries supporting African, African American, or philosophy studies."--Library Journal, Starred Review"It provides insights into the thinking, writings, and accomplishments of a wide compass of people, as well as terms, concepts, cultural phenomena, movements, and events that are too little known in the West...this outstanding resource brings together a broadened, comprehensive understanding of a major part of the globe for large public and academic libraries."--Booklist, Starred Review"The encyclopedia makes, I believe, an important contribution to international scholarship in identifying the width and depth of African concepts and ideas in this field...Oxford University Press really have a winner here."--Reference Reviews