Africa Books

This is a wonderful book. It is full of the imagery and feelings that in turn, delight, amuse and sadden. Naomi Nye has compiled a collection of writers from various countries within the Middle East. Although the writers come from many countries and competing nationalities, there is a common commitment to peace. Since the poems are translated,rather than presented in the original languages, the reader does not have the benefit of the natural rhythms of the languages the poems were taken from. What the translations lack in terms of rhyme is more than made up by the poets' use of Metaphor. One poet talks about "drinking in the melancholy of morning". Another talks about being passed by trains with eyes looking back at you. The language is effective and persuasive. Many of the poems deal with loss. They deal with the loss of loved ones, the loss of time, the loss of relationships, but more importantly, they deal with the loss of basic human rights and something as basic as a homeland. The book has many fine paintings that supplement the text. They are all very well done and add to the feeling of the book. The reader of this book will not only read, but will also have an experience. All the senses except hearing will be involved. I recommend this book to anyone, particularly to Young Adults.

I bought this book from amazon.com, fell in love with it & wrote the following review for The Capital Times, Madison WI's afternoon newspaper:

That this exquisitely beautiful, painfully direct and ultimately joyful book, "The Space Between Our Footsteps,'' is published under the imprint of Simon & Schuster's Books for Young Readers is an example of how badly we adults need to learn the lessons we try to teach our children.

The poems and paintings of more than 100 writers and artists from 19 countries are loosely grouped by theme,without a condescending preface or explanations of how to feel when we read or view them...This book is an ideal gift for anyone old enough to read "The Diary of Anne Frank,'' and to know that just as, for Anne, life went on as war went on, so it does today. It is for anyone who thinks he or she understands the conflicts in the Middle East, and for anyone whose life needs a sudden rush of beauty.

(Lin Seagren teaches in Stoughton WI and for the UW-Extension.)

This book has room in its heart for the passions and longings of writers from all of the Middle East. It offers readers, in beautiful poetry, the longings for place, for a loved past, for a more secure future, felt by Lebanese, Syrians, Israelis, Turks, Palestinians, Iraqis, Saudis, Egyptians, and more. Meticulously designed and printed, it offers art from across the Middle East that illuminates these poems and helps us learn with our children important lessons about that part of the world.

We are living in a time where being Arab, Muslim, or Southeast Asian makes one a "terror suspect." In this age of fear and ignorance, it is more important than ever for educators and readers of poetry to take a look at Nye's touching portraits of Arab and Arab American life. If these poems reveal the beauty, intelligence, and vitality of Arab and Arab Americans, then -- to the seething reader from Denver, CO-- you may find Nye guilty of being truthful: All human life is precious, and all human beings are capable of exceeding our expectations.

I first fell in love with Nye's poetry through "The Words Beneath the Words" and recommend all of her works. Educators, activists, lovers of poetry, please read and share Nye's work. They are more important then ever in creating peaceful relationships for the future.

This book was like coming home for me. I am one of those people Ms. Campbell means when she says you need have no interest in Africa to enjoy her stories and suggestions. A friend gave me this book at my grandfather's funeral. Yes, it was very touching and insightful in light of his passing but even more so in light of my own life. I had wanted to try a new career for years. Her stories and simple steps helped me try. I'm buying copies for my family and friends!

I have used Ms. Campbell's books with high school and college students in World Religion classes. When parents called to ask me where they could buy "Spirit of the Ancestors" I knew I was onto something. This little book is teaching us in surprising ways. I won't say more--read it and treat yourself!

I heard Ms. Campbell speak in Los Angeles. Following a recent business trip, I had an opportunity to actually visit some of the African healers she writes about in her book, "Called to Heal."

The healers were very touched by Ms. Campbell's sensitivity and spoke of her generous help bringing several of them to the USA to expand their professional networks. "Spirit of the Ancestors" came about when one visiting healer said it was time for Ms. Campbell, "a modern American", to write about how she herself "works with the ancestors." They said "her approach is pure and crosses cultures. It belongs to everyone."

I immediately read the book and loved it! The stories are charming and authentic. I loved her close family and have tried some of the suggestions with my own children. Now they can't wait to tell me about their dreams and even listen to one another for "clues to the ancestors" that guard over them. My teenager is sharing the book with her friends and teachers.

