Africa Books

The Shell-Core Embedded Conflict Theory as developed by Dr. Khalfani talks of looking at the surface or shell of a problem while ignoring the core of the problem. He has applied this theory to the problems of race and affirmative action in the United States and in South Africa. The problems cannot be resolved until all parties are at least talking the same language. On the one hand there is the ability to go to an integrated school, on the other is a full integration of liberty, equality and justice.

I find that I have two comments on the book and its thesis.

One is that the book reflects South Africa as it is today. The transition to a black controlled government has been remarkably smooth. Yet there are signs that serious trouble may lie ahead. There exists the possibility that a black leader similiar to those in other countries in Africa might gain control of South Africa. This could lead to the expulsion of the whites and the deterioration of the society as it exists today. There is certainly a trend in the black politicians to appeal to the radical element in the black community. This would make a mockery of any attempt at affirmative action.

Dr. Khalfani is a specialist in racial problems. In this book he has applied his theory to racial problems. It would be most interesting to see his theories applied to other problems such as illegal drugs. In the case of drugs we treat the symptoms by trying to prevent supply and ignore the core problem that there is a demand that is being supplied.

The author does an excellent job of reframing the affirmative action debate into one about liberty, equality and justice. He talks about solving social problems with a wholistic approach as opposed to the limited discussions that result when you talk about affirmative action. I appreciated the comparison to how this issue is being approached in South Africa.

The book description gives an excellent summary of the book contents and needs not be repeated here. The author does a terrific job of laying down his theory (the need to dig deep below the surface of things as opposed to the too-common lip service approach) and defining what the goals of affirmative action should be. The comparison of how this is being addressed on separate continents is a great illustration of the theory. The theory should be of use elsewhere where similar situations have received little to no attention. The study is very analytical and well balanced, comparing different approaches and theories, stating pros & cons / strength and weaknesses of each. The whole research is backed up by tons of facts and references.

I found this to be a history book unlike many others, written in as much an unbiased manner as could be, yet with the passion for Ethiopia as can only be expressed by one who is Ethiopian. The details are excellent on how Ethiopia came about to have the geographical shape we are so familiar with. From 1855 to 1974, the when's and why's of all the wars, the who's and how's of all the kings, the gains and loses of the country each step of the way, and the involvement of Ethiopia with the rest of the world is covered scrupulously. If history has never been your thing, this book will most likely change your mind!

An excellent book about the history of Ethiopia during 1855-1971. Prof. Zewde has brougt to light many of the more important points of Ethiopia's recent history. He does an surperb job describing the cultural as well as political history of his time period. I have learned much from this book. It is an enjoyable experience to read a well written book about Ethiopia that was written by an Ethiopian.

This book is a MUST read for people interested in the unique and evolving history of Ethiopia. Professor Zewde has presented this book in an intellectually stimulating way yet very easy to understand. Easy smooth reading. But most impressive is the way he managed to tie each issue/event in Ethiopian History between the dates of (1855 - 1971) together by showing how one event led to another. It is also great reading for us - the new generation of Ethiopians who need to know the history of our country. Way to Go!!! Thank You.

This book is truly inspiring. I was raised in Taiwan and was a student at the Taipei American School, which Christine Alexander also attended. I remember the lengths the school and the government went to to ensure our safety, and I remember watching news about Chen Chin-hsing on television. Reading this book, however, brought the situation in a different light. Chen put through the family through numerous horrifying incidents, yet they forgave him, which they attributed to their strong Christian faith. This book is a wonderful example of forgiveness and courage.

The year was 1997, when the most wanted-criminal of Taiwan, Chen Chin-hsing took hostages of Mac Alexander, a South African diplomat (also the author of the book, and his family of three). The gunman wounded Mac and one of his daughters during a shootout with the police, and the other family members who fortunately remained unharmed physically suffered from the mental torture during the hours that felt like millennia.

