Africa Books

These audio CD's are excellent. They have brought to the surface questions I had not fully formulated, and helped me to answer them. Very thought-provoking and potentially life-changing!

These tapes offer great wisdoms and insights from Sobonfu's heart. I found many answers to questions I had not even formulated. I now have many tools and techniques that I can use in my every day life that assist not only my connection to spirit but an honouring of my feminity. Sobonfu provides practical examples from her vast experiences as a woman, providing a platform of power for every woman. She shares the feminity that is universal, crossing difference and culture. As an initiated woman from the Dagara people of West Africa Sobonfu Some in these tapes offers women the opportunity to value her self, life and all her relationships. Changing our perspective and ability to create.

This audio CD is the most invaluable piece of information I have come across in a long time! I can listen while doing other things....I can use it for our sisters' group meetings.....family meetings.....brother meetings...for meditations....for elevation....to rise to the woman I know I am meant to be!

If you are woman.
If you are on a spiritual path of any sort.
If you wish to go deeper in your personal universe.
Then, this set is for you!
Sobonfu is fabulous.

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Western civilization has grudgingly recognized that homo sapiens evolved in Africa, within the last 40 years through the work of Richard and Louis Leakey and the discovery of the "Lucy" skelital evidence in Ethiopia.

However, Drusilla Huston's book copiously documents legends of of African culture before the dessication of the Sahara and the Egyto-Nubian desserts. She continued with ancient references to the ancient Kushite and Ethiopian civilizations and Kings refered to by Homer, Heroditus, Diodorus, Massey Champoleon and others to flesh out the stories of the Nubian, Nahesey, Napatan, Meroic, Alumic, Egyptian, Summarian and Ethiopean nations over 75 years ago.

It is therefore, a prophetic and profound example of pioneering African-American scholarship operating in a bleak and hostile environment over many decades. It's veracity is only enhanced and fortified with the passage of time and recent production of books such as "Black Athena" by Martin Bernal, "Civilization or Barbarism" by Cheik Anta Diop and the 1996 "African Exodus" by Chris Skinner and "Egypt Revisited" edited by Ivan Van Sertima and numerous others.

Wonderful Ethiopians of the Ancient Cushite Empire represents the crowning achievement of Ms. Drusilla Dunjee Houston. The work was originally published in Oklahoma City in 1926. It is the first known attempt by a Black woman, and perhaps anyone, to produce a multi-volume work on African history told from an African perspective.

Ms. Houston herself was an educator, journalist and historian. She spent most of her life in Oklahoma and Arizona and succumbed to tuberculosis in Phoenix, Arizona in 1941.

Her work is broad and comprehensive and was quite advanced for its time. Its audience was not confined to scholars but the layperson, particularly Black folk, who were in need of a accurate tonic to boost Black self-esteem. It retains a powerful value even today, more than seventy years since its initial publication.

This book explores the forgotten reality of human history from the source. Genuinely educating book.

Wonderful Ethiopians of the Ancient Cushite Empire represents the crowning achievement of Ms. Drusilla Dunjee Houston. The work was originally published in Oklahoma City in 1926. It is the first known attempt by a Black woman, and perhaps anyone, to produce a multi-volume work on African history told from an African perspective.

Ms. Houston herself was an educator, journalist and historian. She spent most of her life in Oklahoma and Arizona and succumbed to tuberculosis in Phoenix, Arizona in 1941.

Her work is broad and comprehensive and was quite advanced for its time. Its audience was not confined to scholars but the layperson, particularly Black folk, who were in need of a accurate tonic to boost Black self-esteem. It retains a powerful value even today, more than seventy years since its initial publication.

Zomo is a rabbit who is "clever" but wants "wisdom" so goes to SkyGod, who tells him he must do "three impossible things:" bring him "the scales of Big Fish in the sea, "the milk of Wild Cow" and "the tooth of leopard." Zomo tricks the fish into dancing to his drumbeat until his scales fall off, tricks the cow into ramming the palm tree until she's stuck so he can milk her (reminds me of Brer Rabbit and Sis Cow), and then trips the leopard on the slippery scales and milk to get the tooth. Unique, vividly colored illustrations accompany the simple story. I will say I don't quite get the ending where he earns wisdom, and all he does with it is run very fast (wasn't he doing that already?). Overall however, the illustrations and clever rabbit make a great story for my toddler.

