Book Description

Book Description

The Healing Drum traces the extraordinary cultural legacy of the Minianka tribe of West

Africa, for whom music serves a sacred, healing function for the individual and society. The authors explore the Minianka view of humanity, music, and the cosmos relative to work, celebration, herbal medicine, dance, trance, initiation, and death.

The first book of its kind, delivering a message of untapped wisdom and power from a little-known culture through the universal medium of music. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

inspiring
This book is about music, healing, indigenous view of life and above all, it is about harmony, which is achieved when life is lived with respect and with generosity.

Diallo is a member of the mainly agricultural Minianka/Senufo tribe living in what today is Mali. The Minianka have been able to resist the depredations which occur when Islam or X-ianity enters African societies; they are animist, that is, they still observe and follow ancient laws that emphsize the interdependence between humans, nature and the transcendent realms. Music to the Minianka music is much more than entertainment. It is used for work, celebration, ritual, inititations, funerals and healing; each activity (as well as each profession and each person) has its own special rhythms and harmonies. The MInianka understand music as a bridge between the visible and invisible. As such, it is used to establish harmonious relationships between an individual, his community, his ancestors and the Creator. Every night there is dancing at the village square - and EVERYBODY dances. Minianka musicians learn to transpose the essence of their fellow men's characters into music, so that when a villager gets to dance, he is greated by rhythms which match his/her character and emotional configuration. By observing closely, the musicians can adapt the music to the needs of the listener and thereby lead them to health. In Minianka villages, says Diallo, "musicians are healers, the healers musicians.... Music...amplifies to our sense the unheard tones and unseen waves that weave together the matter of existence. The beat, the rhythm, the timing, the orchestration, the flow, the balance between action and rest must all be within well-defined limits...and the music becomes a healing art that helps restore emotionally and psychologically disturbed people to harmonious human functioning. "

THe book is well written and brings us a close -up of Fienso, the village of Diallo's childhood. I found the descriptions of initiation ceremonies, daily work, secret societies very interesting. It made me see the Minianka society as an extremely sophisticated - where there is place for everyone and where everybody is interconnected in a web of mutual obligations between people, spirits and God. Unfortunately, the interdependence on mutual obligations makes the African society also fragile; when reciprocity inherent in such webs is interrupted, as during incursions of oil and diamond money, radical X-ianity or Islam, the African society collapses and we get what we see today in Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Liberia or Sudan - lack of harmony and lack of peace.

Still, we would be fools to pass the opportunity to learn what Africans have to teach us. Music is one of the keys that can open the door of the gilded cage in which the giant of industrial nihilism has imprisoned us and Yaya Diallo shows us in this wonderful book, that it is possible to open one's body, spirit and destiny to the amazing world of harmony and beauty where true healing occurs.

The Healing Drum Helped Me
"The Healing Drum: African Wisdom teachings" by YaYa Diallo and Mitchell Hall offers an introspective view into the Minianka culture of Mali. As an African-American student, this book helped me to understand a lot about myself. For example, YaYa explains that in his culture, musicians have a responsibility for the affect that the music has on it's listeners. "In my culture, art is allied with morality." (94)We in the West have debated the issue of the artist's responsibility for some time now. As an aspiring actress and writer, my belief has always been that we have are responsible for the messages we send through our art. YaYa explains that music can not only heal, but also can hurt. This is evident in the complacent attitude of many of today's rap artists and it's consumers. YaYa also expounds on some of the differences between the value of time and structure in Minanka culture vs. the same concept in the West. Understanding this element of an African culture allowed me to realize that I am not as crazy as many of my peers and professsors would have me to believe. YaYa's description of the late-night festivals helped me to understand why I can stay up all night and sleep all day sometimes.
I was offended by one review which stated that YaYa's book describes Minankas as drug addicts. His description of the Minianka's use of herbs and medicines to heal is no different or worse than the Western philosophy of popping pills to make troubles disappear, i.e, prozac, ridalin, sleeping pills, etc. YaYa also emphasizes the importance of music in the healing process, and his descriptions of instances in which music was used to heal in his culture are both moving and sincere.
In light of American's recent "liberation" of Iraq, it was also interesting to read YaYa's description of the French colonization of Mali. "The French glorified their colonization of large parts of Africa as a 'mission civilsatirce', a civilizing mission...The textbooks spoke of Africa rarely enough and then only referred pejoratively to the 'natives', not the human beings who belonged to our continent." (120)
It has been long understood in the elevated members of my own culture, that Africa and America are inextricably connected. I believe a closer look at the statement above could easily be related to the reluctance of many Black youth in America to take an interest in formal education. The teachings in this book are, in many cases, universal and, in most cases, interesting and inspirational. YaYa Diallo tells his story with simplicistic eloquence,humor, and wisdom. The book offers much in the way of history and parables, without beating you over the head. Mitchell Hall has done an excellent job of translation.
I was required to read this book for an African Dance class I was taking at the University of Louisville. For any person who is interested in learning more about music, Minianka culture, or the world, I would highly recommend YaYa Diallo and Mitchell Hall's "The Healing Drumm", and for anyone in Louisville, I encourage you to take Harlina Churn Diallo's African Dance class. Bring out the Drums!

