Africa Books

This book is a girl and boy who lives with their family in Cape Flats, South Africa and life wasn't as easy. Their father has a hard times getting a steady job and their mother takes long hours working for a white family in the rich area of town. This forces the girl Anna to watch over her baby sister while her parents and her half brother are gone. Anna also loves her brother David so dearly. They explore and have many adventures together and also rescue a three legged dog which nearly drowned. Then when David decides to take the dog back home the tension between him and their father builds up much more stronger which makes Anna and their mom so sad. Together Anna and her family were in for a lot of hardships.

One is transported into the world of children growing up in the apartheid times. The book is so poignant because the author accesses the child's emotions and observations of extreme circumstances, but the child of course is nonjudgemental. Case combines exquisite sensitivity with a total lack of sentimentality as she describes the actualities of apartheid South Africa.

Why is this book out of print? It's one of the best books written about modern Africa.

Well written insights into the daily lives of the Maasai. Gives true feeling of the issues the Maasai face every day. A great read for anyone who is interested in Kenya or pastoralist peoples

I am not sure whether my words would be enough to explain how good this book is.Mr Thomson is higly qualified man,most of the other African titles becomes like ''mumblings in Africa ''(I said MOST not all)compare to this one.It has everyting,it is so well written after reading the book you feel like a old time elephant hunter with knowledge of everthing abouth the elephants.one problem with it after you've read this one it is hard to read another African title.
Read it you will see what I mean.especially if you are considering an elephant hunt somethimes in your life.My personal thanks to this very honourable man Mr.Ron Thomson ,sharing his most valuable information with the readers.

Brilliant account from a highly qualified author ,of the devasting impact excessive elephant populations have on the habitat; intelligent rationale why they must be culled ; and first -hand accounts of elephant hunting. A MUST READ for any serious conservationist

I loved this book! I am a calligrapher and amateur bookmaker, and found this to be a valuable addition to my library. The pictures and text instructions are clear, and the projects were interesting and fun. Projects included cards, gift boxes, and mobiles, as well as some more advanced craft techniques. The author focuses on easy-to-obtain equipment and materials, making this a good choice for beginners like me. I also found it a good volume for sparking my brain when my creativity flagged.

I had a summer design class and since the class was so condensed, we designed and constructed projects on a daily basis. For my final project, I had to construct a book. I only had 2 days to do it and since I knew I wanted to make my own papers, I needed some direction. I used this wonderful book and not only did it have very clear directions with concise illustrations, the supplies needed were on a very practical level. That means I didn't have to purchase extra supplies I probably would never use again. My book turned out so beautiful, I got an A+! I now make papers as a hobby and I owe it all to this great book.

While I enjoyed the entire Elizabeti series, this one stands out for its depiction of sibling love. While Elizabeti finds her young brother Obedi to be a handful, her love for him is apparent. The book is good-humored and presents a happy, loving family.

After reading Mama Elizabeti by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen, it appears that in this book the author's shares her knowledge as well as her experience from her days in the Peace Corps. The author also demonstrates the connection with a reading strategy known as text to world. Using this strategy she shows that there are similarities from other cultures of the world to our own. I recommend that this book be used as an excellent example to demonstrate how children throughout the world help their parents and find that growing up is part of a continuing learning experience. The book explains to children that as they grow up and learn, they will find not only joy and gratification in helping their parents and siblings, but they will also become aware that they do not need to give up their childhood pleasures and experiences. The book gives the reader the feeling that each person will find the time to enjoy things from the past, present, and future. It is a book that might be shared between parent and child, or in a classroom setting. It is a wonderful example of multicultural reading. I would also highly recommend this book to be used to model as well as be a starting point for discussion of the reading strategy: text to world. It is often difficult to find books that help teachers teach both multicultural experiences and strategies, this book is an example of both.

