An revealing account of how Africa's new oil boom could make or break the countries affected.

The development of Africa's oil has greatly accelerated in recent years, with some countries looking at the prospect of almost unimaginable flows of money into their national budgets. But the story of African oil has usually been associated with conflict, corruption and disaster, with older producers such as Nigeria having little to show for the many billions of dollars they've earned. In this eye-opening book, former BBC correspondent Celeste Hicks questions the inevitability of the so-called resource curse, revealing what the discovery of oil means for ordinary Africans, and how China's involvement could mean a profound change in Africa's relationship with the West.

A much-needed account of an issue that will likely transform the fortunes of a number of African countries - for better or for worse.

Through meticulous research, rigorous analysis and personable jargon-free language, Celeste Hicks lays bare one of the great development dilemmas of our time. Africa's New Oil is a must-read for anybody who wishes to see the wealth from the continent's natural resources fairly distributed, as well as being a practical handbook for those actively pressuring their governments to exploit those resources for the benefit of all.