Inspirational
I wanted to read this book because I have recently started learning African drumming and I wished to find out more about West African culture and how traditional music is used to heal. This was the perfect book for both aspects.

The author helps us to appreciate the culture of his village through his own experiences. We read about his struggles to follow the customs and teachings of his village as he is educated in French culture and taught to embrace the Western way of life.

We also gain an insight into the secret societies and social aspects of life in his village. Suspend disbelief at some of the awesome sights that he relates, I only wish that I could see them for myself! The sociological, psychological and religious knowledge that he reveals about his community is fascinating.

Yaya shows us that a musician in this culture does not just "play" music, music is a vital aspect of life which sustains the society and heals lost souls. The musician is a healer and a protector of the people. Each piece of music has implications, positive or negative, and the musician has a responsibility to the community to play well and appropriately.

This book has helped me to gain an insight into African culture and music; from now on my djembe playing will have more significance for me and I feel inspired by the healing potential that I now hold in my hands.

Inspiring look at a traditional healing modality
Having experienced the power and wisdom of traditional African healers, I was glad to see that Yaya took great efforts to convey the potency derived from following ancient traditions. His life story, like many other traditionalists living in the west, is one that is inspiring given all the efforts he and his tribal elders make to keep their old ways alive in the face of pressures to modernize.

As a student of cross-cultural and shamanic traditions I found this book provides clarity into the use of music and sound for enhancing and stimulating healing, as well as the need to gain sufficient mastery before using this healing modality.

El Diablo
Diallo returns with this ham-fisted, hackneyed attempt to breathe life into a terminally ill genre. It's not just the Minianka people he is offending with his smug condescensions but the entire African nation as a whole. As a drum playing black man I am shocked and dismayed at this portrayal of African tribesmen as bongo beating, drug-taking animals.
The chapter describing the touching story of the lost crocodile necklace was, however, intensely moving, and as such saved this book from a more damning review. ... Read more

Book Description

Using oral sources, as well as official and missionary archives, Martin Klein describes the history of slavery during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in three former French colonies.He considers the impact of the Atlantic slave trade and the evolution of slavery both before the French and under their rule.While he discusses French policy, the main focus of the book is the constantly changing relationships between slave and master, and the attempts on the part of slaves to seek freedom, or autonomy where they remained in servitude. ... Read more