With Zomo the Rabbit : A Trickster Tale from Africa, Gerald McDermott demonstrates again why he is our favorite when it comes to children's books. The tale is clever. The illustrations are spectacular, as always. McDermott's books are the favorites of my 7-year old, who reads them over and over again. My 2-year old also loves them.

Is there any higher praise an author/illustrator can receive than to hear a reviewer say, "Well, I never really loved anything else this person did, but I think this book is bloody brilliant"? Probably. But I for one feel that Gerald McDermott (who I've always respected but never felt any real affection for) really hit the nail on the head with this book. "Zomo" has the near impossible task of being both amusing and informative. So many African folktales relayed in children's picture books end up being a little dry and dated. For example, the book "Zomo" most resembles in plot is, "A Story, A Story" by G. Haley. Yet that book is a dour dull creation when compared to this amazing little concoction. This is a book that every child should read at least once in their lives.

As you open the book you see a clever little rabbit all decked out in kinte cloth. The text reads, "Zomo! Zomo the rabbit. He is not big. He is not strong. But he is very clever". When Zomo decides that being clever is not enough and that he wants wisdom as well he quickly requests it from the Sky God. To attain wisdom's secrets, the Sky God commands Zomo to fetch him the scales of Big Fish of the sea, the milk of Wild Cow, and the tooth of Leopard. Zomo immediately sets out to fulfill these tasks. For the fish he plays a catchy tune on his drum, so entrancing the sea dwelling creature that it dances its scales off. The Wild Cow is lured into a tree and, while stuck, Zomo milks it. As for Leopard, some of the slippery scales dropped into slippery milk cause the feline to slip and knock out a tooth. When Zomo presents these items to the Sky God he is instantly told that wisdom consists of courage, good sense, and caution. Zomo has thus far had the first two, but now with three new enemies he should exercise the last for a while.

I think what I loved best about this book was Zomo himself. This is a remarkable thing too. Too often the cocky hero of a tale (especially a trickster tale) is too brash and self-important to garner any real love from the reader. But Zomo's different. He's sprightly and a joy to follow. From the geometric patterns of his face to the energetic dancing of his little black furry feet, he's a pure pleasure to watch. The illustrations themselves are so bright and cheery it puts such similarly colorful stories like, "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" to shame. But best of all is the narration. I've given you the first sentence of the book, but the rest reads just as well. It's catchy and delightfully placed upon each and every page.

Some books you pick up and groan when your kids want you to read them forty or fifty times in a row. Other books you wish they'd ask you sixty or seventy times more. "Zomo" is in the latter category. A fun filled romp with a delightful West African base, the book is one of the best I've ever had the pleasure to peruse. Highly recommended from here to the sky and back.

One of the universal figures in mythology is the trickster, from Hermes of classical mythology to Iktomi of the Indians of the American plains. Zomo the Rabbit is an example of an animal trickster and is often at the center of many of the traditional tales of West Africa, while other cultures tell similar stories about the Spider and the Tortoise using guile and trickery to outwit their larger foes.

In "Zomo the Rabbit: A Trickster Tale from West Africa" Gerald McDermott knows that he is clever but wishes to acquire wisdom. But before he can earn wisdom the Sky God gives him three impossible tasks and requires Zomo to bring him the scales of Big Fish in the sea, the milk of Wild Cow, and the tooth of Leopard. The question is whether Zomo's cleverness can make up for the fact that the is not big and he is not strong. Well, of course, he can, but that does not necessarily mean that gaining wisdom will make his life any easier out in the jungle.

