Africa Books

Ewuare takes an honest and bold stance to tackle the issues that no one wants to discuss. It is hard to choose a "best" poem as each one leaped into my world as being relevant. This book has made me take a long hard look at myself as an African American women.

I can no longer sit back and "look the other way" to injustices committed against the human race based on color, gender and socio economical status.

I AM.....MY BROTHERS KEEPER!!!

Ewuare is insightful and knowledgeable about history and the state of our nation and those abroad.

He exposes the lies that we have been fed, through the media, the judicial system, corporate world, the video and rap world.

He calls for responsibility and accountablity from every human being on the face of this earth!

EVERYONE in the world, regardless of race, color, belief or creed should read this book.

Blood Luxury arms you with knowledge, and knowledge is POWER!

I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST RELEVANT AND INSIGHTFUL BOOKS THAT I HAVE EVER READ!

YOU MUST READ THIS.

I was challenged by the poems to think... "what is really going on in the world today?" I was overcome with raw emotions that I had put away since I "grew up"! To pick a favorite or try to make one poem favorite would not give the poet his just due. For all in their own right spoke volumes to my spirit & soul!

Acclaimed author and activist Ewuare Osayande has written a new book of poems entitled Blood Luxury that is now available in bookstores and on Amazon.com. The Quarterly Black Review has called Osayande, "one of Black America's newest insurgent intellectuals."

Blood Luxury, published by Africa World Press, is Osayande's thirteenth book in as many years. His other books include, Black Anti-Ballistic Missives: Resisting War/Resisting Racism and Caught at the Crossroads Without a Map. This is his first book with Africa World Press.

World renowned poet Amiri Baraka provides the introduction to the book. In it he writes, "Ewuare is like the image Mao posed about Revolution, a ship yet some distance away, but whose tail and inspiring sails are already visible. Take this book as this brother's imposing sail, already aware of how to use the turbulence of the crooked to give fuel to his focus."

International in its scope, Osayande's poetry offers an uncompromising look at the world from the vantage of the oppressed. In so doing, Blood Luxury continues in the tradition of Pan-African/Third World literature. In it Osayande addresses such issues as sweatshop labor in China and Indonesia, conflict diamonds in West Africa, the war in Iraq as well as the Palestinian conflict. According to Dr. Mary Dillard, associate professor of African History at Sarah Lawrence College, Blood Luxury is "an unflinching critique of racism, sexism and hypocrisy. He takes us around the world and back. From each location, Osayande provides a stinging assessment of the ravages of global capitalism."

Blood Luxury also features homage and celebration poems to Black icons of the past and present such as Ossie Davis, Gwendolyn Brooks, Paul Robeson, Malcolm X, Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Amiri Baraka. "Fiery and Explicit, Focused and Unsparing ... Explosive and Spirited in his metaphor" writes Black Arts Movement poet Askia Muhammad Toure'. He continues, "Our revolutionary passion continues on in this our heir and Jeremiah to the Hip-Hop Nation."

According to Broadside era poet and author Everett Hoagland, "the best of Osayande's tell-it-like-it-tiz poems deserve to be as well known as the revolutionary poems of Langston Hughes, Amiri Barka, Sonia Sanchez and Haki Madhubuti."

This is a great read for anyone interested in human evolution. It includes all of the most recent fossil hominid discoveries as well as providing an up-to-date overview and systematic analysis of human evolution over the last 6 million years or so (including molecular - archaeological information). It provides a convincing argument for the 'Out of Africa' Hypothesis for modern human origins. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in evolution and human and great ape evolution in particular.

Cameron and Groves have produced a handsome volume that details the anatomical structure of the species immediately ancestral to homo sapiens, and fleshes out the multiple "Out of Africa" episodes that have characterised the longer span of human evolution.

Full of ecological and detailed anatomical descriptions of the key species in human evolution, this volume very rarely, if not uniquely, integrates the story of hominid anatomical adaptation and modification across the Miocene through to the Holocene.

Students of paleoanthropology will not find a more thorough one volume overview, which while going far beyond being an introduction, admirably serves that role to.

For those who want to come to grips with, at a very detailed level, the drivers and form of anatomical and associated behavioural change amongst the human ancestral species, this Cameron/Groves volume is the ideal reference.

Alternating between hard-core and literary, "Bones, Stones and Molecules" covers all of the latest anthropological discoveries and developments. Sahelanthropus and Orrorin are breaking news in paleoanthropology and are covered early in the book. These two new fossils are from the "wrong" side of the Great Rift Valley and neatly dispense with another recent favorite theory of human origins that involved the stranding of Old World and New World monkeys on either side of the Great Rift.

