Africa Books

An assortment of thousands of African personal names interpreted in detail are here in this book e.g. Matutu (prominence), Mawanga (ethnic groups), Achoka (the dark one), Akayesu (the one of Jesus), Magezi (braininess), Magero (miracles), Muliro (fire), Misha (village), Asis/ Asita (God). The ethnic group and country origin of each name is given, and also the pronunciation. The book shows that African names are so intimately related to culture, history, social situations, religion, birth situations, proverbs, love, anger, joy, dissapointment, etc. A unique aspect of this large book is that a quarter of it is dedicated to exploring the naming practices, cultures, histories, folklore of many African groups including the Zulu, Kikuyu, Tutsi, Hutu, Swahili, etc. You will not be disappointed if you want to get details about African backgrounds and if you have interest in African names. The book has so many references too that you can use. The book is therefore good for the general readers, the students, and the instructors.

"Until the publication [of this book], it has been extremely difficult to find any primer that collects and defines the meaning of some African names...in English translation. ...the [book tries] to delineate, translate, and put into definitive contexts, these names...as a means of reaching the bigger English audience that is unaware of the rich African traditional linguistic heritage. In [the book] Jonathan Musere and Christopher Odhiambo examine more than 4000 personal names from Sub-Saharan Africa, with special emphasis on Eastern, Central and Southern Africa. The book is divided into two parts, whereby the first part looks at the origins of the ethnic groups in discussion, as well as their linguistic development over the generations. The ethnic groups whose select names appear in this book include the Acholi, Alur, Bolia, Bushong, Embu, Ganda, Gisu, Gombe, Hemba, Hutu, Iteso, Jopadhola, Kaguru, Kakwa, Kanyok, Karamojong, Jie, Kiga, Kikuyu, Kongo, Langi, Luba, Lugbara, Luo, Luwa, Luyia, Maasai, Mongo, Nandi, Ngbandi, Ntomba, nyankore, Nyoro, Ovimbundu, Pare, Samia, Shona, Soga, Sotho, Suk, Swahili, Tetela, Toro, Turkana, Tutsi, Twa, Yaka, Yoombe, Zezuru and Zulu. The book looks at the western as well as traditional definition of these ethnic groups. For example, the ancestral name for the Ganda is the plural, "Baganda," while the singular noun is "Muganda." The customary name of the Soga is the plural "Basoga," while "Musoga" is the singular noun. The second part of the book lists the select names from the above ethnic groups in alphabetical order. For example, [the name] "chilimo" is given to one that is born during a season of cultivation. The book gives the pronunciation of chilimo as "tch-ih-lih-moh." (S.B. Isabirye in "Papyrus" Vol. 6, No.2, Winter 2000).

I love this book and will treasure it. I hated coming to the end of it and hope to get a copy of his second book - Great Cats - and read of more of his adventures as he travels around the world . Apart from the animals, I think his painting of trees, bushes, grassland and dust is superb. So sad that it was a buffalo that ended his life.

I bought this book as a present for my parents after they took a safari to Kenya. They love this book! It sits on their coffee table and they encourage all who stop by to view it. The story of the author/artists life is remarkable. The beautiful artwork which accompanies the tales of living in Kenya are so life like it's amazing.

This book is one of best African Art books so far published. Beautiful pictures, beautiful objects, carefully selected and printed on high quality paper.
If you're interested in more than African masks and fetishes. This is the one.

This is a gorgeous book. As a filmmaker who makes films about rituals, celebrations, and ethnic traditions, I was delighted to see how the soul and culture of the people comes accross through their objects. And these objects are beautiful - textural and detailed to the point where one can almost touch them. The photographer did a great job using lighting that gives the work a three-dimensional look. But this is more than just a great photo book. The careful explanations that accompany each one demonstrate the sophistication and refined aesthetic of people who were once easily dismissed as "primitive". I found it interesting to note how vast their use of materials was - wood, metals, beads, ceramics, etc. Although not a collector in any way, I would have been glad to own any of these objects. Better yet, I now own the book, and would definately recommend it.

This hefty volume doesn't waste any pages! From ancient Egyptian poetry & history to the modern origins of Kwanzaa, this one has it all. A tremendous resource for students or teachers of history, literature, culture, or religion. My only complaint is the omission of the prolific St. Augustine, but his work is widely available elsewhere.