McDermott's colorful artwork is influenced by African designs and he tells the tale with simple, rhythmic language that will appeal to the youngest of readers. The author and illustrator has been studying the trickster motif in folklore and mythology for some time, having earned a Caldecott Honor for "Anansi the Spider," another tale from Africa. "Zomo the Rabbit" will obviously remind many young readers of another rascally rabbit, which will help establish the idea that the trickster has been around for a long time in many different, but similar, guises.

I read & collect everything I can find on hunting in Africa. I rate this as one of the best of the modern books on the subject.

It is beautifully illustrated, nicely bound, and well-written - it is hard to believe an officer actually wrote this! (Tongue-in-cheek here.) It is both informative and entertaining.

I hope it is a great seller for Donarski and for Stackpole. It is good to see them putting out a book like this.

I'm not a big-game hunter and am not interested in becoming one, but I knew I would love this book when I read an excerpt in Sports Afield. Hunters will find much to admire in it, but it is about much more than hunting. The author proves himself an amiable, enthusiastic, reliable, and knowledgeable companion as he blends his compelling stories with a great deal of useful information about traveling to and within Africa. He manages to do it all with skillful literary touches and enough light-hearted moments to keep a reader chuckling. And he never blows smoke up your skirt. This is the straight dope -- and it conjures up the sights, sounds, and smells of one of the planet's most magical places.

David Graham of the Flint Journal was the critic who recommended this book. He said it brought back the verve and honor to the safari genre. He couldn't have been more correct.

This book is not just for hunters-- it is for anyone looking for an adventure tale that occurs in real time. Sure, there's good stuff for travelers to Africa to know, but the meat of this book is the journey. It is simply very well done.

Oh, the photography is stunning. It should have been a coffee table book simply for the quality of the photos.

Africa veterans will remember their first trip with smiles and tears, Africa virgins will have their dreams burn all the brighter.

ABOUT BLADY is a touching book about life and death. It inspired this poem which I hope will suffice as a reveiw.

HE DIED OF CANCER HE WAS 68 HE DIED OF CANCER HE WAS 36 HE DIED OF CANCER HE WAS 24

LATTER RAINS come sparking on a comet's tail out of control

strike a silent blow to grow in him out of sight coming in visionary midnight dreams

frightening misunderstood meaning clear in afterthought

after ravaged body nears end of capability felt end of being

Pain no pills can erase subdued by chords of Beethoven passages of Mozart

Sunshine overshadowed by death clouds a peaceful finale echoes through stainglass windows to silence

ABOUT BLADY is a touching book about life and death. It inspired this poem which I hope will suffice as a reveiw.

HE DIED OF CANCER HE WAS 68 HE DIED OF CANCER HE WAS 36 HE DIED OF CANCER HE WAS 24

LATTER RAINS come sparking on a comet's tail out of control

strike a silent blow to grow in him out of sight coming in visionary midnight dreams

frightening misunderstood meaning clear in afterthought

after ravaged body nears end of capability felt end of being

Pain no pills can erase subdued by chords of Beethoven passages of Mozart

Sunshine overshadowed by death clouds a peaceful finale echoes through stainglass windows to silence

Laurens van der Post gives us glimpses into various parts of his life, and finally bears down on the subject of the title of this book, a mare called Blady, spotted in a field by a young horsewoman of Argentine origins in Spain, purchased on the spot, and trained and ridden by her against against the greatest rider in all of Spain. Van der Post writes the story with great affection for the for the young woman and her mare. Many insights are given into the complex interrealtions and customs of the Spanish, none more interesting than Laurens' reflections on the meaning and symbolism of the bullfight.

This book is incredible. As Don McClure's great niece, I've grown up hearing about him. I did not realize the extent of his experience and impact on the people of Africa until I read about it. His love for Christ and his dedication to Him has deep meaning for me. I've learned so much about him...and even though I never got to meet him, I feel that I know him after reading this book.

The story of Don Mclure's life in Sudan and Ethiopia gives a realistic view of missionary life in rural Africa. Don struggled not only with the cultures (that he loved) in Africa, but American mission bureaucrats trying to keep up with their rules from offices in New York. There are fascinating insights about how to take Christ to primitive cultures, about not protecting yourself, and how to deal with witchcraft and broken vehicles. This is the best missionary biography that I have ever read.

