Looking to make some contacts in Ethiopia? Writing a report on Togo? Searching for a Kenyan recipe? Then browse the Penn African Studies (PAS) Web Page (http://www.sas.upenn.edu/African_Studies/AS.html). With a few mouse clicks, you can access a wealth of information on Africa.

Originally planned as an academic database, the PAS page is a comprehensive source for anyone interested in Africa. Government employees, nongovernment organizations, students, teachers and others find the page useful. In fact, the Library of Congress considers the PAS page the main source for African studies.

Photograph by Candace diCarlo

Dr. Ali Dinar (left) and Dr. Sandra Barnes meet regularly to discuss
ways of improving the Penn African Studies Web Page

"Only a few places in Africa are connected to the Internet," explained Sandra Barnes, director of African studies. "AT&T is now laying fiber-optic cable around the whole continent."

The PAS page first went on-line in March of 1993. Julie Sisskind, a graduate student, designed the page at Dr. Barnes' request. Dr. Barnes expected it to take the shape of an electronic bulletin board. But she got much more than a BBS.

"I had envisioned it as information primarily for faculty and graduate students about jobs, opportunities to travel abroad in Africa, internships, language-study opportunities, fellowship opportunities--information for your general, run-of-the-mill Africanist," Dr. Barnes said. "I did not envision it as information about Africa for the general public."

Yet that's exactly what the page provides. "Julie went much further than I had ever anticipated--but much to my pleasure," Dr. Barnes said.

Since Ms. Sisskind is now doing doctoral research in Ethiopia, the Web page has been placed in the very capable hands of Ali Dinar, a native of Sudan who is experienced in African studies and the Internet. He also shares Ms. Sisskind's enthusiasm.

"I knew he had the knowledge and the skills to succeed her," Dr. Barnes said. "I didn't anticipate that he would be as avid as she is. They both have incredible strengths in different dimensions, and they've both complemented each other in the building of the Web page. They're both jewels. And he really loves it--it's been a real labor of love."

Dr. Dinar's "labor" began in October of 1993, and over the last two years, he has witnessed an explosion of interest in the PAS page. During its first month, the site received 799 hits. In November of 1995, it received 262,808.

Why the dramatic increase? Dr. Dinar explains that a growing number of people are jacking into the Internet, and they're looking for the best on-line resources. And when it comes to providing information about Africa, no other Web site comes close to the PAS page.

"This was the first Web page of its kind in the world," Dr. Dinar offered. "We were the first to provide basic information for all African countries."

"There are other Web pages out there, but no one is as large, no one is as comprehensive," Dr. Barnes added. "We're trying to specialize in several things, one of which is indigenous knowledge. Another is development knowledge. Another is maps and images--visual materials. Another is K-12 teaching resources."

Fine-tuning the page is a daily duty. Dr. Barnes and Dr. Dinar meet regularly to discuss improvements. And they are always looking for ways to expand the site. So they keep their eyes--and ears--open.

"Monthly, there's a new African nation that comes on-line," Dr. Barnes explained, "and the minute they do, we hear about it and make connections."

Dr. Dinar is responsible for keeping the page current. He spends most of his time searching for new material. "My role is to maintain the Web page by adding resources and by contacting people from around the world to provide information," he said.

When Dr. Dinar isn't busy gathering information, he's busy giving it. He is inundated with hundreds of e-mail requests every week.

"He's determined to answer every person, which, to me, is so generous," Dr. Barnes said. "He spends hours."

No inquiry is too outlandish. "We get the most incredible requests for information," Dr. Barnes said, laughing. "A veterinarian from New Zealand once wrote and asked if we had heard about a world specialist from Sudan who specializes in the artificial insemination of camels."

Not only had Dr. Dinar heard of him, he quickly provided the vet with the specialist's fax number. "I said, 'Ali, how did you know that?' and he said, 'Oh, he's my nephew,' " Dr. Barnes continued.

The letters cramming Dr. Dinar's electronic mailbox aren't just from people with questions. Dr. Dinar also receives plenty of compliments. People are always thanking him for his assistance. And they praise the thoroughness of the PAS page.

Africanists who have created their own pages also send Dr. Dinar electronic correspondence. "They ask us to link to their sites," he said.

"People really want to be associated with our Web page," Dr. Barnes added. "They want to put their information on it. We actively go after information and knowledge bases, but people come after us, as well."

The PAS page may have developed an impressive reputation over the years, but that doesn't stop Dr. Barnes and Dr. Dinar from promoting it. They give talks and write reports, showing educators how they can use the Internet as a teaching tool. They have prepared presentations for the Department of Education, the University of Illinois, and African Studies Association conferences.

Through their efforts, Dr. Barnes and Dr. Dinar have generated positive publicity for their page, which is good for their program. It doesn't hurt Penn, either.

"The Web page has become famous--not just for African studies, but for the University," Dr. Dinar said.

The Penn African Studies Web Page not only offers information on African culture and countries, it boasts an impressive archive of images, as well. These and other images from the site's directory can be found at http://www.sas.upenn.edu/African_Studies/Home_Page/GIF_Images.html.

Web vets are well-versed in the art of Internet travel. They can easily cruise through its labyrinth of links.

For newcomers, it's a different story.

Everyday, more people get caught up in the Web. And while they are anxious to surf the 'Net, they often manage only to get tangled in it. They cannot maneuver their mouses through the electronic maze.

Realizing that the World Wide Web is not always a user-friendly place, the African studies department has established a series of bimonthly seminars for K-12 teachers. At these sessions--which are held during the fall and spring semesters--Dr. Ali Dinar demonstrates how Philadelphia-area teachers can use the Internet to find resources on African studies.

Before Ali Dinar joined the African studies department, these K-12 meetings were informal and sporadic. Only a few teachers were invited to participate. But Dr. Dinar saw that a real opportunity was being missed. "It was not done systematically until I took over," he said.

The seminars provide teachers with thorough exposure to the Internet. They gain real "hands-on" experience. "We teach them how to use the Internet to find African studies resources, but then we also give them the resources," Dr. Sandra Barnes said. "They learn how to navigate using the technology." And, just in case they forget what they learn, the teachers are given pamphlets that describe everything in detail.

Between 10 and 16 Philadelphia school teachers attend every meeting. Dr. Dinar hopes that each educator walks away from the sessions with a new teaching tool. "We try to broaden their scope," he said.