Book excerpt: This is a vivid personal history of an international business career. "A Venture in Africa" takes the reader through the twists and turns of doing business with African states and leaders in the turbulent 1970s and later. Drawing on his long experience of modern Africa and international business, Sardanis portrays the crises, disasters and personalities he has encountered in the continent. He shows how the old Africa of corruption, despotism and nepotism is being replaced by a new Africa in which a rising generation of business leaders is emerging - with practical technical and professional skills and free from the post-colonial mentality. A hugely intriguing and entertaining story which shows that Africa, despite the bad press, presents an immensely important and a rich source of commercial opportunities for the successful businessman.