Keller’s well-written book examines the history of colonial surveillance in interwar French West Africa (Afrique Occidentale Française, or aof), with an emphasis on Senegal and Dakar, the capital of aof. Based on a large number of archival sources from Senegal and France, her study is situated primarily within the historical literature about French imperialism, occasionally taking into account works in political, social, and literary theory.
One of the great contributions of Keller’s book is its demonstration of the extent to which Dakar became a node in various global networks. People from France, other European countries, and French and British colonies beyond aof, such as Vietnam and Gambia, all moved through Dakar, sometimes to find wealth or adventure but most often to extend political networks. In that context, Keller adds to our understanding of the pan-African and communist groups that attempted to challenge colonialism worldwide, including political associations...