This book is a biographical story of Don McClure and family through their missionary journey through East Africa. One of my favorite books of all time. Espically shows how one must lean on God to survive, and how faith in God will see the Lord's will done. Also shows the saving grace of the Gospel both spiritually and physically. A great defense of Christian missions simply through the stories Don told in his letters home. This will reach your heart and show you what missions is all about...the Love of God.

If you can get a hold of a copy of this book...consider yourself blessed. You will be changed

This product has the sound of Africa. It sounds more athentic than other similar books. It is also more culturely oriented.

I'd agree with the previous reviewer; however, the author (Joyce Cooper Arkhurst) was indeed the person responsible for popularizing the Anansi stories here in the USA! The vocabulary in the book introduces kids to Africa and West African terms and culture. Joyce was a storyteller at the New York City Public Library many years ago and received a grant to go to West Africa to research the rich oral tradition of storytelling in the villages. This book was the first to popularize the Anansi stories and opened the door for McDermott and others. Enjoy!

The author has presented a simple, easy to read format which will be easy for children to read, understand, and most important, ENJOY! The humor is wonderful. The main character, Spider, will be easily recognizable to those children already familiar with the Anansi stories. Additionally, I am a teacher and have introduced oral storytelling into my second grade classroom. These stories are simple, rich and easy to learn for those who may be interested in becoming a storyteller themselves! It's a thoroughly enjoyable and wonderful book.

A description of the U.S. invasion of Iraq might start with 9/11, Bush's Administration, the 1991 war, or Iraq's invasion of Iran. The history of the invasion, however, is not a description of the invasion itself but of what happened before. Robinson, Gallagher, and Denny provide that history.

"Africa and the Victorians" describes the UK's responses to fear of erosion of the British Empire. In the mid-1800s, British leaders assumed that modernization of the world economy would naturally strengthen the empire. Events of the late 1800s didn't work out that way. Rather, political developments outside Europe took a nationalist turn. In addition, the expanding world roles of Russia, Germany, and the U.S. threatened to cost the UK its global preponderance, unless the UK could count on all its traditional assets, especially India.

India was securely in British control internally, but the routes of British access to India ran through the Mediterranean, Egypt and, after 1869, the Suez Canal, or alternatively around South Africa. Nationalist politics in both Egypt and South Africa seemed, to British imperialist eyes, to make both routes less secure. In addition, both Germany and Russia were chipping away at Turkey and thus approaching the Suez Canal.

Thus, in 1882 Britain sent its armies to take over Egypt and safeguard the Canal. Many in London wanted to do this on the cheap by quickly withdrawing and then ruling through Egyptian elites, but the old India hands had their way and the UK undertook direct rule and military occupation.

Although it technically falls in Asia and thus outside the book's African focus, the story continued a few years later on the other side of Suez, with the fall of Turkey and Britain's annexation of the lands that lay on Russia's path to the Canal. Both in South Africa and Suez, Britain entrusted territorial defense to colonists -- Britons in the Cape Colony and Israelis east of Suez.

British troops stayed in Egypt until 1954, at which point the Egyptian politics of 1882 replayed themselves almost exactly. Britain and Israel, along with France, invaded again in 1956 to reoccupy the Canal, but by then the shift in world power already feared in the late 1880s had come to pass, and the invaders were ordered out of Egypt by the U.S. and the USSR. By that time, the U.S. had assumed the UK's role as guarantor of Turkey, Israel, and Suez.

The invasion of 2003 repeats this pattern in terms of taking a supposed overseas interest, perceiving an indirect threat to it, invading to overthrow a nationalist government, and then staying supposedly to develop the country but more practically because the invader looks down on the local political alternatives. The U.S. invaders don't seem shy about potentially repeating Britain's experience of a 72-year-long military presence.

Access to India was, of course, no longer an issue even in 1956, but once started these things take on lives of their own.

