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An unadulterated report on the results of excavations and surveys in the area around Gao, Mali in western Africa. This volume should be studied alongside the report on earlier work at the site (Islam, Archaeology and History: The Gao Region of Mali BAR S647, 1996), and focuses on the environmental and artefactual remains: botanical evidence, fauna, molluscs, fish bones; beads, lithics, spindle whorls, metal and miscellaneous finds. This project has brought a better understanding of this area of Africa and of the importance of Gao as a trade centre in the early second millennium AD. ... Read more

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This work runs from the intensification of Islamic teaching during the region of Alu Maana, to the struggles and intrigues at the court when Seeku Aamadu reigned over the neighbouring Islamic emirate of Maasina, to the French colonial regime. During the latter episode, a lot of attention is given to the manipulation of the appointment if rulers and the subsequent decline of their power under Modibo Keita and Moussa Traore in independent Mali. This interference of the French has resulted in doubts of the legitimacy of the kings, which is symbolized by the royal drums that are no longer played upon. The political developments involving the foundation of two parties by the Malian state, further diminished the role of the leaders of the Haayre as mediators of the people. This development is embodied in the final sentence of the text when Aamadu Baa Digi desperately concludes that "Jamaa oo, haya joonin, kaanankoo'be mon 'be, laamu walaa", which is translated as "Peuple, maintenant, vos rois, ils n'ont plus de pouvoir". ... Read more

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The fourth edition of the Historical Dictionary of Mali, through its chronology, bibliography, introductory essay, and over 500 cross-referenced dictionary entries on important persons, places, events, and institutions and significant political, economic, social, and cultural aspects, provides an important reference on this African country. ... Read more

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This text draws upon an extensive collection of life histories to elaborate the perspectives of patients themselves who suffer from leprosy in Mali. It describes the transformation of leper identities with changes in medical and social responses to the disease. By situating seemingly local experiences of patients within the larger context of national and global change, the author aims to deepen our understanding of a range of issues including stigma, marginality, begging and migration. He explains how the dibilitating nature of leprosy interfered with one's ability to marry, farm and participate in other facets of normal life. Leprosy sufferers became outcasts in their villages and often migrated to treatment centres in Bamako and other towns. At these centres, patients constructed self-conscious communities which empowered them socially and politically. Eric Silla argues that lepers should be seen as vibrant political actors instead of their stereotype as pitiable victims. The text is a contribution to the history of French colonialism and of socialism, dictatorship, and democracy in independent Africa. The example of Mali also raises important questions about Western public health programmes that emphasize biological cures with little regard for social rehabilitation.North America: Heinemann ... Read more

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Social history as it ought to be done
Eric Silla's social history of leprosy (a.k.a. Hansen's disease) in Mali draws the reader into a penetrating exploration not just of a disease but of the regimes of stigma, treatment, and solidarity that have been constructed around it.The author makes use of his own interviews with dozens of subjects--those afflicted with Hansen's disease, as well as healers from both African and European medical traditions--to sketch a detailed picture of the effects this illness has had on a society at large.

These firsthand accounts are frank and often gripping, helping the reader to understand (insofar as it is possible) the depth of suffering caused not so much by the disease itself as by the manifold, and almost entirely unnecessary, social stigma that accompany it.By reinforcing his interviews with documentary evidence from French colonial clinics, leprosariums, and other sources, the author puts his subjects' stories in wider perspective.He even taps into centuries-old Arabic manuscripts for insight into the status and conditions of lepers in pre-colonial Mali.

Silla's obvious familiarity with many aspects of Malian society shows through his writing, his references to local language, proverbs, and history.This is the way social histories ought to be done, putting their primary subjects and their own words first whenever possible, making judicious use of historical documents, and keeping theory in the background where it belongs."People Are Not the Same" is one of those rare studies which manages to enlighten without indulging either in obscurantist analysis or oversimplification. ... Read more

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This book describes and explains the origins of West Indian slave plantations, plantocracies and the rel ationship between plantocrats and Amerindians. It then exami nes the African background of Caribbean slavery, slaves'' liv es and other topics. ' ... Read more

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This book traces the development of African arguments about race over a period of more than 350 years in the Niger Bend in northern Mali. ... Read more

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Mali, a country rich with history and culture, but one of the poorest in the world, emerged in the 1990s as one of Africa's most vibrant democracies. Strengthened by bold political and economic reforms at home, Mali has emerged as a leader in African peace keeping efforts. How has such a transition taken place? How have these changes built on Mali's rich heritage? These are the questions that the contributors to this volume have addressed.

