Mark Weston is a writer and policy adviser specialising in international development. He has lived in South Africa, Ghana and India, and has worked with some of the world's leading academics and development agencies. He has advised the UK government on the security threat posed by West Africa, and the Nigerian government on ways to harness the potential of the country's youth. He co-wrote Solving the Riddle of Globalisation and Development (Routledge 2008), and his collaborations with Harvard University, the London School of Economics and the University of California on the links between poverty, gender, education and health have featured in the world's top academic journals. He is a contributor to Global Dashboard, the foreign affairs blog. When he is not roaming the wilds of Africa, Mark divides his time between Spain and England. His Twitter username is @markweston19.

This is a courageous book, which sheds much-needed light on a corner of Africa that rarely gets media attention. Weston's first hand reporting and analysis will help anyone seeking to understand how poor countries work and poor people live. -- Seth Kaplan, author of Fixing Fragile States A wise and compelling book, which offers a real picture of what daily life is like in West Africa. Weston is a brave and resourceful traveler, who has entered the heart of some of the most fascinating and least visited parts of the world. -- Toby Green The Ringtone and the Drum is high-energy food for wanderlust. Teeming with interesting facts, it turns Weston's perspicacious eye on some of the least visited countries on earth. The result is an accessible, unique and enchanting account. But beware: it will tempt even the least daring to pack their bags for West Africa! -- David Bloom Fuses the traditions of great travel writing with a deep and sophisticated knowledge of the fast-changing politics and cultures of West Africa. The result is a truly engaging and informative book that provides a rare tour of one of the world's poorest and least understood regions. -- Doug Saunders Globe and Mail

Mark Weston is a writer and policy adviser specialising in international development. He has lived in South Africa, Ghana and India, and has worked with some of the world's leading academics and development agencies. He has advised the UK government on the security threat posed by West Africa, and the Nigerian government on ways to harness the potential of the country's youth. He co-wrote Solving the Riddle of Globalisation and Development (Routledge 2008), and his collaborations with Harvard University, the London School of Economics and the University of California on the links between poverty, gender, education and health have featured in the world's top academic journals. He is a contributor to Global Dashboard, the foreign affairs blog. When he is not roaming the wilds of Africa, Mark divides his time between Spain and England. His Twitter username is @markweston19.

This is a courageous book, which sheds much-needed light on a corner of Africa that rarely gets media attention. Weston's first hand reporting and analysis will help anyone seeking to understand how poor countries work and poor people live. -- Seth Kaplan, author of Fixing Fragile States A wise and compelling book, which offers a real picture of what daily life is like in West Africa. Weston is a brave and resourceful traveler, who has entered the heart of some of the most fascinating and least visited parts of the world. -- Toby Green The Ringtone and the Drum is high-energy food for wanderlust. Teeming with interesting facts, it turns Weston's perspicacious eye on some of the least visited countries on earth. The result is an accessible, unique and enchanting account. But beware: it will tempt even the least daring to pack their bags for West Africa! -- David Bloom Fuses the traditions of great travel writing with a deep and sophisticated knowledge of the fast-changing politics and cultures of West Africa. The result is a truly engaging and informative book that provides a rare tour of one of the world's poorest and least understood regions. -- Doug Saunders Globe and Mail

Mark Weston is a writer and policy adviser specialising in international development. He has lived in South Africa, Ghana and India, and has worked with some of the world's leading academics and development agencies. He has advised the UK government on the security threat posed by West Africa, and the Nigerian government on ways to harness the potential of the country's youth. He co-wrote Solving the Riddle of Globalisation and Development (Routledge 2008), and his collaborations with Harvard University, the London School of Economics and the University of California on the links between poverty, gender, education and health have featured in the world's top academic journals. He is a contributor to Global Dashboard, the foreign affairs blog. When he is not roaming the wilds of Africa, Mark divides his time between Spain and England. His Twitter username is @markweston19.

This is a courageous book, which sheds much-needed light on a corner of Africa that rarely gets media attention. Weston's first hand reporting and analysis will help anyone seeking to understand how poor countries work and poor people live. -- Seth Kaplan, author of Fixing Fragile States A wise and compelling book, which offers a real picture of what daily life is like in West Africa. Weston is a brave and resourceful traveler, who has entered the heart of some of the most fascinating and least visited parts of the world. -- Toby Green The Ringtone and the Drum is high-energy food for wanderlust. Teeming with interesting facts, it turns Weston's perspicacious eye on some of the least visited countries on earth. The result is an accessible, unique and enchanting account. But beware: it will tempt even the least daring to pack their bags for West Africa! -- David Bloom Fuses the traditions of great travel writing with a deep and sophisticated knowledge of the fast-changing politics and cultures of West Africa. The result is a truly engaging and informative book that provides a rare tour of one of the world's poorest and least understood regions. -- Doug Saunders Globe and Mail