I read this book shortly before returning to my former Peace Corps site in Mali a few months ago. My "jatigi" family are the blacksmiths of a small village in the Mande region. During my two years living with them I observed a lot of interesting things that I couldn't understand, or didn't realize the significance of. I was very happy to find a scholarly explanation of pretty much everything I had scratched my head over for a dozen years. I don't exaggerate when I say that every page contained something that made me say "oh that's what that was about..."

During my return visit I was able to ask the blacksmiths about details in the book. And they confirmed everything I asked about. I couldn't find a single contradiction. It was as if the book were written about them specifically. They enjoyed hearing about the notion that the blacksmiths themselves were responsible for the early anthropologists' mistaken conclusion that blacksmiths were bad and should be avoided -- just trying to get rid of the anthropologists with all their annoying questions. They also seemed happy that someone would be interested enough in what they do to write a book about it, and that I had learned so much about them while I was gone. One brother was willing to talk a little bit about nyaman and fetishism -- just yes and no to a few careful questions -- but I'm convinced that the author's discussion of the subject is right on.

I had a great couple of weeks back in the village. And this book enhanced the experience in a big way.

My thanks to the author!

Anyone who has any interest in traditional West African society should read this book. McNaughton discusses the roles, image and social context of the blacksmiths of the Mande peoples of West Africa. Blacksmiths are not simply artisans, they are skilled manipulators of supernatural power (called nyama in Bambara. As such they are considered in the same vein as jeliw (bards, praise-singers) and sorcerors. They are also woodworkers, potters, circumcisers, and workers of magic. Specifically located in Mali, this study examines the world of the blacksmiths in relation to local rulers, villagers and visitng foreigners.

McNaughton's work emphasizes an anthropological perspective and he worked with and was finally apprenticed to several blacksmiths in the course of his fieldwork. Even though this is a very scholarly book, and at times very dense, it is well worth the effort required to get through it. Like John Miller Chernoff's "African Rhythms and African Sensibility", this book deserves pride of place among people who are serious about expressive culture in West Africa.

As a primer to the deep knowledge that comes out of the continent, this book presents an extraodinary and powerful introduction. A bonus for musicians and rhythmatists: check out the excerpt where he talks about the way the blacksmiths play drum rhythms on their bellows to accompany their work and the rhythms "played" by the women as they work pounding millet in the compound. Magic.

This book is one of the most important books I have ever read. I constantly refer to it whenever I have the opportunity to speak in front of a group. Incredibly insightful, it makes perfectly clear what direction people of African descent need to be headed in if we are committed to positive community development. YOU NEED THIS BOOK! If anyone sees any book that is as important as this please email me to let me know.

This book is an extraordinary look at the history of Africa, which Lady Lugard gathered from countless sources, and one would imagine a great deal of it came from the British Library and from the archives of The Times of London, for whom she had for many years been the Foreign Political Correspondent. She had always been known to be an intensive researcher into her subject matter, and one wonders at the months and probably years she put into this undertaking, which became the reference work for so many future books on Africa. Lady Lugard led an extraordinary life and travelled the world on behalf of her newspaper. A little known aspect of her prominent career was that when she first started writing for the Times of London, she wrote under the name of F. Shaw, thereby trying to disguise the fact that she was a woman. Later of course, she was so highly regarded - it really didn't matter and she became Flora Shaw, a personal friend of many of the world leaders (one of her more frequent visitors in later life was Winston Churchill) and was regarded as one of the greatest journalists of her time....specialising in politics and economics. She became world famous when she was subpoened to the Jameson Trial and cross examined on the role played by the Chamberlain Government in the planning of the raid into the Transvaal Republic. Later of course, it became common knowledge that she was used as the go-between the Britiish Government and Cecil Rhodes, and received and sent the cruical telegrams, which resulted in the ill-fated expedition. One of the reasons the press and public were so fascinated by her at the time, was because she was a very beautiful and accomplished woman, and many admirers and feminists, maintained that had she been a man she would have been a British Cabinet Minister. She was a staunch imperialist and this point of view on politics, obviously comes out in her writing without any apology or even the slightest expression of doubt. This in itself holds a certain fascination to the reader of today after the events of the 20th century. So it is important to remember that she wrote this nearly 100 years ago, finalising it in 1905/6, shortly after she married Frederick Lugard (Governor of Nigeria and Governor of Hong Kong and a big imperialistic player in Central Africa in his day). She had had to relinguish her journalist career on marriage as it wasn't the done thing, in those days for a married lady to pursue a career - especially a lady who moved in aristocratic circles. However, what makes Lady Lugard's book so fascinating to read, is once the reader has been quite shaken by her positive and practical assessment of the benefits of slavery, the merits and demerits of Black Labour and Yellow Labour, and her other imperialist beliefs......she goes on to capture with meticulous references, detail and descriptive power, the greatness that Africa once was, and so reveal an enthralling story of a continent. The South African president, Thabo MBeki talks about the African Rennaissance starting in South Africa today....and sceptics might wonder "what" rennaissance, under the mistaken belief that Africa came out of a Darkness. Lady Lugard makes it clear that this was not the case....Africa was great once...and her message is that Africa can be great again. No serious student of African history, politics and economics can afford not to read this book.