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

Reviews (1)

excellent book on identity in Francophone West Africa
If you're interested in questions of ethnicity, identity, colonialism, Islam, anthropology, indirect rule and a myriad other issues in Africa, this is a wonderful, and very short, book. Amselle's work represents the broader interest in breaking down cultural categories and essentialisms which seem to have a life of their own. Just when you think you've eluded them, there they are back in your vocabulary, like a bad habit. "Mestizo logic" is a condition which Amselle calls "originary syncretism," that is to say that hybridization has been going since the beginning of time, making the categories -- ethnic, religious, social, etc. -- really a question of politics and history. Identities and labels are not fixed, but are negotiated, in relation to changing political circumstances. For example, he speaks of identity "conversions" from one to another ethnicity depending on the circumstances. Furthermore, there is shuttling between religions, rearticulations of Islam, "returns" to "paganism," and so on. I particularly enjoyed Jean-Loup Amselle's reading of such "traditional" African religions as "pale paganism," that is to say, lightly-Islamicized religions which have for centuries developed in a dynamic, dialogical relationship with Islam. Other wonderful sections deal with cotton development and ethnicity. Amselle deconstructs colonial stereotypes of certain ethnic groups, arguing that differences in economic development, in this case cotton in southern Mali, have more to do with geography and history than ethnicity. Of course, ethnicity does exist, but it does not seem to have the relevance that its supposed to have. Amselle shows how southern Mali is characteristically multiethnic. A long history of population movements, trade, state expansion and contraction, and waves of Islamization have created a multi-layered society characterized by fluid identity categories. The region might be referred to as a Fulani-Malinke-Bamana-Senufo ethnic chain. Broadly, one can discern some organizational patterning in this ethnic mosaic: the eastern half of southern Mali (the administrative circle of Sikasso) is mainly Senufo, and generally more animist, while the western half (the circle of Bougouni) is more Bambara, "Fulani" and Muslim. This is a continuum of ethnicities - Malinke, Wassoulunke, Ganas, Gouin and Minyanka. Of course, not every part of Africa, or the world, is as multiethnic and ethnicity has different valencies depending on the context. There is much more in this book than just ethnicity though. Check it out. Its theoretical insights are applicable to regions far beyond Africa, especially the first few chapters dealing with "culturalism" versus "universalism" and the problems with "ethnological reason." And its not too PO-MO. Very readable and grounded in examples. ... Read more

Book Description

" . . . a compelling study of how social identities and relationships are constructed and reconstructed through action, specifically through speech." --Robert Launay

For four days in 1985, thousands of griots from all parts of the Mande world gathered to talk, sing, and make music in celebration of the opening of the new Hall of Griots and the installation of the recently named Head Griot. This unprecedented assembly also marked the end of a deadly two-year conflict fought with griot weapons--words, reputations, and sorcery.This exceptional book offers surprising and important insights into the multiple meanings of Mande culture, caste, and identity. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (3)

Great place to start ...
This book is short and relatively simplistic in its explanations. You would not want to use it as the pillar to your dissertation on Malian history. Nevertheless, it does give a good general introduction to West African history and the great kingdoms that once flourished by the Niger River.

It starts with the creation myths, and then chronologically, explains very simply the beginnings and endings of the kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhaim. It addresses the mingling of the native religion with Islam, and ends with the downfall of the kingdoms. It also briefly addresses the issue of slavery.

I bought this about a month before visiting a friend who is doing research in Bamako (the Capital of Mali). I vaguely recollected learning about a chapter's worth in seventh grade about the Saharan trade routes and something about Ghana and Songhai and Timbuktu, but could not remember much more than the names of the kingdoms.

This book was excellent, in giving me enough background to be able to appreciate the depth of the history and the people when I visited. That being said, this is an excellent place to START learning about West African history - but hopefully, it is not where you will end your learning, as there are other resources out there that give much deeper and more thorough information about this great region.

Mali and Soghani Timbooktu was real
OK I am sick and tired of europeans thinking Africans never had a rich culture of their own. The mali dynasty was a great one that grew out of trade with saharan tribes and over the course of history grew into a sucessful and prosperous kingdom. When Europe was in the dark ages scholars like Ahmed baba was writting books,in fact over 3500 of them. I dsiagree with the contact of the meso american cultures,but there is proof in arabic manuscrips that africans was able to sail to the new word. The evidence shows that their is a genous of plantains that grow in brazil called musa x. The name of a king in Mali was musa,and ibn battua an norther african scholar traveled all around the islamic worls and told about the wealth of the african people here. By the way my friend from australia have you been to mali i have I am also white by the way

A Sad Disappointment
If you're after a balanced, scholarly history of these fascinating kingdoms, regrettably this is not it.