"Out of Africa" versus the "Multiregional" hypothesis are the book's main focus, and "Out of Africa" comes out the clear winner. David Cameron and Colin Groves each have their own slant on human origins, and these are clearly depicted in dozens of cladograms, each co-author posing variations. There are numerous sketches and photographs, and brief boxed interludes that also display a sense of humor.

"Bones, Stones and Molecules" introduces Groves' strong background in Australian fossils, the controversy over the timeline of Australian colonization has ramifications that affect much of anthropology. This is a solid book best suited to those with previous knowledge of the field. The appendix provides mathematical proof of assertions made in the book, hundreds of anatomical measurements are detailed. There are very few works that achieve such an excellent balance between mathematical rigor and literary readability.

I used to fly with Capt. Grunke. He is an excellent pilot, a great teacher, and an inspiring professional to fly with. This book was a great read, and hard to put down. It brings to light the stresses, problems, fun times, and sometimes bad times we all go through in this career as airline pilots. It is a career that has an image of travel, adventure, and glamour. It is also a career full of stresses and problems at home because of all of the travel, and separation from our families. That is the part of this career that most people don't see. The personal sacrifice.
It gives an insight into the mind that many of us that have chosen this career can relate to. It is a "sobering" reminder of how easy it could be to cross the line, violate the trust we have been given as professionals. And how quickly you can lose everything. It is a reminder that problems in life can be overcome.

I never knew that my father had this gift of writing. Infact this book helped me to understand him and see him in a way that I had never been able to experience. I believe that this book has brought us (my father, brother, and I) closer. I recommend this book to anyone. It's a book that you WILL NOT be able to put down. It looks at how drinking can effect a human being, even those with jobs like my fathers, where he was in charge of hundreds of lives at one time. I believe that many will be able to relate to the life that he has lived, and the stories that he tells in this book. Along with the hardships of drinking he also adds the many humorous stories that he told my bother and I as children growing up. I have let many people read copies of this book, from friends to co workers and all have asked for more than just the little I let them read. Trust me the book is good and you'll love it.

I recently purchased and read your book. You flew with my husband and I thought it would give me insight into the life of a pilot(having been married to one for 15 years) I thoroughly enjoyed your book and could not put it down. What an interesting career you have had.
I commend you for putting your thoughts and your incredible life story into print.
You write so eloquently and paint pictures with words so well.
Your story just may help other pilots who have led a life of drinking as to how quickly a lifetime career could come to a halt too soon.
Thanks for your insight. I wish you luck in the future.

This is a gracefully-written biography of Bram Fischer, a South African lawyer who played a key role in the anti-apartheid struggle in the 1950s and '60s. In spite of his prominence in the Johannesburg bar, Fischer rejected the racist system that oppressed the majority black population. He joined the Communist Party, worked underground, and defended Nelson Mandela and other activists. Eventually, he was arrested and jailed during a crackdown on the Party. Unlike Mandela, who lived to see the collapse of apartheid, Fischer never entered the promised land: he died of cancer in 1975, at the high point of Afrikaner power. Nevertheless, his inclusive, tolerant approach to politics and his saintly personal example influenced a generation of ANC and Communist activists, helping to shape South Africa's current multiracial and democratic constitutional order. This lovely book is a moving testament to a lovely life. Although Clingman is a bit longwinded and uncritical, anyone interested in South African history will learn from and enjoy his tome. Law students and young lawyers should also read it. Six stars!

This biography chronicles the life of an inspiring Afrikaner who, breaking away from the privileges of his family's background, sacrificed everything for his cause. Fischer's spirited dedication to human rights should provide great insipiration to all those who have ever fought for civil rights. The true treasure in this book is Clingman's ability to see symbolism in even the smallest details of Fischer's life. What an invaluable gift this book is to the Fischer family and to South African history. Truly, this book is a fascinating read.

This book is a work of top class scholarship. But when, probably at 4:00am, you finally put it down you'll feel like you've been reading the most perceptive poetry or listening to the most beautiful music. Like the Pablo Neruda inspired debut Juluka album (Universal Men) it weaves a commitment to truth, a reverence for what's most nobel in the human spirit and a feel for tragedy and transcendence together with real wisdom and what can only be described as melody. And, although this book is written with the almost clinical economy of style that characterises J.M. Coetzee's work, there is a passionate undercurrent almost as intense as the more explicit passion of a writer like Frantz Fanon.