The book is very touching, crosses not only cultures but I would add religion, education, ethnicity, and more. Buy it for your family and then have fun experimenting. It's a joy!

Susan Schuster Campbell speaks with a clear voice, sharing her African experiences through Western eyes. Americans have lost the vital connection with ancestors. Susan's book is full of personal stories and practical applications for reconnecting and building personal relationships with ancestral guides.

The African approach of contact with the ancestors complements religious and spiritual practices. In Spirit of the Ancestors, Ms. Campbell covers a variety of topics: 1)contacting ancestors; 2)ancestral dreaming; 3)following ancestral guidance; 4)doorway to the spiritual; 5)gifts of the ancestors; 6)the practice of ancestors. I have found this easy-to-read book helpful in my own shamanic practice and highly recommend it to anyone interested in deepening their own spiritual path.

this book is a must have, for a person who's traveling in a 3rd world country and even more so, if you are not a doctor or nurse.

its easy to read, small and compact enough to bring along and has tons of great info.

HIGHLY RECOMMEDED!

I bought a book back in 1992. Used it for travels to Asia and Afrika. Handy size can always fit your backpack, no matter how light you must pack. I used it for rough trips, as well as for trips around Europe with kids. The book covers all essential aspects that you will need for your travel: (i) which vaccinations to take before you go and what to pack, (ii) what precautions to take to stay fit and healthy, (iii) what to do in case you get sick and (iv) what is the bottom line when you really need to stop being your own doctor and need to find a physician. The book is well structured and you find in a second the topic you are looking for. I strongly recomend the book to travelers who are serious about staying healthy.

I found this book to be very informative. It showed the vaccines that you should get but not only that. It told about the bugs and "creepy crawlies" that you should stay away from in your particular country you are going to. It told of the plants that are poisonous and to stay away from there water unless you have a purifier. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone who is goind to a third world country!

I have travelled and lived all over the world and I always have this book with me. Not only does it cover how to protect yourself, but if you do get sick it helps you to get better. I love that it includes different drugs for you to take for different bugs, and it tells you the exact dosage. This comes in handy when you are living in the bush in Africa, no doctor for hundreds of miles, but a well stocked pharmacy near by. I HIGLY recomend this book or anyone planning to travel or live overseas.

As we begin to see this earth suffer the effects of our presence here, these poems -with roots in every continent- speak together of this planet as a sacred place. One perhaps we might still come to treat well. Read a few aloud, sit in your garden this spring and read a Navajo corn song, stir, stir ... This is well researched, carefully and lovingly translated; it should accompany any studies of native cultures worldwide.

Back in the 1970s I discovered this book. It became my companion. Its rich poetry, its multitudes of rituals and images have inspired my batiks and paintings for the past thirty years. What variety and life!

I was introduced to this book by a fiction writing teacher to whom I'll always be grateful. It's a fresh, ingenious selection of ritual and sacred poetry from around the world, translated with irreverence and raw attitude. If you're used to the vague New Age-isms of what usually gets thought of as "ritual" and "sacred," pick this up and get a jolt--Rothenberg finds incredibly powerful language in places where it wouldn't occur to most people to look, and he's not afraid of crudeness and hilarity. Amazing stuff. A friend of mine has worn out copies of both the first edition and this one, and I don't blame her.

Technicians of the Sacred was compiled by Rothenberg after attending two 1964 readings of "Primitive and Archaic Poetry" at The Poet's Hardware Theater and the Café Metro in New York city. Intrigued with the deep intuition of these works, Rothenberg decided to collect poetry, songs, and chants from around the world.

Rothenberg's intention was not to focus on any one particular aspect of the sacred but merely to compile material that was available in English and the book's organization directly reflects this lack of apparent direction. Works are subdivided into nine sections: Origins & Namings; Visions & Spells; Death & Defeat; The Book of Events (I); The Book of Events (II); Africa; America; Asia; Europe & The Ancient Near East; and Oceana. Having material from the first five sections more or less focused around a specific theme while the remaining five sections reflect a geographic focus the work feeling a little thrown together and disorganized.

This disorganization is further reflected within each section, where there is everything from modern poetry and prose through traditional songs and chants to ancient pictographs and artwork. Moreover works from individual cultural groups are not placed together but dispersed throughout each section.