This authors intent appears principally to raise the esteem and consciousness of pubescent Afro-Americans

Despite falling well outside the scope indicated by the title, the book includes sections on the European Atlantic slave trade as well as wild speculation that fleets of explorers from Mali may have been in contact with Meso-America.

The book is nearly saved from total uselessness by the inclusion of a bibliography, though Time-Life picture book publications feature heavily, so even this fails to do much other than disappoint. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Beautiful, Literate, and Useful Book
I used this book as the text to give 28 6th Graders an introduction to the wealth of Africa's past--and they hung on every word. The mix of storytelling, political, economic, cultural and religious history served as the basis for several lively student presentations. In short, my only complaint about this book is the fact that its out-of-print status prevents me from ordering copies by the dozen for next year's class.

Publishers--Please get on the ball. With the addition of these African Kingdoms to the Virginia State Standards of Learning, you have an eager market and a product that beats anything else now on the market for this age group.

Excellent reading.
This book is gorgeously illustrated with lots of graphics taken from authentic textiles and pottery. The legends are written in an easy to read narrative style and take readers from ancient myths through to modern theories on the history of this region. Highly recommended ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

Adventures in Africa
After reading Adventures in Africa, we think that this book was not the best book ever. We thought that it was rather dull throughout almost the whole book. One reason that we might have thought that it was dull is because, the book is written like a journal. We haven't ever read a book written like a journal before, and I don't like that style of writing. That could have had an impact on us not liking the book, or just simply because we didn't like the way it was written. Also, the story line was not too interesting. Each journal that he would write each day would just tell about what he did that day. It is like reading a book about a person that sits at home all day. The main character was a tourist in Africa, and would meet new people and travel to different places. Most of the day's he would do the same thing. We found this book to be very repetitive, and we find that pretty boring about books. He would always tell about how he would go to this river and watch all the people bathe. He would do that everyday for a long period of time, and it just got old. After that he would go to a cliff and climb it everyday. Most days though, he would take a tour bus somewhere. While he was in Africa he made many friends, sometimes it was hard to keep them straight. His friend Jean, was his best friend, they went almost everywhere together. This book isn't the best book, and we wouldn't recommend it unless you like to read other peoples' journals. We just didn't find it interesting at all. It didn't grab my attention or make me actually want to read the book. The only reason why we read it was because we had to for a grade. ... Read more

Book Description

French photographer Jean-Baptiste Huynh captures the texture of life in Mali in this photographic collection. Still-life shots, symbolic images, and portraits of rural life disclose a highly personal vision of this Western African nation. Images such as an elderly woman smiling and a child walking his goat demonstrate the beauty in common moments. ... Read more

Book Description

"A superb essay, synthesis and analysis . . . much larger than thefocus on medersas and Soudan might initially suggest. In fact, it is a study ofa whole paradigm shift in the twentieth century. . . . Iknow of no one who hastaken such an ambitious swath of time and done such a good job of showing thecontinuity and change across those one hundred years. . . . a splendidachievement, the result of decades of research and reflection." --David Robinson ... Read more

Book Description

"Djelimady Toundara has powerful hands. His muscled fingers and palms seem almost brutish to the eye, but when he grasps the neck of a guitar and brushes the nail of his right index finger across the strings, the sound lifts effortlessly, like dust in a wind. In Bamako, Mali, where musicians struggle, Djelimady is a big man, and all of his family's good fortunes flow from those hands."

Djelimady Tounkara is only one of the memorable people you will meet in this dramatic narrative of life among the griot musicians of Mali. Born into families where music and the tradition of griot stroy-telling is a heritage and a privilege, Djelimady and his fellow griots—both men and women—live their lives at the intersection of ancient traditions and the modern entertainment industry. During the seven months he spent living and studying with Djelimady, Banning Eyre immersed himself in a world that will fascinate you as it did him.