During the past twenty-five years, the scholarly research and applied development work of Michigan State University faculty and students in Mali represents the most significant combined, long-term, and continuing contribution of any group of university faculty in the United States or Europe to the study of Malian society, economy, and politics. The applied nature of much of this work has resulted in a significant number of working papers, reports, and conference presentations. This volume represents a coherent and connected set of essays from one American university with a widely known and highly respected role in African development. While the essays identify and review Mali's unique historical and contemporary path to democracy and development, they also contribute to the advancement of theoretical knowledge about African development. ... Read more

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The principle text translated in this volume is the "Ta'rikh Al-sudan" of the 17th-century scholar 'Abd al-Rahman al-Sa'di. The 30 chapters deal with the history of Timbuktu and Jenne, their scholars and the political history of the Songhay empire from the reign of Sunni 'Ali (1464-1492) through Moroccan conquest of Songhay in 1591 and down to the year 1613 when the Pashalik of Timbuktu became an autonomous ruling institution in the Middle Niger region. The year 1613 also marked the effective end of Songhay resistance. Other contemporary documents included are an English translation of Leo Africanus's description of West Africa, some letters relating to Sa'dian diplomacy and conquests in the Sahara and Sahel, al-Ifrani's account of Sa'dian conquest of Songhay, and an account of this expedition by an anonymous Spaniard. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Excellent Work - Well Worth the Price.
African History scholar John O. Hunwick deserves the utmost praise for this work. Do not let the price deter you, seriously, the volume is well worth the price and even more. Others familiar with the history of the Songhai Empire know that for the past hundred-plus years this 'golden' book could only be accessed by those who knew the original 16th-century classical Arabic, or the French and German translations from the 1800's. The Songhai Empire was amazing and here we as mankind are blessed to have Hunwick translate this all-important Songhai court document into English for the first time ever. Curious about the illustrious and powerful Askia dynasty, Songhai imperial orchestras, the unbeatable Songhai army, river navies, queens, and the never-ending trade of gold? This Songhai classic is a true work of art, an imperial court document that will astound the reader with its amazing detail of Songhai's legacy as the richest empire of Africa's Golden Age.

Brilliant Black African History!!!!
The Tarikh Al-Sudan,is one of the many compilations of Black African History. Written by a Black African scholar in the Arabic language, (which was much more widely used in that era than now), the author has done a good job.

The Dynasties, Scholars of the area, African ethnic groups, etc., are well covered.I think the "Tarikh Al-Fettah", should also be translated into English.

For those people in the world who still refuse to aknowledge Black African Civilizations, initiatives, and accomplishments, this is a good read.

Currently in Mali today there are 15 families that have preserved over 50,000 volumes of African History in that area.There is a current project underway to save these priceless materials. Contact info@Timbuktufoundation.org

$147!
My God! $147 dollars. I would love to read this book, but without even reading some sample pages I can't take the chance that it's the book I'm looking for. Author/publisher: please include sample pages or reduce the price. ... Read more

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This ground-breaking book examines the verbal art of women from three Sahelian societies. It relates West African women’s voices to a broader literary, political, and cultural context and succeeds in crossing traditional disciplinary boundaries. In her book, Sidikou argues that through verbal art women create a ritual space that serves as the locus of both their creativity and their efforts to negotiate power as well as to affirm their own selfhood. By offering a new way of approaching oral literature in West Africa, this study re-thinks verbal art by and about women. It also debunks assumptions about African women by suggesting a re-vision of what has been written about them.