The book is an excellent source of African and Diasporian thought, scholarship, and epistemology. The authors do and excellent job juxtaposing the various creation stories using content analysis to show the parallells between the various creation stories. In addition, the authors do an excellent job of highlighting the various talented African scholars across the globe. The book is appropriately named and the content in the book definately lends itself to erudition.

Really. The listing here doesn't do this 2 volume set justice. If you have any interest at all, don't hesitate, this is the most beautiful thing ever!

both books are wonderful!!!!!! it's a mix between travel & interiors. another taschen-you-must-have-it !!!!!

A medium sized book in which thousands of African names, their ethnic group and country origins, and their pronunciations are treated to detail. Through the introduction, and the name interpretations, it is shown that names and naming practices in Africa are intimately linked to items like family issues, disappointment, anger, happiness, religion, birth order, demeanor of mother or child, clan group, occupation of the parents, proverbs, etc. The book serves those interested in African names, culture, and proverbs; very good for the general reader and one who is into research on African culture. The book is carefully crafted and heavily referenced. The authors must have devoted a lot of time to putting together literary as well as oral information. Many books on African names are rather simplistic. Some of the names found in this book: Thembi (trust), Sibusiso (blessing), Sepsi (mercy), Simomo (patience), Tayari (ready), Tankiso/ Tebogo(gratitude), Musango (accusation), Lugo (leopard), Lerato (love), Azimio (political declaration), Mayinja (stones), Uhuru (freedom), Umot (a first born), Muguzi (buyer), Mukama (Lord).

"Africa is a continent with thousands of cultures, traditions and languages. Names are part and parcel of the enrichedAfrican heritage. African personal names run into thousands, if not millions.... What this book has done is to compile a listing of about 2,500 names from key central, eastern and southern African countries such as Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Central african Republic, the two Congos, Kenya, Lesotho, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.... Not only does this book explain the meaning of the name, but it does so in a concise and straightforward comprehensible manner that the general public would understand. In addition, unlike most other books on the matter, this one spells out the actual and correct pronunciation of each name. In addition, unlike most earlier works, this book goes out of its way to list the Western as well as the traditional spelling of the word. For example, "Nalubale" is the Western phonological way of spelling this name, while "Nnalubale" is its traditional and authentic equivalent. What makes this book most appealing is the authors' personal and cultural connection to Africa and hence, their intimate knowledge of the names and their meaning. In addition, the book is written in a concise and clear-cut language that is devoid of unnecessary jargon. ...Jonathan Musere and Shirley C. yakutaga are highly commended for ingeniously having compiled a very well written and illustrated...book about key African names as well as their basic significance, culturally. This book is highly rcommended for people of the African Diaspora, who for historical and/or cultural reasons may want to adoptsome African names. The book will also be invaluable to Africanists, instructors, and teachers of African Linguistics, Literature, History, and Politics, as well as being a basic introductory dictionary to the extremely rich African heritage. The book will also prove to be handy to business people, expatriates, tourists and journey persons who are interested in or have chosen Africa as their destination of travel and/or work." (Stephen Balyanango Isabirye in "The Griot" Vol. 18, No. 2, Fall 1999).

Frederick C. Selous was one of the giants of Vitorian Africa and in this work, written at the urging of President Theodore Roosevelt, he compiles many of his most keen observations about life and wildlife in Africa. Fascinating not only as a period piece, Selous's thoughts are remarkably prescient about the state of game in Africa even today. Though it was written before the rise of the commercial poaching that has ravaged so much of the continent, the book gives an excellent insight into the need to carefully observe, record, and interpret the ecological signs found in the wild. Clear and lively in style, the tales told within encompass everything from dietary habits of hyaena to the effects of sleeping sickness on agriculture. Especially interesting are the authors remarkably forward-thinking ideas on race relations, ideas that would not become the rule in southern Africa for over 75 years. An altogether satisfying read.