Eyre creates a range of unforgettable portraits. Some of the people who stride through his pages are internationally known, musicians like Salif Keita, Oumou Sangaré, and Grammy winner Ali Farka Touré. But the lesser-known characters are equally fascinating: Adama Kouyaté, Djelimady's dynamic wife; Moussa Kouyaté, the Tounkara family's own griot; Yayi Kanouté, the flamboyant jelimuso (female griot) who failed to take America by storm; Foutanga Babani Sissoko, the mysterious millionaire who rebuilt an entire town and whose patronage is much sought after by the griots of Bamako.

But the picture Eyre draws is not just a series of portraits. Out of their interactions comes a perceptive panorama of life in Mali in the late twentieth centruy. The narrative gives us a street-level view of the transformation of musical taste and social customs, the impact of technology, and the pressures of poverty, at a curcial time in Mali's history. In individual after individual, family after family, we see the subtle conflicts of heritage and change. Even the complications of democracy—with democracy, mango vendors think they can charge anything they want, Djelimady points out—are woven into an unforgettable saga of one man, his family, his profession, and the world of Malian music. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

V.S. Naipaul fans: you will love this book!
"In Griot Time" is a MAJOR travel literature event! Readers of V. S. Naipaul's travel nonfiction will delight in this new book written by a former student of Naipaul, Banning Eyre of National Public Radio and Boston Phoenix fame. This astonishingly good book rivals and even surpasses Naipaul in the very areas Naipaul excels. Eyre's writing recalls Naipaul's best, with a fresh new vibrance, mature with a quiet, intelligent masculinity, reflecting Eyre's years of magazine and newspaper work. The Canadian Eyre masterfully takes the best of his teacher's legacy, then expands it, using his relative youth and considerable musical and literary skills to show us a fascinating view of travel and Malian culture not just as a writer, as an outsider, but also as a working musician and student of Malian styles, a view requiring a stamina and persona more reminiscent of Hemingway than Naipaul. Eyre is truly an exciting and important new voice in travel literature. NOT TO BE MISSED. I've read and loved all of Naipaul's books--and "In Griot Time" is even better if such a thing is possible! Thank you, Banning Eyre! [Note: I'm an old friend of the author, and have read his writing from his early teenage days on. He was good to begin with, and I've watched him get better and better over the years. I'm also a long-time fan of V.S. Naipaul's works and consider him one of the great masters of 20th-century literature. Imagine my utter joy when I read "In Griot Time," and found Eyre has grown into everything Naipaul is and more! Now I can say "I knew him when..." :)]

Wake up and hear the music!
Banning Eyre has obviously spent a great deal of time loving and learning the music and culture of Mali. His book takes you straight to the heart of what the people and their music are all about. Effortlessly, he guides you on an excursion to this unique land. You'll taste the food, feel the heat and hear the music! In fact, you can hear the music in the companion CD. I love both the book and the CD! ... Read more

Book Description

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

Reviews (5)

Good book -- deserves better editing
The book rings true as a vivid description of life in development work. It's a very good and very informative read. My only complaint is that it could be better edited. Simple grammar errors occasionally slip in (for example, I remember the phrase "beckon call" used when "beck and call" was intended). Also the author's description of his work sometimes dwells on technical issues that slow up the story a little.

The reviewer from Mali who complained of distortions should remember that the author worked in Mali 20 years ago, and that conditions have no doubt improved since then.

Distortion of Facts
After reading this books I was quite dismayed at the many distortions of Mr. Lucke's book.
As a person who has experience in the region I continued to wonder where Mr. Lucke found or conducted his research. It was a real dissappointment.

from the "Journal of Community Health"
While many Americans have worked for the US Agency for International Development over the years, few have subsequently penned their reminiscences as Lewis Lucke has done in "Waiting for Rain". This authobiographical volume recounts both his life there and issues of economic development relevant not only to Mali, but also many other developing countries. The author successfully weaves these two broad themes through his account, which makes for an enjoyable and informative read. A sensitive and insightful observer, Lucke describes Malians and their country with empathy and understanding. His vivid, and at times humorous, descriptions of expatriate life in the country will loudly resonate with anyone who has spent time in this part of Africa. Traveling throughout the country, he was able to observe well-intentioned development projects gone wrong, but also a number of success stories. Above all else, he came to know the Malians and their country well, and developed a sincere admiration for their incredible capacity to overcome enormous adversity. Lucke's narrative is enriched by fine descriptive detail and many captivating human interest stories which make it enjoyable reading. "Waiting for Rain" will appeal to a very broad audience of readers including armchair travelers, international development workers and those interested in Africa.