In their last pages, Robinson, Gallagher, and Denny make this observation: "Fundamentally, the official calculations of policy behind imperial expansion in Africa were inspired by a hardening of arteries and a hardening of hearts. Over and over again, they show an obsession with security, a fixation on safeguarding the routes to the East. What stands out in that policy is its pessimism. It reflects a traumatic reaction from the hopes of mid-century; a resignation to a bleaker present; a defeatist gloss on the old texts of expansion." This also describes U.S. policy toward the world as of 2003, compared to the Marshall Plan days fifty years earlier.

Note that this book has apparently been published under two subtitles: "The Climax of Imperialism in the Dark Continent" (U.S.) and "The Official Mind of Imperialism" (UK).

With all due respect to Mary Sibley, her summary hardly demonstrates the unique argument of this epochal work on British imperialism, nor its invaluable contribution to the historiography of the subject. To suggest that this book is a mere factual account of British imperialism in Africa is to miss the point; Robinson and Gallagher were ideas-men, and they brilliantly incorporate this look at high-politics (i.e. the 'official mind') to shed light on the motives behind British expansion. Their argument is that the strategic interests emanating from the periphery were the primary motivating factor in British expansion - not metropolitan-based economic interests. What emerges is a complex view of both informal and formal imperialism. Informal imperialism, they argue, may be motivated by economic interests; but insofar as formal imperial expansion was concerned, it was strategic imperatives provoked by incidents at the periphery.

This book, nearly thirty years on, is still considered THE definitive work on the primacy of politics in British expansion, which, along with Cain and Hopkin's work (British Imperialism 1688-2000), respectively form the core of the politics vs. economics debate in the history of British imperialism.

The Victorians had an expansive spirit. Most people believed in restricted government and free trade. Expansion seemed inevitable. The main engine of expansion was enterprise. Their trade associations were mostly with Europeans transplanted abroad.

The idea of Africa moved British statesmen to act. The continuity of Victorian leadership ws remarkable. The ends of Livingston and Gordon haunted the imagination as examples of embattled humanitarians. A policy of supporting trade was embraced in the middle of the nineteenth century under the belief that private enterprise could promote the interests of both commerce and philanthropy. On the continent, though, time-honored practices were upset by the presence of Europeans. There was a gulf between intention and effect.

Up until the 1880's the British sought influence but no commitment on both coasts of Africa. In the west there were local chiefs and Liverpool traders in palm oil. In the east the British worked through the Sultan of Zanzibar. In the east the Arabs were useful allies. There was a conflict of interest since the British sought to extinguish all external and internal slave trading. The search for pliant native powers had resulted in one failure after another in promoting civilized activity and suppressing the slave trade in the interior.

The British sought to devolve authority to make imperialism cheaper. The problem was that receptive African rulers were not strong and strong African rulers were not receptive to British influence. The Khedive of Egypt was broken by the expansion of the European economy. The Sultanate in Zanzibar was weakened by being made to enforce an alien athic.

South African politics changed with the discovery of diamonds. The continuity between mid and late Victorian policy is impressive. A forward policy raised strong criticism of Britain. In 1881 the Transvaal crisis was patched up. Next came the Suez crisis. Twenty years after Egypt was opened to free trade, the Khedive, living from loan to loan, was replaced by another and placed under strict controls by Britain and by France. The foreign controllers were practically dictators in finance.

Occupation of Egypt was undertaken by Britain between 1882 and 1914. The British sought to leave Egypt, but the need for administration continued. The Egyptian affair had started the Scramble and ended the stand still arrangement. The Egyptian occupation destroyed the old informal systems on the coasts of Aftica and unsettled the politics of south Africa.

There was a pattern of colonial demands for imperial extension and British resistance to it. The British wished to avoid arousing Afrikaner opinion. Britain became powerless to shut Germany out of south and east Africa because it relied on Germany in its stand-off with France over Egypt. It was determined to occupy Bechuanaland to dissipate the fear of German encroachment.