I have read plenty of elephant hunting volumes in the likes of Bell, Stigand and several others but this Selous book is different. It's not entirely an account of Selous' adventures with his rifle but rather as the first portion of the book's title suggests, an informative wrap-up of the ways and characteristics of various African game. Selous is a unsurpassable raconteur when it comes to telling of big game, as this book proves. There's a chapter on Selous' search for the elusive inyala antelope, and it is of great interest. A book well worth parting with your cash for. Simply a true must-buy !

Professor Erskine Peters was a gentle and awesome soul!
I took a class with him at UC-Berkeley and he had the utmost patience with everyone, unlike some Professors that were annoyed with undergraduates and their arrogance.
This book releases, to the reader, the same kind of patience with our searching and seeking of wisdom from our Elders. This book is full of the wisdom of our Elders and would be great for speechmakers, teachers, copywriters, or anyone that would like a great quote to have people think about for the rest of their lives.
These snippets of Elder wisdom feel like a heart-beat.
I am thankful to Prof. Peters for his wisdom in collecting them for us to live with them, and for me, he lives through them.
May you continue your journey, Professor Peters! Ashe!!

I had the honor to take a couple of classes with Dr. Peters (who passed away in 1998) at the University of Notre Dame and although it has been several years since I had originally read this book, it's spirit lives on in me now. For people of African descent in the United States, this book opens new doors to us that because of a history of slavery, we were ignorant of. Don't get me wrong, this is not an exclusive book, anyone, regardless of your ethnicity, race, heritage, etc., can gain something from reading it. It re-affirms our natural beliefs that we are all connected, there is meaning in everything, and we are responsible not only to ourselves, but to each other, our ancestors, our progeny, and to the cosmos as well.

It is a book, once you've finished reading, you'll be surprised at how much it lingers with you.

Alec Campbell's African Rock Art: Paintings And Engravings On Stone, superbly and profusely illustrated with more than two hundred examples of David Coulson's color photography, spectacularly and informatively showcases Africa's rock art with examples drawn from the entire continent. The text provides the reader with an authoritative and "reader friendly" historical and interpretative analysis. Alec Campbell draws upon his many years of experience as the founder and former director of the "National Museum of Botswana", and is a resident of the area. David Coulson is founder and chairman of the "Trust for African Rock Art" and combines his special expertise with skills as a photography to provide a visual record of outstanding works, many of which are now endangered by erosion, theft, and vandalism. African Rock Art is an impressive and much appreciated addition to personal, academic and community library African art history and cultural studies collections.

This impressive book by photographer David Coulson and co-author Alec Campbell is a comprehensive study of the rock paintings and engravings of the African continent.

Chapter I deals with the history and peoples of Africa, with special chapters on the Bushmen and Bantu-speaking people. Chapter II is a discussion of rock art and speculations on who the artists were, including the latest research.

Chapter III explores the styles, subject matter and the specific rock art sites, whilst Cheaper IV is devoted to dating. Chapter V deals with Southern Africa under heading for Zimbabwe, Namibia, the southwestern Cape, the Maluti and Drakensberg mountains, the inland plateau and the Tsodilo hills.

The following two chapters are devoted to Eastern and Northern Africa respectively, whilst Chapter VIII discusses the geometric designs and the style called Late White paintings. Chapter IX considers aspects of preservation and the future of Africa's rock art.

The book contains 400 full colour photographs and line drawings plus 7 maps. These photographs also include living people and animals. The maps depict Africa, the language groups, African peoples, the distribution of rock art on the continent, and the specific distribution in Southern, Eastern and Northern Africa respectively.

This classic work concludes with a glossary, bibliography and index. I would also like to recommend the books The Cave Of Altamira, edited by Antonio Beltran, and The Mind In The Cave by Lewis-Williams.

This was the first Palisades Romance book I have ever read and BOY! was I impressed! The author really takes you to Africa, complete with the conflicts and daily turmoil there. She also shows you the beauty of the land and the power of God in creation. I fell in love with the characters and I hope she continues to put out such wonderful books. (maybe even a sequel using Farah or Stacy as a main character!) I look forward to her next adventure.

This really should be listed as the sequel to Summit. The story picks up one of the characters from Summit and leads us through her journey of growth and love. I love how the character became aware of the need for compassion for her quirky mother. Her change of heart could lead to her mother's change of life. The touch of suspense at the end was incredible.