Bram Fischer, the Afrikaner Communist who is the subject of this book, was never as romantic a figure as Che Guevarra, Frederick Douglass or Steven Biko but Clingman is so aware of the drama and promise of everyday life that this book ends up being far more engaging than Jon Anderson's recent biography of Che Guevarra.

The book does have its flaws - for example Clingman's understanding of the South African black consciousness movement is poor - but in a strange way the flaws are part of what give this book its character. That's because this book is about struggle and the flaws make the reader aware of Clingman's stuggle to understand and explain Fischer and his country. So while you're reading about Fischers' struggles and South Africa's struggles and being inspired to think about other struggles Clingman's occassional slip ups make you aware of the author's struggle and leave you inspired by his tremendous, although not total, success.

This book is important and valuable in itself. It's also an important work of history which, given the extent to which apartheid and 'postapartheid' mimic the new world order (global apartheid?)is profoundly relevent to life in 1999.

Buy this book, immerse yourself in its riches until they become part of you, and you'll be a better person.

I read this pictorial record of the Maasai in one sitting from start to finish. Rather than being just another coffee table book with pretty pictures, Liz Gilbert intersperses her photographs with insightful essays documenting Maasai history, rituals, and traditions such as marriage, male and female circumcision, coming of age, and even a lion hunt with spears.

Gilbert has clearly done her homework regarding the Maasai, spending many years in Kenya to gain the trust of the tribesmen who allowed her to document their most intimate rituals. The black and white photographs she has assembled have a museum quality about them, especially the portraits.

The author took serious personal risks to achieve these photographs, with the lion hunt at the end representing but one example of her courage. Clearly, the book documents not only the vanishing society of the Maasai, but also a personal journey for the author. This book should be an inspiration for anyone interested in Africa.

Most photographers either see the members of the noble Maasai tribe hastily when they are tourists or as photojournalists with limited time. Their images don't get far below the surface. On the other hand, photographer Elizabeth Gilbert worked many years, carefully and slowly to gain the Maasai's trust and understand who they are. The result of her efforts is abundantly clear in this moving book that documents their world in a great detail. We don't see flashy events performed for visitors but intimate milestones in their life like the passage to manhood and the rite of marriage. The book leaves us with a clear sense of who these people are and where they came from. In addition, Gilbert has given us a breathtaking view of the country in which they make their home. It is a standout in a field full of Africa books.

This is a truly awe-inspiring book. I highly recommend it to anyone with even a passing interest in the Maasai or African cultures. In contrast to the recent slew of "white girl in Africa" books which have deluged newstands in recent years, Gilbert's book is a refreshing take on one of Africa's least accessible and mythologized cultures. Individually and collectively the photographs serve to honor a people who are consciously facing the erosion of their societial ways. Broken Spears is a must-have for any serious family book collection

If you appreciate books that enlighten, educate, and excite all of the fives senses, then Brother in the Bush is for you. Slaughter's well crafted words--so descriptive, compelling, and refreshingly candid--dance across the pages, happily carrying the reader with them to the very last page. His handling of issues of race, East Africa, and his family is done so with respect, confidence, and wit. I am a voracious reader and this is by far one of the most gratifying reads that I have had this year. I can't wait to hear more from this brilliant and talented writer.

Dr. Slaughter was genius in his delivery of his thoughts, emotions, and actions as he gives you a look thoruygh his eyes on the African American's experience in Africa. He also breaks out the box in his interaction with his "Brothers" of Africa, and presents the Africans with honesty. He expresses is inner feelings of lost, anger,love and fullfillment.

A compeling story that allows one to get a glimpse into the life of a black man. While I was initially shocked at the feelings of hostility and anger expressed in the book, I came to understand that I was getting a glimpse of what it was like to walk in another man's - a black man's - shoes. The author also paints a vivid portrait of Africa. All in all an eye opening read.

This is the only really useful English language guide to Burkina Faso and should be standard issue for anyone coming here. Their attention to detail is mind-boggling. Even for someone who has already lived in Burkina for nearly two years, I've learned a lot from their writing.

I live in Burkina Faso and this book has tons more information than any other English-language guidebook on the country and seems to be more comprehensive than any French-language ones too. Days after receiving the book, I used it to plan and execute a very successful trip to the far north-east of the country. All of the practical information about where to stay and eat was spot-on. The maps of towns and regions were also very useful. I spent a night at a beautiful desert campsite, 30 kilometers from the nearest dirt road, and run by friendly Tuareg tribesmen because of this book. I'd be delighted with this guidebook even if there was nothing more to it. However, it also has the distinction of being extremely well written and interesting - be it concerning local transportation, customs, history, languages, etc. I enjoyed this book so much that when I recently visited Dogon country in Mali and met a group of Spanish tourists heading for Burkina Faso, I gave them my copy. When I got home, I ordered two more.

