Searching for Boko Haram: A History of Violence in Central Africa by Scott MacEachern

Scott MacEachern's book, 'Searching for Boko Haram: A History of Violence in Central Africa,' provides a deep historical and contextual understanding of the Lake Chad Basin, particularly focusing on the Mandara Mountains. The work avoids sensationalism by tracing the region's history back over 16,000 years, examining how local populations interpret violence and authority rather than delving deeply into Boko Haram itself. MacEachern leverages extensive archaeological fieldwork and linguistic analysis to illustrate the symbiotic yet conflict-ridden relationships between ethnic and religious communities, highlighting the region's role as a frontier characterized by banditry and smuggling. The book also explores how climatological changes have influenced human settlement and inter-group dynamics, offering valuable insights into the region's development and its potential future under climate change.

Matfess, H. (2019). Searching for Boko Haram: A History of Violence in Central Africa by Scott MacEachern. Anthropological Quarterly, 92(2), 587–590. https://doi.org/10.1353/anq.2019.0027