Africa Books

My third grade class really enjoyed this wonderfully illustrated and excitingly told folk tale. Many times I will read part of the story before lunch and then we will come back and complete the story. I like to stop at a cliff hanger moment and then complete a story later in the day...it helps peak their curiousities and gain a love of reading.

Well, my students were quite into this story and a boy who normally could care a less about stories and reading exclaimed, "Don't you DARE stop, Mrs. P. You better read us the whole book now!" I recommend reading it on a stormy day as I did and dimming the lights. This beautifully well-written West African "Cinderella" folk tale and the lush and colorful pictures will excite and delight young folks. I love it as well and have read it to my class for the past two years.

It is a good companion with other folk tales, Ananse stories from Africa and other versions of the Cinderella tale.

As a storyteller for children libraries and schools I found this book to be beautifully illustrated and a great source for speaking of responsibility to children, in an entertaining manner. It is also a good source for teaching children about other cultures and customs. Many cultures have their own versions of "Cinderella" and comparing them could be a form of discussion with the children after telling this tale.

Chui -- Bruce Wood & Lou Hallamore
Having hunted Leopard with Lou Hallamore I can highly recommend this book. The system and methods used By Hallamore are highly productive, but as most readers will be hiring professional hunter the content of the book is a accurate look into what leopard hunting is truly like. A classic for the African hunter to enjoy and learn the from this highly qualified big cat expert.

I made two hunts for leopard in South Africa and Zimbabwe without success. I got a copy of this book, and Bob's your uncle I got a leopard on the third outing.

PH Lou Hallamore is known as Mr. Leopard, and is reported to spend more time in leopard blinds than most people spend in movie theaters. He developed his BOB systematic approach hunting leopard, and I can testify to it working. Author Bruce Woods is a writer and hunter, and he includes some background on his development of the .400 Pondoro cartridge.

The book is clearly written, and includes drawings and many photos to illustrate the information given.

If you want to hunt leopard successfully buy this book and go hunting.

Jim Dodd

This book fills a void that has existed for too long - an accurate, up-to-date book on the very popular cichlids from West Africa. I was very impressed whilst reading this all-too-short book. Don't get me wrong - it is very comprehensive. I just wish it could have been longer because of the sheer artistry of writing displayed by Dr. Lamboj, accompanied by his excellent photographs that depicted the subjects discussed. One of the things I was very impressed with was the apparent lack of "fixing", or colour editing of the photographs by the author and the publisher, something that is prevalent in a lot of other books on fishes by other authors and publishers.

Each cichlid Genus discussed is grouped together with its closest relatives and tabulated into associated tribes. I find this an intriguing and very valuable guide to the relative aquarium care of the different species as one can assume that members of the same tribe are fairly similar in care requirements etc. This seems to be true in most cases.

Dr. Lamboj has the happy knack of being able to write for both the scientific and the hobbyist markets with equal proficiency. I had no difficulty in reading and following the straightforward approach adapted by the author. In short, I would heartily recommend this book to anyone with an interest in these "gems from the West".

This book fills a void that has existed for too long - an accurate, up-to-date book on the very popular cichlids from West Africa. I was very impressed whilst reading this all-too-short book. Don't get me wrong - it is very comprehensive. I just wish it could have been longer because of the sheer artistry of writing displayed by Dr. Lamboj, accompanied by his excellent photographs that depicted the subjects discussed. One of the things I was very impressed with was the apparent lack of "fixing", or colour editing of the photographs by the author and the publisher, something that is prevalent in a lot of other books on fishes by other authors and publishers.

Each cichlid Genus discussed is grouped together with its closest relatives and tabulated into associated tribes. I find this an intriguing and very valuable guide to the relative aquarium care of the different species as one can assume that members of the same tribe are fairly similar in care requirements etc. This seems to be true in most cases.

Dr. Lamboj has the happy knack of being able to write for both the scientific and the hobbyist markets with equal proficiency. I had no difficulty in reading and following the straightforward approach adapted by the author. In short, I would heartily recommend this book to anyone with an interest in these "gems from the West".