This book was really funny! The illustrations were really creative. The words are put right on the illustrations like a comic book so you feel really involved. I like tall tales, and this one is exceptional. The characters are very entertaining and they reminded me of people I know. Everyone should read Master Man -- even grownups!

Foolish Shadusa thinks he's the strongest man in the world and orders his wife to call him "master man". But his wise wife warns him: "Quit your foolish boasting. No matter how strong your are, there will always be someone stronger. And watch out, or someday you may meet him." But Shadusa doesn't listen and when he hears that another man in a nearby village also calls himself "master man", he sets off to confront this imposter and ends up learning his lesson the hard way..... Aaron Shepard and award winning illustrator, David Wisniewski have authored an inspired and creative version of this old Nigerian folktale. The story, told in comic book format, complete with dialogue bubbles, is full of expressive, action packed scenes and colorful, detailed collage artwork that becomes busier and bolder until it almost spills off the pages. The book includes an author's note at the end and youngsters will enjoy learning about the origins and history of this folktale. Perfect for children 4-8, Master Man is a terrific read-aloud story the whole family can share and will make a wonderful addition to all home libraries.

This is actually the fourth in a series of books by John & Ruth Picard on antique trade beads. Essentially this volume is a 90-page descriptive catalog of Venitian Millifiore beads used for trade with Africa. Large format and measuring 8 1/2 by 11 inches ( or 21.5 by 28 cm), One of the most attractive and obvious peatures is that every bead is pictured in color and if known, details of the manufacturing process are provided! The Picards open by describing how these beads were made and defining some of the terms used throughout. Millifiore means "Thousand Flowers" in the Italian language, and indeed many of these beads seem to boast floral patterns. ALso included is a helpful article by Jamey Allen, "A Short History of Millifiore Work".

Each one of these beads is a mini work of art, truely lovely to behold. If you are lucky enough to have some of these little treasures, or simply have an interest in glasswork and history, you will probably enjoy leafing through this work. Happy Beading :)

This book offers a comprehrensive insight in the colourful world of the many types beads used in the trade with West Africa. With about 3000 diffrent colour combinations of glass beads. A must for every collector of beads. And fun to recognise the collected beads.

Foden's novels - The Last King of Scotland, Ladysmith, and Zanzibar - have always been backed by a lot of research and local knowledge of Africa. This book, whose excellent research is backed by the author's personal visits to the area, is also set in Africa, and is a straight historical account of an episode in the First World War which is little known today, but disguised elements of which would figure in C.S.Forester's novel The African Queen and in the film of the same title.

