It may seem presumptuous for a political scientist to stray beyond his field into the realm of imaginative literature. It seems appropriate, however, at a Symposium on African art, literature and music, to reflect - however naively - on the contribution, if any, that the novelist can make to the social scientist's grasp of his subject. After all, this Association was established in part to foster inter-disciplinary understanding of Africa's past and present (and, some would claim, its future), and as a professional body it is perhaps unique in embracing a membership drawn not simply from the arts and social sciences, but also those with interests in the applied sciences and agriculture.