Pascal James Imperato, MD, MPH & TM, Editor

This book captures what it's like to live and work in Mali.
I've been living in Mali for over 15 years now, and this book truly and accurately captures the emotions, joys and tribulations of living and working in the development field in Mali. A "must read" for anyone interested in international development and life in West Africa. Poignant, touching and very well written.

Entertaining, Informative Perspective on Foreign Assistance
"Waiting for Rain" provides an entertaining, informative perspective on what it is really like to work on aid projects overseas, in this instance in Africa. The descriptions of Mali are vivid, while the details of expatriate life in Bamako are interesting and ring true to life. Particular incidents described are by turns hilarious, informative, and moving. The fact that the assignment to Mali represents the author's first real encounter with life in a "third world" country makes the narrative all the more compelling. This is definitely a book that goes beyond the more usual superficial and sensational newspaper reporting about foreign aid programs. On the contrary, it provides an informative perspective at life in "development" as it is experienced by someone directly involved. ... Read more

Book Description

What distinguishes this remarkable narrative from other accounts of personal growth is not just its vivid and intimate picture of West African life, but the fact that its author embarked on his adventure at an age when most men and women are resigned to life in a rocking chair.At age sixty-six, after the break-up of a stormy marriage, Donald Lawder begins a new life as a volunteer teacher for the Peace Corps in the impoverished country of Mali, in West Africa. He is adopted by a Moslem family, given a Malian name, and learns to pray in the village mosque. As "Professor of English" at the state teacher's college in Mali's capital city of Bamako, he teaches Debate, Black American History, and the philosophy of Emerson and Thoreau to French-speaking African students and becomes deeply involved with a Moslem student less than one third his age.Later, after a two-year job hunt in the U.S. convinces him that America is no country for old men, he returns to Bamako for good, as chief of an African family of six children ranging in age from three to twenty-three years. He arrives in time to witness his unarmed students' heroic overthrow of the brutal dictator Moussa Traore and their confused efforts to establish one of the first democracies in West Africa. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

An Interesting American Gives His Perspective on Mali
I was in Don Lawder's Peace Corps group and got to know him only superficially during our 3-months of training. Reading this book 21 years later, I now realize what a complex person he was. This is a great book if you are considering Peace Corps service. No two people have the same experience, so don't expect your two years to be just like his, but this will help you appreciate that you will be sent there to interact with people, not necessarily change them. Like Don, you will be changed much more than they.

Beautifully written; offers new perspective
Lawder writes beautifully of his life as an older Peace Corps volunteer in Africa. Rather than present himself as the savior of these impoverished people, he shows how he is, in a sense, saved. Adopted by a Malian family, he makes a life for himself with them, becoming a de facto grandfather. He portrays the Malians as an intelligent, warm, hard-working people living under difficult circumstances, and it's interesting to "meet" them through this absorbing book. ... Read more

Book Description

Why did Africans bring their most intimate domestic disputes to the newly created native courts in the period after 1905? And what do these disputes tell us about everyday life and social change? To answer these questions, Roberts uses all 2,062 civil disputes heard at the provincial level native courts for four districts between 1905 and 1912. He concludes that changes in social relations occurring at a time of accelerated change associated with colonial conquest and the end of slavery interacted with institutional changes, namely the creation of the new native courts, to produce discernible patterns of litigation. Moreover, these patterns of litigation point to "trouble spots" in African society, thus providing a lens into the most ordinary aspects of daily life. ... Read more