"Contemporary Africa is simply inconceivable without understanding the role and impact played by nationalism which gave rise to postcolonial African states as they are currently configured and the imperatives for self-determination and development that have driven African political cultures and imaginaries," writes Paul Zeleza, "Trying to unpack the historical dynamics of African nationalism—its causes, constructions, compositions, contexts, courses, and consequences—is immensely complicated but critical to mapping more productive futures for Africa..."