Mamdani succeeds in breaking the colonial political system into pieces drawing the distinction between urban direct rule which spoke the language of civil society and civil rights, and rural indirect rule, which spoke of community and culture and describes them as different faces of the bifurcated colonial state. This bifurcated system dissipated with Independence revealing the need of a new agenda for the newly created state. The first duty of the state was to bring together the different stratums in the society for the reconstruction of a both ethnical and political identity. Democracy was the prescribed solution to react against apartheid and a tribalized native society. Mamdani's claims that whereas democratization brought winds that will remove erstwhile privileges inherited from a colonial, white dominated central power; it failed to conquer the system that kept the peasants under the hold of a tribal authorit

Mamdani succeeds in breaking the colonial political system into pieces drawing the distinction between urban direct rule which spoke the language of civil society and civil rights, and rural indirect rule, which spoke of community and culture and describes them as different faces of the bifurcated colonial state. This bifurcated system dissipated with Independence revealing the need of a new agenda for the newly created state. The first duty of the state was to bring together the different stratums in the society for the reconstruction of a both ethnical and political identity. Democracy was the prescribed solution to react against apartheid and a tribalized native society. Mamdani's claims that whereas democratization brought winds that will remove erstwhile privileges inherited from a colonial, white dominated central power; it failed to conquer the system that kept the peasants under the hold of a tribal authority.

As everyone knows, stories are the most interesting way to present anything. I love this series of books. Not only does one understand the law a thousand times better with context, but I am much more likely to remember the case if I know the story. I have read this book and the book in the series on criminal procedure. I love law, and I intend to read all the books in this series eventually. It's like taking a course on the subject from the best professor. Of course with so many writers, the stories vary in quality. A couple of the writers achieved a boring presentation, even with a good story to tell. At least one writer had an axe to grind, but I still learned a lot from that one. The best recommendation is that I intend to read the whole series: they are that good.

This book uses a series of key cases with detailed social and legal environment and background to provide a full picture of the subject. Fully agreed with the author's approach of studying fewer cases in detail to develop full understanding and development on the subject rather than studying too many cases attempting to grasp the development of the subject by bits.

This book provides a convincing review of the history of Italian colonialism in the Horn of Africa in general and in Somalia in particular. Specific attention is then paid to the Fiduciary Administration of the 50s, the prelude to an independent Somalia. It provides an interesting insight of the challenges and difficulties that Italy shared in recent international operations and a cold look at recent responsibilities in the collapse of a state.Well written, informative, well documented. A pleasure to read.

As asomali living in Europe this book bringing the real history of world invaision to my country

Over a decade has passed since the end of apartheid in South Africa, yet it seems longer ago that such a nightmare actually existed in the modern world. Reading this book, which relates just one example of the many wrongs endured by the majority of inhabitants of that country, is guaranteed get your blood boiling all over again.

Originally published in Australia as "Upington: A Story of Trials and Reconciliation," Andrea Durbach's book recounts her role as a lawyer in the murder trial of 25 residents of Pabellelo, a black township in Upington, South Africa. After a peaceful meeting in November 1985, during which residents complained about such township conditions as "issues of house rents and the use of alcohol by schoolchildren," a group of youths made their way to a soccer field, disrupting a game. A confrontation with police ensued, and, for the next three days, local law enforcement clamped down on local unrest, at one point shooting and killing a pregnant woman. Responding to unfounded rumors of an officially sanctioned town-wide gathering, 3,000 inhabitants assembled and were then violently dispersed by police. In the subsequent melee, police fired tear-gas canisters into the crowd. A black police officer, with a past reputation of cruelty and corruption, was flushed from his nearby home and assaulted by a mob, ultimately killing him.

Twenty-six residents were arrested. Evidence tied only three or four of them directly to the scene of the crime; five of the accused were actually arrested when they "volunteered" for the lineup and were then selected by alleged eyewitnesses. To avoid the problem of the complete lack of evidence--not to mention the inconvenience of numerous alibis--the Upington 25 (minus one of the accused who pled separately) were tried under the doctrine of "common purpose." Most frequently used against, say, a group of bank robbers when one of them commits a murder during the course of the crime, the South African justice system extended the doctrine to allow that participation (or even mere attendance) in a crowd is evidence enough for "criminal liability" or "commitment to action" for any illegal acts that might result.