That the work only reflects English translations is also somewhat problematic. A Commentary section at the back of the book explains how Rothenberg came across each work offering explanations about the themes and topics within a particular piece. However, more often than not, these notes did not describe how the piece was translated. This lack of information would be particularly useful as Rothenberg states that the translations vary from literal to very free. This book does contain a number of interesting and useful pieces. Rothenberg has chosen a good mixture of poetry from a variety of different sources, not just the most accessible and he illustrates poems from the Paleolithic through to modern times. Moreover, this book contains some very interesting and intriguing transitional pieces reflecting Christian religious teaching modified into traditional forms. Thus, despite some very irritating and distracting organizational problems, this book contains some very valuable information. This information will likely be of use to those wishing to gain insight into aspects of the sacred in general or those wanting insight into the belief systems of particular cultures. Nonetheless, the apparent lack of organization of these pieces make this book an unlikely candidate as a classroom text.

Often books about mother daughter relationships fall into two categories: over sentimental or sappy, or vengeful and dysfunctional. This book is in a totally different category all together - about two main characters who are human, who have had some bad cards dealt to them, but who both remained, well, human. Its also a travelogue as well, as the daughter is in India searching for her mother's past. The descriptions of modern India remind me a bit of the ones in Kipling's Kim, enough for the picture of the land, people, and problems to give you a good picture of the places she goes. Its also not a heavy or deep book - not that I haven't read many of those and enjoyed them, but sometimes one wants a good salad instead of a steak dinner. Its good, enjoy!

This is an exceptionally moving story of the discovery of self in relation to one's parents and the world at large. Anna and Rose tell their stories in tandem. At first seemingly alienated from each other's lives, it becomes clear, as events, both present and past unfold, that they are indeed closely bound to each other. I was deeply affected by the slow and tender exposure of the vulnerability of these two women. The author paints pictures that seem to unfurl in the mind's eye. Whether reading of the small town in Maine,where Rose writes her memoir, or the crowded streets of Varanasi or Calcutta, indelible images are created. Ms. Bacon has given us a story of great texture and content, a lesson in how judgement yields to understanding, empathy, and ultimately binding love. I urge you to read this book.

I loved this novel with so many levels of stories and characters. So often an exotic setting becomes more important than the characters, but although India is intriguing in Bacon's writing it does not override the story. For me the characters have remained vivid long after I finished the book, and I hated to see it end. My only reservation is that I couldn't make sense of the mother's behavior toward her children, which didn't seem to fit the interpretation her daughter comes to. But I like puzzling it over, and appreciate a novel that makes me do that.

I love this book! Such beautiful imagery, and a gripping story makes for a fantastic read. Her depiction of India is not overly romantic, but not pessimistic. I highly recommend this beautiful novel!

Here we find a man who is middle-aged ...
... and experienced with life - taking a part of his life to devote to bettering the lives of others. The altruistic Peace Corps helps him to reach that goal. In the process - he discovers bureaucracy of governments and the inefficiencies of worldwide networks of people down the smallest scale of community and survival. Some of the Peace Corp's elite do NOT (I repeat- NOT) appreciate his candor as he exposes the rather seamy side of international aid as it relates to human interaction at the most basic levels. If you are looking for a perception of the glories of the Peace Corps - this book is not it. If you would find interest in observing personal interaction with nature and communities that are totally foreign to what a successful life might hold in America - the Fred delivers with a raw and critical narrative. I think if Fred had the backing of a government grant to dress this book up with better pictures and maps - the book could attract a wider audience, but the people who get those kinds of grants are already wrapped up with professorships at elite universities and film budgets and advance fees from PBS. Fred casts a jaundiced eye at the system. For this - he is not welcomed among some of those the system favors. His observations could be helpful to anyone looking for a real flavor of volunteerism in Africa. As Fred notes - it is good to volunteer - but it is also good to do so with your eyes wide open.

I am recommending this book to anyone who is interested in Peace Corps. I knew the author while training in the same program, but I was stationed in a different county and experienced many similar trials and tribulations. I hope that this type of experience in the Peace Corps might not disappear even as expatriot Americans increasingly worry about security, the Equitorial rain forest increasingly comes under threat, and Peace Corps focusses on areas outside of Africa.