This significant and unique study will have a tremendous impact on research and teaching in general and will make a strong contribution not only to African studies, but to cultural studies, feminism, theory, and education. ... Read more

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Phenomenal!!
To call this book groundbreaking is an understatement.This intriguing study reshapes many of the Western assumptions about African women with a truly unique and refreshing viewpoint.Anyone who is interested in African studies, women's studies, oral history, etc. would be doing themselves a great disservice to not have this book in their collection.This is the book that many scholars have been waiting for in that it is truly the premier source of information of its type on the market.You will not be disappointed! ... Read more

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Focusing on the Office du Niger's irrigation project in what was then French Soudan (Mali), the author analyses how and why development policies emerge, persist and change. Van Beusekom argues that Africans not only influenced farming and marketing practices, but also re-shaped French concepts of rural development, as well as transforming French colonial perceptions of Africans and African societies.Of importance to historians of colonialism in African as well as to scholars, students and policy makers working on issues of development theory and practice.North America: Heinemann ... Read more

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informative but academic
This book is a good resource for students of colonial economics or agriculture. The author thoroughly searched through old French documents, probably hand written, to chronicle the economic history of why cotton never caught on in what used to be the French Soudan. Opposing the stereotypical image of a subjugated colonial peasantry, Roberts reminds us that colonial West Africans created their own identity and exerted their own economic power. Unfortunately, if you are looking for the African point of view, look someplace else. The author couldn't access much from one of his "worlds", the indigenous Mande cotton farmers. ... Read more

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First published in London in 1816, The Narrative of Robert Adams is an account of the adventures of Robert Adams, an African American seaman who survives shipwreck, slavery, and brutal efforts to convert him to Islam, before being ransomed to the British consul. In London, Adams is discovered by the Company of Merchants Trading which publishes his story, into which Adams inserts a fantastical account of a trip to Timbuctoo. Adams's story is accompanied by contemporary essays and notes that place his experience in the context of European exploration of Africa at the time, and weigh his credibility against other contemporary accounts. Professor Adams's introduction examines Adams's credibility in light of modern knowledge of Africa and discusses the significance of his story in relation to the early nineteenth century interest in Timbuctoo, and to the literary genres of the slave narrative and the Barbary Captivity narrative. ... Read more

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Interesting read . . .
Interesting read, nothing wrong with it, but just not as gripping as some other books I read in preparation for a trip to west Africa. ... Read more

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In this beautifully illustrated book, Victoria L. Rovine explores the revival of a traditional African textiles known variously as bogolanfini, bogolan, or mudcloth.Over the last decade, artists of the West African nation of Mali have adapted this cloth, featuring black- or brown-and-white geometric patterns, to create a variety of new wares, including intricately detailed paintings, elaborate high-fashion clothing, and a wide range of other products aimed at both domestic and foreign consumers. ... Read more

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Interesting and fun - a book on African mudcloth
Victoria Rovine tells a great story and illustrates it with wonderful images of the indigenous textile from Mali, bogolanfini or bogolan, known as mudcloth in the US. Her book is strong on theory but also full of personal details about the people and the places where bogolan is made. Good for anthropology, fine art, material culture courses but also an excellent read for anyone interested in African culture and creativity. Highly recommended! ... Read more

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The Bamana people are known for their rich artistic traditions, including the creation of masks, statues, door locks, head dresses, and ritual and utilitarian objects: their door locks are among the most remarkable of all African art. Sculpted of wood in a rich variety of forms, they depict mythological and historical figures, social events, and representational figures - crocodiles, lizards, tortoises, owls, bats, butterflies, humans. Known as 'konbarabara', these exquisite locks were once presented to young women at the time of their marriage and affixed to the doors of their new homes. The beauty of the carvings and the ingenuity of the locking systems present a fascinating study of this unusual art form. The volume is divided into three parts. Part 1 provides an overview of the Bamana people and their philosophical and spiritual beliefs. Part 2 presents a comprehensive discussion of Bamana doors and locks. Part 3 contains sixty-nine photos each with detailed captions explaining the symbolism of the various forms, interpretations of graphic signs, and descriptions of the locking devices. ... Read more