Ultimately, all 25 were convicted of murder, 14 of them (including a 60-year-old grandmother) received the death penalty--and the case instantly became an international cause celebre. During the late 1980s through 1991, during the dying days of apartheid, Durbach and her colleagues persisted in battling the outcome of this farcical "show trial." They, along with the accused, are true heroes against an oppressive system. Still, writing from her new home of Sydney, Australia, Durbach is able to reflect on past events with an admirable mix of sensitivity and detachment.

Yet the true villain of the book is Jan Basson, the justice of the Upington Supreme Court who presided over the trial. Although Durbach is remarkably even-handed in her treatment of this rogue, the facts speak for themselves, and the reader closes the book with the belief that there must be a special place in Hell for such callous, mindless tyrants.

Even though the trial's outcome and South Africa's destiny is known from the start, "A Common Purpose" is still a page-turner that recommends itself to any reader who cares about racial justice and social democracy.

Durbach is truly one of the century's greatest women. Amidst the overwhelming power of the repressive apartheid State she joined with her fellow lawyers to resurrect the power of the rule of law. The personal toll of making a difference in that time and under that regime was extraordinary. This book is an inspiration for young and old lawyers alike, as well as anyone who believes that injustice has to be accepted.

We purchased this book when we were in Botswana this August. This book is magnificient! It was an invaluable resource as we saw an incredible array of birds in the wild. It also is a great book to have around here in the States as the pictures are fantastic. Good resource info on the evolution and classification of birds as well. A must buy for anyone interested in birds, especially those of Southern Africa.

Through years of living in Southern Africa this book has helped me with its comprehensive descriptions and photographs. Though, due to its massive size, it is hardly a worthy travel-companion, it is a very lovely coffee-table or study-table book

I was given this delightful book in 1982. The recipes are easy to follow and friends often ask me for the recipes .The Bobotie pie is a real favourite.
I have used this book so much it is falling apart, but to my delight I have found new copies on the internet using [...]
For any newly weds this would be a must as often a recipe I cant find in other books I see it in Magdaleens book.
Thora Angell

This is my bible of cookbooks. I have had a copy for 25 years and have never had a recipe flop or prove to be a diaster. The recipes are easy to follow and the ingredients tend to be easily available. The book has an excellent section on cuts of meats and how to best cook them. It also has a conversion section that is concise and extremely useful.

For those wanting South African recipes this book offers many. From koeksisters to bobotie to biltong to boerewors the recipes are excellent.

I have often found that the baking sections of many general cookbooks tend to be less then great. This is not true of "The Complete" cookbook. My husband has managed to make scones using the basic recipe! My daughters have both learnt to cook using this book and have rarely had any failures.

This is a cookbook that allows cooks from basic to advanced the opportunity to find good recipes that offer a variety of choices and many new recipes that will become family favourites.

This book is mandatory reading for any political science major. In a media driven age where the truth is intentionally distorted to further political agendas, Adam-Slabbert&Moodley provide the cold-blooded truth about the hypocracy of contemporary South African politics. In so doing, they lift the veil of piousness surrounding the 'heros' of the apartheid struggle and reveal the true motives of these modern day pirates. Extemely thought provoking reading.

"This timely book is comparable to a seminar on contemporary politics in South Africa. The authors are all veteran analysts of South African political changes since the 1960's. In South African terms, they are moderate left. Thus, they avoid the triumphalism of the celebrants of the demise of apartheid and instead comment searchingly on the dilemma of promoting liberal democracy while engaging in massive attempts to reduce inequality... Part serious-popular history, part comparative political analysis, part sociology, part academic journalism, the discussion is not for a beginner but for the reader already initiated into South Africana...The conclusion is rather sober: politics in the future is no longer about race but about the underclass challenging the "liberation aristocracy." Highly recommended for upper-division undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, and researchers." -H.Glickman, Haverford College Taken from: Choice. June 1999