I think this book represents a typical white American male experience with the Peace Corps in Africa. Mr. Pitts was in rural development, which is typically based further from major cities and towns than other Peace Corps roles. He does an excellent job at displaying a range of emotions typically from culture shock and isolation in the beginning to a greater appreciation of his host culture. This seems to be an honest account without too much romanticzing, although it is often hard to not get nostalgic when volunteers look back on their service. Prospective volunteers can learn from Mr. Pitt's experience to help them make important judgement calls.

Things Are Different In Africa is the personal account of Frederick Edward Pitts life in an equatorial village located deep inside the Congo for almost a year. Pitts describes in vivid detail his dangerous encounters with animals, risky skirmishes with robbers, dealings with corrupt cops, and more. He also describes the beauty of the Congo, as well as an African culture that can evoke laughter, frustration, and anger. Pitts also describes a motorcycle crash in the jungle some 360 miles from the nearest medical care, as well as being drawn into political unrest, city violence, and eventual evacuation out of the Congo to neighboring country near the Sahara desert. Strongly recommended reading, especially for armchair travelers wanting to know something about the culture and geography of far flung countries of the world, Things Are Different In Africa is a compelling read revealing a unique, sometimes irreverent personal journey that left the author with a greater understanding of life in a vastly different culture on the other side of the world.

I don't usually like to spend nineteen dollars for a paper back, but
I'm sure glad I did. I was totally surprised at the frankness of THINGS
ARE DIFFERENT IN AFRICA, the way it told the story without any regard
for political correctness, and how nobody was spared (not even the Peace
Corps). I liked the descriptions of the villages, the people, the
contryside and the rainforests, but even more I liked the way I was taken on
an emotional ride that ranged from anger to laughter, anxiety to
relief, understanding to frustration. Anyone who wants a highly informative
view of the Congo and its culture, told with straight up language,
cannot go wrong with this book.

What can I say, the author is my revered grandfather. His is a remarkable story of personal courage and fortitude, only a part of which is told in the book. As a personal memoire of combat experience, "Through Hell and Highwater" compares favorably with Guy Sajer's the Forgotten Soldier. In his book, you'll find how my grandfather faced exhaustion, fear, cold, confusion and death with the taciturn resolution of a man who had no other choice. In the process he became an exemplar of leadership and a hero to his country. When men like my grandfather are finally gone, we may never see their like again. As for the book, as a source of history, it's been good enough to figure prominently in Pulitzer Prize winning historian Rick Atkinson's new Liberation series on the U.S. Army in World War II.

An honest, realistic and introspective account of war. This book was given to me as a present from my grandfather almost ten years ago. In classic youthful, ignorant fashion, I dismissed it as the ranting of a nostalgic old man. Recently, I discovered the book in the sweater drawer of the clothing dresser in my room, the cover and binding still in immaculate condition and the text largely unread. I was surprised at what a quick and enjoyable read it was, full of important lessons. This eloquent account of a young man's experience in a war all but forgotten among those in my generation has brought me to realize that it is foolish not to listen to the old wartime stories of our grandfathers. Thanks Grampy!

An honest, realistic and introspective account of war. This book was given to me as a present from my grandfather almost ten years ago. In classic youthful, ignorant fashion, I dismissed it as the ranting of a nostalgic old man. Recently, I discovered the book in the sweater drawer of a clothing dresser in my room, the cover and binding still in immaculate condition and the text largely unread. I was surprised at what a quick and enjoyable read it was, full of important lessons. This eloquent portrayal of a young man's experience in a war, all but forgotten among those in my generation, has brought me to realize that it is foolish not to listen to the old wartime stories of our grandfathers. Thanks Grampy!

An honest, realistic and introspective account of war. This book was given to me as a present from my grandfather almost ten years ago. In classic youthful, ignorant fashion, I dismissed it as the ranting of a nostalgic old man. Recently, I discovered the book in the sweater drawer of a clothing dresser in my room, the cover and binding still in immaculate condition and the text largely unread. I was surprised at what a quick and enjoyable read it was, full of important lessons. This eloquent portrayal of a young man's experience in a war, all but forgotten among those in my generation, has brought me to realize that it is foolish not to listen to the old wartime stories of our grandfathers. Thanks Grampy!