After 1887 an inrush of mining and railway enterprise changed the shape of politics in south Africa. By 1894 the gold of Johannesburg was believed to be inexhaustable. There were humanitarian advocates of the colonial office set against the need to placate Boer interests. The new wealth and traffic of the Rand made it inevitable that Kruger would seek a railroad link through Portuguese territory for shipment of Transvaal gold.

Cecil Rhodes sought imperial protection for his mining speculations. The company would plant a colony to occupy the country. Throughout 1889 humanitarian societies agitated against giving administrative authority to a commercial company. The government granted the charter fearing nationalism and republicanism in south Africa. The terms of the charter left little room for effective imperial control. Salisbury negotiated with German and Portuguese interests to obtain for Rhodes areas north of Zambesi. Economic imperialism is too simple a term to cover the mixed intentions of the British government. The company was chartered above all as a political instrument.

From 1885 to 1900 British foreign policy was built on the designs of Lord Salisbury. It acquired a brilliance of formulation. He suffered from a fundamental defeatism. He had a static view of politics.

Africa remained for him an intellectual problem. Baring, the British agent in Egypt, felt there could be no stability without the supervision of British officals and the presence of troops. He felt Egypt did not have suitable political cadres. The safety of the Nile became a supreme consideration. In 1889 when it was suggested to the Germans that the matter of Zanzibar be submitted to arbitration, the stage was set for the 1890's agreements. The Anglo-German agreement was badly received by France

Prolonged negotiations about west Africa with France created difficulties. England focused on the Niger River. England eventually invaded Sudan when conditions were suitable for victory there and ultimately fought the Boers to consolidate the holdings and colonies in the south of Africa and to bring everything under imperial control. In the end there was Joseph Chamberlain in the foreign office who wanted to undertake scientific administration of the imperial entities. At that point Salisbury was old and failing.

Victorians were confronted with nationalist upsurges. During the first three quarters of the nineteenth century Britain enjoyed effortless supremacy. The book is of immense interest. Tables are included quantifying the scope of trade, geographical issues and the shifts in European control.

What a whirlwind of a book !
Steen Marcussen delivers in Africa Go Go his views and experiences from Africa with a big heart and lots of humour. But also serious and crispy analysis about postwar Africa based on personal experiences. Afecionados of Africa must read this one, it is a very well written book. He serves us a world of its own, a world full of charm, mystery , sensuality and excitement. He is a writer with an exciting past, and future books will be warmly welcomed.

Great book... Well written, full of humor and insight. Africa Go-Go includes several lovely and memorable stories, for instance the wonderful `The arrival of Lollipop'. A story about the encounter and arrival of a very generous gift from a Nigerian Chief - His Daughter. A highly recommendable for book!

An interesting and well written book about the life in West Africa, as experienced by a young white man four decades ago.
The book is written with a lot of humour and warmth, in spite of the more or less dangerous situation.
For me reding it was more or less as the commercial for Pringles
"Once you pop, you can't stop". As soon as one short story had been red I simply had to read the next one as well.
Superb and highly recommended book.

The clear, profound and well documented way of describing the complexities of the African economy makes this book one of the best in international economics.

Mr. Mshomba's contributions transcend the analysis of the sub-Saharan region by clearing the path to undertanding the functioning of the world economy and its impact in developing countries. That's why this book is applicable to unveil the matter in other regions of the world.

It is a must for international organizations, universities and policy makers... real policy makers.

Mshomba's "Africa in the Global Economy" is by far the best book I have ever read in international economics.

The author writes clearly and objectively in evaluating sub-Saharan trade policies.

I highly recommend it for those interested in learning more and understanding better sub-Saharan Africa from an economics point of view.

Richard Mshomba's "Africa in the Global Economy" presents an excellent analysis of both the situation and causation of economic conditions in Sub-Saharan Africa. The economic policies of African countries in combination with the trade policies of developed countries have both contributed to the lack of real economic growth. My summary of the book would be this - African countries have continued to shoot themselves in the foot while developed countries, like the U.S., have held the gun.

For anyone with any interest in international economics, this is truly a great read.