Burkina Faso is not (yet) considered among the top 10 tourist destinations in the world, but for those going there for travel, work, or to visit family/friends, this new book is an invaluable resource. We've just bought it after having just moved back to the US after over three years in Burkina Faso. It provides a great overview of the country, including the better-known destinations, but the authors have also made an effort to cover less-known towns and sites of cultural interest. Highly recommended !

The author writes well, and explains well in her writing. I could actually picture myself in numerouse places which she had explained. From The war time, to her weding day, to what she went through during her sisters death.

...a truly excellent real-life story of tragedy and love.

The amazing things that the author went through throughout her life were very uplifting. I laughed and cried throughout. The author's experiences were vividly captured on the pages of the book. I was caught up in the horrific imagery of the war that was described, but also the beauty of her family relationships as well as her love for her country of birth. I recommed this book highly, but be prepared for an emotional roller coaster.

I started this book at the beginning of a long drive home from New Jersey after Thanksgiving. Seven hours later, I was amazed to see that we had arrived home. The time flew by as McCord drew me more and more deeply into Katie's life. I highly recommend this wonderful book!

The Calling of Katie Mankaya has a profoundly personal history for me. Ms. McCord, during the past twenty of the 40 years of her work's history, had read selections of her work in progress to a group of writer friends, of which both my parents were part. My mother would bring me to these "writer's meetings" where I would sit, silent, rapt, listening to voices and words and worlds fantastic and strange and tragic and joyous. Ms McCord's work is the most vivd of my memories; her words would spill across the evening's fabric, her syntax gripping, her accent hypnotising, her diction flawless. I've been waiting for this book for a long time. Much has come to pass since. South Africa is free. The writers have grown distant. My mother is gone. And, at last, the Calling of Katie Mankaya has found it's voice, it's manifestation, gathering awards and praise with effortless ease. The Calling of Katie Mankaya has fallen into place like the last piece of a jigsaw puzzle, a nexus of parts, completing the matrix that enmeshed it, or perhaps gathering that in which it radiated. Ms McCord's published work is a fifth of her orginial manuscript. Perhaps some of Ms McCord's selections of Katie's life's fragments are too personal, too esoteric for an epic, historical novel, but then again, perhaps it is this intimacy of Katie's life that makes Katie herself all the more real. It is a human story, rather than a sweeping Michenerian saga. It is towards the end of the book where Ms McCord refuses to hold back, and well, frankly, emotionally milks the moment for all it's worth. And it is this ending, as an elderly Katie looks back on her life, her loves, her losses, her regrets and triumphs, her tragedies and joys, it is here when the reader is offered a sort of mirror, in which they are allowed to view their own lives, of what was, of what is, and what could be; life in perspective, with Katie's story a frame of reference, an offering all the poignant knowing Katie's story to be true. The Calling of Katie Mankaya is an important work, especially now with a new South Africa arising from the ashes of division and hatred. But it is also an important work with regards to the timeless pathos of the human spirit, of the dying art of a mother's love, and the rarified grace of human dignity. It is an homage towards nobility on a level of everyday existence; ordinary life made anything but ordinary - rather, extraordinary. It is also an important book for that 10 year old boy who was captivated by the words that unfurled across those forgotten rooms, spilled across endless unpublished pages, who has seen the foundation on which many a personal dream were build on at last find it's place in this unyielding world we ponder through, like a book. Sorry you missed it, Mom. You would have loved it.

I thought this novel would be a bit boring, but it turned out to be a fascinating read and a wonderful glimpse into a woman's life in a time and place most Americans would never think about. I whole-heartedly recommend this book.

The fine illustrations show marketplace details showing a lifestyle very different from ours. The story is entertaining to children because of the mischevious goat. I bought it for my grandchildren because I want them to understand that there are many styles of living.

I decided to buy this book for my grandchildren after first seeing it in the public library. The story is very understandable. The illustrations show very well the marketplace, the activities there, and a different style of living. I highly recomend it.

Children of today are growing up in a world more unified than ever before! Help your little ones understand life the world over with this lively glimpse into a Nigerian marketplace. It's colorful and fun, full of cultural references, unusual language, and wonderful terms of respect (for example, Ayoka talks to 'Oni Breadi' aka: man older than me who sells bread!). This book made my four year old want to visit Nigeria!
We also recommend Elephants Aloft by Kathi Appelt