I was hooked from the start - young New Yorker goes from radio pioneer to OSS agent and learns to survive. That it is a true story only adds to the enjoyment.

Brought me through a part of WWII I had never known about. The author describes feelings, choices, preparation and then takes you along for a dangerous ride. Well written, I kept having to get back to it to see what would happen - and I was never disappointed. Spy chasing, hasty exits, from the tremendous heat of Casablanca to the most bone chilling cold of northern Russia.

My only wish would be for a sequel - but in real like I guess that doesn't happen.

As president and editor of a Merchant Marine Veteran organization it is my job to search for stories that tell about being at sea during WWII. This book is a great testimonial to the hazards of the Merchant Marine and the OSS in WWII.
His duties as a sailor and a spy put him in harms way.His ships sailed in convoy to Russia. These waters were the most hazard of all. We lost many ships and lives in the North Atlantic. This was his duty on the sea. Then he had to face great danger with his undercover work on the land. The world of spys, spooks, and shadows makes for great stories. He writes with such skill that he puts you with him at every turn. A great true adventure story that takes place on land and sea. Well Leon Wortman did both and lived to tell about it. I Couldn't put it down.

Told in the first person-present. A tough job for any writer. Wortman, by this technique, makes you a participant in all his tasks.

This is a fascinating true-life story of how a young Brooklyn radio engineer wound up chasing Nazi double agents in New York, posing as a Belgian in Morocco, and getting in big trouble spying in North Russia during WWII.

The book opens up innocently enough, nice Jewish kid grows up in New York City immigrant family during the depression and gets job at radio station. Then, the war breaks out. Instead of joining the army, the author winds up in both the OSS and the Merchant Marine.

From there the book takes off. The OSS' training is tough, but it doesn't prepare our hero for the surprises and perils ahead of him. He chases spies, fights Arabs and Nazis, braves dangerous North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean crossings, and meets characters that must have been prototypes for James Bond villians.

The writing style is easy-going and straight-forward. The tone of the book is warm -- like sitting down for an after-dinner reminisce with your Father or Grandfather. And, there is plenty of humor at sea and on land to balance the tension of the war drama.

This is an outstanding book with many original and personal accounts of what brought South Africa to a negotiated abandonment of minority rule. Objective and beautifully written.

An excellent read if you know at least a little about South African History. It's a "who's who" of the inside story of Africa's "Negotiated Revolution" and could count as a "cliff hanger" if we all didn't already know the outcome of the story. But for anyone who would like to know how the worlds most remarkable political transition was pulled off without a bloody coup, who all of the players were, and why one the worlds most brutal and racist governments kept the world's most enigmatic man alive; then this is the read for you.

Allister Sparks tells a story in a brief, a reporter kind of a way, where he leaves out the details and gives you the key facts plus an explanation of them. By the time you finish the book you'll get a picture of the past and present of South Africa. You'll probably be clued in as much as people who leave there.

Tomorrow is Another Country is the sequel to the Mind of South Africa. It described the transition from apartheid state to the Rainbow Nation. Allister Sparks is a South African journalist (and is currently teaching at Duke University) who sought to get "the real story" before the actors started to forget. He found collaboration from all sides so everyone would know the sacrifices made by both sides to form the new South Africa.

An excellent balance between being comprehensive and being readable, Tomorrow is Another Country is not a difficult read but not nearly as inspiring as Nelson Mandela's book, Long Walk to Freedom. It does however capture more of the Afrikaaner experience, something Long Walk to Freedom often fails on doing.

This detailed book that contains 6000 heavily interpreted personal names is likely the biggest book collection of African personal names. Just as with his other books on names, written quite recently, Musere goes into dedicated detail in showing aspects like the origin of the name and the meanings (which can be one or many). A lot of the names are shown to be associated with aspects like proverbs, significant occurences and traditions. African names are shown to be unique in that analyzing them provides a wealth of information concerning cultural practice, migration, and assimilation. This is a study and naming guide that gives detailed examples of God/ Goddess, war, natural phenomena, and season related personal names. Many are examples of names that depict the behavioral characteristics, physiological or physical condition of the newborn. Indeed many African names illustrate the state of mind of the namer, states of bereavement or jubilation, and so forth. This book is heavily referenced and indexed unlike most other books on African names.