Lake Tanganyika - its length of 410 miles making it the longest fresh-water lake in the world - then formed the border between German East Africa to the East and Belgian Congo and Northern Rhodesia to the West and South. (There are admirable maps of the region in the book.) In 1915 the British knew that the Germans had a 67-ton warship on the Lake, but did not know that there were on it two other German warships, one of 45 tons, the other a huge 1200 tonner. The British had nothing. The Admiralty decided to put their own warships - two small motor-boats called Mimi and Toutou (French for `miaow' and `bow-wow', although the Admiralty, having rejected the commander's suggestion of `Cat' and `Dog', did not know that), of 8 tons each - on the Lake. Because Africans spying for the Germans would spot ships being built near the Lake, these boats were carried in cradles on board of a larger ship from Tilbury to Cape Town; then, still in their cradles, loaded onto the railway running north from the Cape. This railway line was not continuous to the Lake, and for part of the journey the boats had to be moved along short stretches of river, but for most of its journey through the Congo - 146 miles - they had to be dragged overland - indeed over mountains - by locomotives, teams of oxen, and gangs of African labourers who had previously blazed a trail through the terrain. They covered the 2,500 miles from the Cape to Albertville on the western shore of Lake Tanganyika in 101 days. And all along the way African tom-toms spread the news from tribe to tribe. It reached the Germans, but they did not initially give it much credence, being more interested in some Belgian ships that were being constructed near the Western shore of the Lake.

The Admiralty put in charge of this operation the untruthfully boastful, vain, irascible, pompously authoritarian but hitherto ineffectual Lieutenant Commander Geoffrey Spicer-Simson, who, after a couple of courts martial, had been demoted to a desk-job in the Admiralty. The operation was after all a side-show - it was the time of Gallipoli - and the Admiralty didn't know what else to do with the man. Spicer had some odd habits: though he was a stickler for smart uniforms, in the hot weather in Africa he wore a skirt; he had a full-body tattoo; and he antagonized everybody: the men serving under him as well as the allied Belgian officers he met on the way. Some members of Spicer's crew were pretty odd also; but there were among them sufficient men, notably a Lieutenant Wainwright, who showed not only great endurance but enormous ingenuity in overcoming the many obstacles on the way to the Lake. Spicer naturally claimed the credit for their every achievement.

The journey was astonishing enough; even more so is the story of how the two of the three big German ships were either captured or sunk. The Belgians were now able to take the German headquarters on the West side of the Lake (I would have liked a fuller account of this operation) and the remaining, largest of the German ships, denied a harbour, was scuttled. It was raised after the war, and Foden would be aboard of it on his exploratory journeys on the Lake.

Spicer's victories over the Germans had so impressed the local Africans that they began to reverence him as a god and not only put up statues to him which bore a good likeness (including his tattoos) but sprinkled them with offerings - to the dismay of the local Catholic missionaries. That should have done nothing to reduce Spicer's self-esteem, but in fact, after his second victory, he had refused to run any more risks, and the subsequent successful operation by the Belgians and by Rhodesian land forces at the southern end of the Lake tipped him into such a depression that he was invalided home. There he returned to his old desk job, and was never given a command again. However, he soon bounced back. He was encouraged no doubt by being decorated both by the British and the Belgians; and he gave several lecture about the expedition which certainly lost nothing in the telling.

The whole story was well characterized at one stage by a Belgian officer: `You English have a genius for amateurism. That's what makes you so dangerous. It's always pretty obvious what professionals are going to do, but who but amateurs could have dreamed up an expedition like this?' Foden tells the story with quiet wit, but one can't help feeling that underneath the eccentricities and boastfulness of Spicer there was, at least until his collapse at the end, a quality of determination which contributed to bringing this adventure, against all the odds, to a successful conclusion.

This is a splendid romp through the obscure WWI theatre of East Africa. The protagonist is as successful in battle as he is astonishing in behavior. It's too bad they don't teach history like this in junior high school!