inspiration for his documentary series The Africans: A Triple Heritage was Ali's view that much of modern Africa could be described by its three main influences: the colonial and imperialist legacy of the West, the spiritual and cultural influence of Islam spreading from the east, and Africa's own indigenous legacy. The paradoxes of Africa Mazrui believed there were six paradoxes that are central to understanding Africa: Africa was the birthplace of humankind, but it is the last continent (besides Antarctica) to be made habitable in a modern sense. Although Africans have not been the most abused group of people in modern history, they have been the most humiliated. Africa is the most different from the West culturally, but is westernizing very quickly. Africa possesses extreme natural wealth, but its people are very poor. Africa is huge, yet very fragmented. Africa is geographically central, but politically marginal. The problem of Africa's dependency Mazrui argued that, as long as Africa remained dependent on the developed world, no relationship between the developed world and Africa would be beneficial to Africa. In the face of détente between the US and the USSR, Mazrui was quoted as saying: "When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. When elephants make love, however, it is also the grass that suffers." Africa's greatest resource Mazrui believed the greatest resource that Africa possessed was the African people. In particular, he pointed to African Americans, arguing that they must remember their African heritage and find a way to exert their influence over U.S. foreign policy if Africa ever hopes to climb out of its marginal position. Ali explained to a friend that his joint professorship at Michigan and Jos was his attempt to be a part of such a connection. Professional organizations In addition to his academic appointments, Mazrui also served as president of the African Studies Association (USA) and as vice-president of the International Political Science Association and has also served as special advisor to the World Bank. He has also served on the board of the American Muslim Council, Washington, D.C. Works Mazrui's research interests included African politics, international political culture, political Islam and North-South relations. He is author or co-author of more than twenty books. Mazrui has also published hundreds of articles in major scholastic journals and for public media. He has also served on the editorial boards of more than twenty international scholarly journals. Mazrui