"...the topic [of personal African names] is sufficiently rarely treated as to merit close attention. ...[The book's] introduction is a splendidly informative essay. In it [Musere] explores the origins of African names. Just as we have many names revealing the activities of our ancestors, such as Archer, Fisher, Smith, Taylor and many others, the same applies to African names. [Musere] gives examples such as canoe builders, executioners, rain-makers and cattle-keepers. The reverence for human relationships is perpetuated in many names, while a variety of birds, animals, fish, trees and other natural phenomena are the bases for others. Africa has long been one of my favourite continents and I have numbered many Africans among friends. ...Musisi means "earthquake" and...Bukenya means someone who acts ungraciously or reluctantly. ...Musere's book is packed with information and it is easy to consult. It is equipped with a useful index, so you can be directed to all those names derived, say from eating and harvesting, lakes and
roads, trees, witchcraft and a host of other topics and activities." K.C. Harrison, Founder President, Commonwealth Library Association in "Languages and Literature" Reference Reviews 14/5 [2000] 29-36.

"'A thorough exposure of African name meanings encourages and stimulates people of both African and non-African descent into feeling comfortable about taking on such names.' ...such as Sindushwa (I cannot be surpassed); Mbarushimana (God is on my side); Nkurunziza (Good news). ...Okot (Born during the rainy season). ...This is a fascinating book. ...it certainly brings home the fact, of which I was previously unaware, that the uses and the choices of names have quite different connotations and expectations in different societies." (Sheila Allcock, University of Oxford, in "African Research & Documentation" No. 85, 2001).

"Some examples are 'Libbila (m): setting sun; [name] given to one born at sunset'; 'Kimenyi (m): the one who knows a lot'; 'Shumpa (f): a name given to a child who is troublesome'; 'Baliza (f/m): they cause to weep [or mourn, or cry].' The 6000 [name] examples [in the book] are fascinating to read, and will most certainly open up a new area in the field of nomenclature. In addition, an interesting index will lead the user to specific works found in the definitions, such as lakes, plants, gardens, and food. This is an impressive volume and should fill a void in the area of etymology. It is highly recommended." (Carol Willsey Bell in "C&RL News," May 2000, pp.428-429).

Until the publication of this book, it has been extremely difficult to find any primer that collects and defines the meanings of African names in English. Africa is a continent with thousands of cultures, traditions and languages. Names are part and parcel of the enriched African tradition. Unlike other parts of the world, virtually every African indigenous name has a distinct meaning or connotation. African personal names run into the thousands, if not millions. Therefore, it would be next to impossible to compile a comprehensive thesaurus of all these names, let alone their synonyms. The book compiles about 6000 names from key central, eastern and southern African countries, such as Burundi, Congo-Kinshasa, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Although the compilation of African names is not entirely a new phenomenon, what distinguishes this book from previous ones is its simplicity in name descriptions and definitions. This volume looks at the in-depth meaning of indigenous as well as adopted African names. African personal names have multitudinous functions such as the association of one's occupation, habits and personality. Many African names emanate from one's ancestry through clan, ethnic/tribal or religious affiliation. Names can also be named as the result of ancient wars and conquests. Since most of these names emanate from the "Bantuphone" region of east, central and southern Africa, it is not uncommon for many of these names to have a similar meaning albeit different pronounciations. A word such as Muntu connotes a person, but actually is derived from the ancestry of people in this region. It is therefore least surprising that the word, "ntu" is common amongst most ethnic groups in the region. For example, a word such as "Gahungu" which denotes a small or young boy, has a similar connotation amongsts the Hutu, Tutsi, as well as the Twa ethnic groups of Rwanda and Burundi. The author also includes new African words that have been adopted from Western political as well as cultural contexts. For example, the word, "Democracy" in most African contexts is pronounced as, "Demokrasi." Like other African names given to people during a certain historical phenomenon, this word has been given to some newborns born during the current democratic struggle on the continent. The alphabetical listings of these names as well as its well-prepared index will be very helpful to those that are not familiar with African appellations. This book is highly recommended for scholars and students of African anthropology, linguistics, literature, history, politics as well as those in the African/Black diaspora that are very interested in learning more about African culture.