Chen, the vicious criminal, however, was completely taken back by the unusually calm attitude of the Christian family members. Especially the diplomat's wife, Anne, whose easy tone on a phone call made during the hostage taking failed to convince her listeners that there was a bandit holding a gun sitting next to her. Their twelve-year old daughter, Christine, on the other hand, became an overnight heroine after it was made known to the whole country that she had refused to escape when she had the chance, because she wanted to protect her mother. The family accounted their bravery to their strong Christian faith. Chen was deeply touched by this unforgettable drama. He was never the same person again after the police escorted him out of the Alexanders' household. Alexander's book reads like a fast-paced documentary replete with action and surprises, like those produced by any seasoned writers. But it also gives you a good overview of the island country of Taiwan, its social customer and the nature of its political components. I couldn't believe how much Alexander knows about the country in which he resided only for a few years.

This book is definitely one of the best I have ever read. Although it emphasizes heavily on the Christian faith, it is absolutely suitable for any believers as well as non-believers. This book might convert you, though. So read it now and find out!

This book is riveting! Once you pick it up, you will not want to put it down. It has a powerful testimony and Mac Alexander is a master storyteller! He gives good background leading up to the time he and his family are held hostage and makes you feel as though you are right there with his family during the ordeal. He also gives a good account of events following this time of crisis. We now live in Taipei and have been able to talk to people who lived here during that time who say that the author really captures the feeling of the people of Taiwan while Chen Chin-hsing was at large. It is a story of great courage and love in the face of a terrifying situation. An excellent book!

It is a praiseful book in a differnt cadence.
It is powerfful book in its illustrations.

Observing the closed book,one is captured by the clean and clear-cut designs in shades of black, white and gray on the cover. Upon opening it one sees a repetition of color in the illustrations that are depicted in black and white block prints.

The way in which the story poems are displayed invites one to read because the lines are usually short and a certain rhythm can be felt. The messages are very clear if you understand the dialect and if you have read the explanations be the author. This is very important. To neglect these interpretations will defeat much of the joy to be obtained from the reading. I enjoyed the special language immensly.

It is wise to follow the designated age/grade levels for the best use of the material. Here is an example: I gave copies of 'How God Fix Jonah" to two families that include grandnieces and nephews. One little five-year-old, who is an accomplished reader for her age, opened the book immediately and tried it out. In a little while she came over to me with the book in her hands. I asked her what she thought about it. She answered, "It sounds a little strange." I tried to explain that this is the way some foreign people talk before they know how to speak English very well. I suggested that she have her parents read it to her. On the other hand, an eleven-year-old has kept it on her nightstand ever since she received it eight months ago.

There is a great advantage in having this group of stories compiled and kudos are in order for the author's daughter and the publisher for their collaboration in bringing this work to fruition.

If you love words, their meanings, their sounds, and unexpected usage this book calls out to you. It is filled with Bible stories that are written according to the way that a young African lad would sound telling the stories in a mixture of his own language combined with the new language he is just learning, English. Read silently, you will discover immediately that it is pleading to be read aloud. Read it to children or adults, or a mixture thereof. When I discovered this unique book I had great success reading it to a large group of men, women, and children. They were entranced, mesmerized as they listened attentively. The applause at the end of my sharing was tremendous! Discover, too, individual stories in this book which were originally published as picture books. You will find so many uses for all of these books if only you will read one aloud -- just once!

The autobiography of Kenyan human rights activist and political exile Koigi wa Wamwere, I Refuse To Die: My Journey For Freedom is the intensely personal story of Kenya's blood-stained colonial past as encapsulated in Wamwere's life. This is a story of racial oppression and domination of the British, the role of religion in that exploitation, and the revelations Koigi experienced when he left Kenya in 1971 to attend Cornell University in New York where he discovered black pride, democracy, and freedom of speech. He returned to Kenya to fight for human rights and in 1979 won a seat in the parliament where he represented the economically depressed Nakuru district for three years. Koigi was targeted by the Kenyatta and Moi regimes and was framed for offenses he did not commit but for which he spent a total of thirteen years in prison where he was systematically tortured. He was at one point even kidnaped in Uganda by Moi and brought back to detention in Kenya. Koigi escaped execution only with the help of the Norwegian government and human rights organizations around the world, including Amnesty International. Today Koigi continues to work for social change in Kenya and continues to inspire a new generation of Kenyans with his political vision and personal strength. I Refuse To Die is informative, inspiring, and highly recommended reading.

This book is an autobiographical exposition of a living freedom fighter that has experienced the oppressive conditions of colonial Africa as well as the terror of African dictatorship that people in Kenya and other countries find themselves in today.

Koigi's personal story is simply incredible. The son of impoverished forest workers, he was a first hand witness to the brutality of British colonialism against Mau Mau freedom fighters. He witnessed the birth of an independent Kenya led by Jomo Kenyatta, as well as Kenyatta's eventual betrayal of the ideals that informed the Mau Mau struggle for independence. Miraculously, the emphasis that his parents placed upon education led him to an opportunity to study at Cornell University in New York in the 1970's, where he was exposed to democratic freedoms that were unheard of under Kenyatta's reign.

Koigi then returned to Kenya to fight for these democratic ideals within his homeland, and as a consequence, was imprisoned by Kenyatta for speaking for freedom and land reform. He successfully ran for and served in Parliament in 1979, and was then imprisoned once again by President Daniel Moi. What followed was a series of exiles and detentions, eventually resulting in his exile to Norway and now, to New York city.

Koigi is a true democrat, and has devoted his life to the struggle for democracy and human rights in Kenya. The book title, 'I Refuse to Die' is a clever interplay upon the distinction between physical death and spiritual collapse; to Koigi, death of the conscience and the will to speak truth to power is the ultimate end of one's being. Albert Camus' phrase, "I resist, therefore I am" applies aptly to Koigi's life story to date.

The product of Koigi's history of suffering and sacrifice is a wonderfully written autobiography. And this story is certainly not over, as there is little doubt that Koigi will continue to fight for these ideals in the years to come.

Koigi's book is a good narrative of his life and philosophy as it relates to Kenya. A large part of the book is dedicated to describing his early life experiences and how they shaped his outlook on life and his dedication to the liberation of Kenya.

The fact that he was detained by both the Kenyatta and Moi regimes shows his resolve to fighting injustice no matter the leadership at hand. The contribution of Koigi to the "second" liberation of Kenya cannot be overlooked.

Children's book? Not really. I think adults will understand more about this gentle, thoughtful poem accompanied by beautifully drawn faces and places. I ordered this for my public library's children's section, but it's one of those books that fit everywhere and nowhere. Read it for its beauty and forget about whether it's appropriate for children or a kids' book. It's appropriate for all even though it's not a children's book.

This is a very powerful book. The images are breathtaking and the organization of the book gives more meaning to them. This is a visual history of being African-American. Add it to your home library for your children.

An adept educator, I have used this literary work with students in grades 2 and 3. It is an empowering, poetic tool used to help children across cultures--particularly those of African descent--understand that there is an interconnected relationship between people of African ancestry throughout the world. Walk along the streets of Harlem (New York), Bahia(South America), Sierra Leone (West Africa), Loiza (Puerto Rico); Zimbabwe (Southern Africa); Jamaica (West Indies)... In each of the faces of people in such communities, we see beautiful black similarities--ancestral traces and a rich legacy. This work helps to tell the story of a people connected despite our displacement from the Motherland because of the dehumanizing institution of slavery. By no means should this work be targeted only at the adult population. Dawe's literary effort serves as a "griot tool," passing knowledge along; Brother Feelings impressively sketched illustrations serve as an empowering visual accent. A must have item for those who embrace and confirm the reality of the worldwide African extended family!

Professor Abimbola not only dissects the basic structure of the Odus, but his explanations of Ifa spirituality are unsurpassed in transparency and logic. If you are confused and looking for a knowledgeable guide to this ancient wisdom, this is what you need. Prof. Abimbola's English is as impeccable as his erudition, and the book is never heavy or unnecessarily complicated.

This book is a master work by a scholar of the first order. Mr Abimbola has complete command of his subject. In reading many work on the Ifa corpus this book is far and away the best. Do not cheat yourself out of the experience.

Many people are unaware of the magic of the Orishas. The
Europeansthat first encounterd this form of divination called it witch craft and mislabeled the greatness of it. In A dogmatic christainsoceity of today it seems more and more people are going back to pagan roots. Yoruba is a very old relgion in Africa, and possibly it does have connections to that of ancient kemetaka Egypt. I myself being a white person so enchanted by the nature of African spirtuality probally cannot turly understand the Orisha or how deep it goes for a person of African ancestry.
I do not practice this form of whorship,but I love the concepts of the relgion. The book is the Vedas,Bible,Ouran, Bhavagad Gita to those individuals that are dedicated to the divination of Ifa.
If you want to see the wisdom of an ancient people and relgion shine through please pick up this book.

The Intellectual Traditions of Pre-Colonial Africa is one if the best books written that l have read about the early history of Africa.The editor [Dr.Hilliard] undertook a history long overlooked and brought to light a remarkable ancient history of Africa.This extraordinary book gives the readers knowledge of Africa pasts as who is an African and their early development.Dr.Hilliard was able to examined Africa kingdoms and their earliest populations and religious traditions.The book also pointout one of the most tragic legacies of Africa's slave past and European colonialism of Africa continent.Dr.Hilliard also addresses the early Hausaland history,the development of the Muslim in Northern Nigeria and the proper treatment of women by the Hausa muslim.This is a very rich book about the Africans and an essential read for anyone seeking insight into the Africa unknown past.

Intellectual Traditions of Pre-Colonial Africa is the most comprehensive representation of Africa's rich cultural heritage that I have seen in print. This is the Africa that white history books try to pretend doesn't exist! Dr. Hilliard completely destroys the myth of Africa as a backward, uncivilized and illiterate continent of savages. Africa has long been considered to be the cradle of civilization. With such a long history it makes sense that Africa would be full of rich oral and intellectual traditions, many of which Dr. Hilliard has addressed in her book. Its a wonder that no one has written a book like this before. Anyone with more than a passing interest in Africa's cultural heritage should read this book. It is the ultimate reference on African culture.

Dr. Hilliard, transcends the limitations of academia to provide viable insight into a people with stark honesty and innate wisdom. Often misrepresented and misunderstood, she avoids this trap by presenting the traditions as a representation of an intellectual system....without extraction, for the Western mind to perceive. A remarkable accomplishment, and generous gift.

Y.Dubel

This analytical survey of the political climate vis a vis the Jewish community in the 1980's was remarkably prescient in scope and still serves as the textbook for political surveys.

No other book has painted a more vivid and insightful portrait of Jewish life in modern South Africa. Its perspective is unique, offering us an insider's view of the inner-most thoughts and feelings of South Africa's political elite.

The book provides a profound insight in the political climate of South Africa as it relates to the Jews in that country. Unique personal vignettes of the political movers and shakers of South Africa can be found in the books pages.

In Past To Present, photographer Joan Almond has documented village life in Moslem desert communities for over twenty-five years: her travels and discoveries are documented in a work that shares her photos and many cultural insights. The photos are presented as full-page images unsullied by description; the text resides in the front for a fine introduction of Almond's efforts.

Enhanced with a brief but informative introduction by Karen Sinsheimer and Roberto Tejada's insightful essay, Joan Almond: The Past In The Present showcases an amazing and impressive photographic journey by documentary photographer Joan Almond through the Islamic desert communities of North Africa, Egypt, and the Middle East in a outstanding anthology of images featuring ordinary village people and daily life in a profound black-and-white photography that fully captures the spirit of a land and its people. Brief thoughts and a short essay or two are interspersed between the lengthy sections of captivating photographs. An extraordinary look at the human culture and the daily quest to survive and prosper, Joan Almond: The Past In The Present is a very highly recommended and enduring contribution to personal, professional, and academic collections.

Almond has spent over 25 years photographing the life of Muslem people in Third World settings, following their rituals, religion, and personal lives. Almond Eyed: Past In Present presents location shots of these groups, displaying a set of images which have almost vanished from the world. From faces to architectural wonders, this packs in fine coverage.