Download or read book A TOUCH OF AFRICA written by BERT D'AMICO and published by AuthorHouse. This book was released on 2005-06-21 with total page 259 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Did a lost population of feral people dwell in the darker recesses of the N.F.D. in Kenya’s remote north? How was it possible to communicate over vast distances without the benefits of modern technology? Why did the Yanomama who lived deep in the Amazon rainforest practice female infanticide as part of their cultural survival? How was it possible for these so called primitive people on two continents to produce a designer poison using only one of the millions of insects that abounded around them? Do elephants have a sense of impending death? Who were the ‘white’ men the nomads encountered on the plains of Kenya in a forgotten and desolate wilderness? These are but a few of the stories found in ‘A Touch of Africa,’ and Part II ‘Onto the Amazon.’ My journeys have taken me to Africa, the Amazon jungle, and the sub Arctic in Canada’s far north. I fished with lepers on the Amazon River in the blackest of nights, walked the slave route in central Africa, and stood on the ground where Stanley presumed to meet Livingstone. The characters encountered in the backcountry were unique, each with their own fascinating tale, and over the years they became unwavering friends. I came to know the smell of famine and buried the dead, came down with malaria and later, black swamp fever. While on safari the unexpected became the norm as roads disappeared and the elephant assumed the right of way. It was in Kenya, East Africa where I experienced a way of life without the benefits of all the creature comforts we seem to believe are necessities. I started off teaching African students in a ‘bush’ school. My timetable included weekly forays into backcountry where as a novice, I was expected to hunt enough game to feed the school’s nearly three hundred students. I was fortunate enough to meet a group of Italian old timers who lived and worked in some of the remotest areas of Kenya. Through these newly acquired contacts, I was able to safari beyond the tourist line and back in time to an Africa of yesterday. I learned KiSwahili and roamed the infamous Northern Frontier District, the N.F.D., with the elegant Samburu and fearless Turkana warriors where each day life teetered on the edge. Big game abounded and became part of everyday existence. One had to learn the boundaries set out by lion and poisoness snakes. Over the years I came to glimpse the world through the eyes of these warrior nomads. They taught me the signs left behind by the creatures that roamed the wilds. I spent a brief moment with the Yanomama Indians in the Amazon, a hunting gathering people who represent a continuous link with the Paleolithic Age. I followed them deep into the tropical rain forest on a hunting expedition and witnessed them revert back to an earlier time as they communicated using the sounds of the jungle animals. These are a people who visualize in one dimension and count to two and conclude with ‘many.’ Each afternoon when returning from the forest, the day’s catch might be a howler monkey, a toucan or two, sometimes a turtle or a turkey sized bird, but most often several brilliantly colored parrots which thrived in the forest canopy. ‘A TOUCH OF AFRICA,’ and PART II, ‘ONTO TO THE AMAZON,’ was deliberated over for the past twenty-five years and finally committed to the present format. The material is true, the people are real, and the humor unfolded to the observant eye. It was truly an adventurous time in a magnificent setting with intriguing people who became family.
Download or read book Mistaking Africa written by Curtis Keim and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2021-12-27 with total page 204 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For many in the west, the mention of Africa immediately conjures up images of safaris, ferocious animals, sparsely dressed "tribesmen," and impenetrable jungles. Newspaper headlines rarely touch on Africa, but when they do, they often mention authoritarian rule, corruption, genocide, devastating illnesses, or civil war. Advertising, movies, amusement parks, cartoons, and many other corners of society all convey strong mental images of the continent that together form a collective consciousness. Few think to question these perceptions or how they came to be so deeply lodged in western minds. Mistaking Africa looks at the historical evolution of this mind-set and examines the role that popular media plays in its creation. The authors address the most prevalent myths and preconceptions and demonstrate how these prevent a true understanding of the enormously diverse peoples and cultures of Africa. Updated throughout, the fifth edition considers images of Africa from across the world and provides new analysis of what Africans are doing themselves to rewrite the stories of their continent, particularly through social and digital media. Mistaking Africa is an important book for African studies courses and for anyone interested in unraveling misperceptions about the continent.
Download or read book Cathedral of the Wild written by Boyd Varty and published by Random House. This book was released on 2014-03-11 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “This is a gorgeous, lyrical, hilarious, important book. . . . Read this and you may find yourself instinctively beginning to heal old wounds: in yourself, in others, and just maybe in the cathedral of the wild that is our true home.”—Martha Beck, author of Finding Your Own North Star Boyd Varty had an unconventional upbringing. He grew up on Londolozi Game Reserve in South Africa, a place where man and nature strive for balance, where perils exist alongside wonders. Founded more than eighty years ago as a hunting ground, Londolozi was transformed into a nature reserve beginning in 1973 by Varty’s father and uncle, visionaries of the restoration movement. But it wasn’t just a sanctuary for the animals; it was also a place for ravaged land to flourish again and for the human spirit to be restored. When Nelson Mandela was released after twenty-seven years of imprisonment, he came to the reserve to recover. Cathedral of the Wild is Varty’s memoir of his life in this exquisite and vast refuge. At Londolozi, Varty gained the confidence that emerges from living in Africa. “We came out strong and largely unafraid of life,” he writes, “with the full knowledge of its dangers.” It was there that young Boyd and his equally adventurous sister learned to track animals, raised leopard and lion cubs, followed their larger-than-life uncle on his many adventures filming wildlife, and became one with the land. Varty survived a harrowing black mamba encounter, a debilitating bout with malaria, even a vicious crocodile attack, but his biggest challenge was a personal crisis of purpose. An intense spiritual quest takes him across the globe and back again—to reconnect with nature and “rediscover the track.” Cathedral of the Wild is a story of transformation that inspires a great appreciation for the beauty and order of the natural world. With conviction, hope, and humor, Varty makes a passionate claim for the power of the wild to restore the human spirit. Praise for Cathedral of the Wild “Extremely touching . . . a book about growth and hope.”—The New York Times “It made me cry with its hard-won truths about human and animal nature. . . . Both funny and deeply moving, this book belongs on the shelf of everyone who seeks healing in wilderness.”—BookPage
Download or read book Mistaking Africa written by Curtis Keim and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2018-04-17 with total page 228 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For many Americans the mention of Africa immediately conjures up images of safaris, ferocious animals, strangely dressed "tribesmen," and impenetrable jungles. Although the occasional newspaper headline mentions authoritarian rule, corruption, genocide, devastating illnesses, or civil war in Africa, the collective American consciousness still carries strong mental images of Africa that are reflected in advertising, movies, amusement parks, cartoons, and many other corners of society. Few think to question these perceptions or how they came to be so deeply lodged in American minds. Mistaking Africa looks at the historical evolution of this mind-set and examines the role that popular media plays in its creation. The authors address the most prevalent myths and preconceptions and demonstrate how these prevent a true understanding of the enormously diverse peoples and cultures of Africa.Updated throughout, the fourth edition covers the entire continent (North and sub-Saharan Africa) and provides new analysis of topics such as social media and the Internet, the Ebola crisis, celebrity aid, and the Arab Spring. Mistaking Africa is an important book for African studies courses and for anyone interested in unravelling American misperceptions about the continent.
Download or read book The State of Africa written by Martin Meredith and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2011-09-01 with total page 1082 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 'Meredith has given a spectacularly clear view of the African political jungle' – Spectator 'This book is hard to beat... Elegantly written as well as unerringly accurate' – Financial Times The fortunes of Africa have changed dramatically since the independence era began in 1957. As Europe’s colonial powers withdrew, dozens of new states were born. Africa was a continent rich in mineral resources and its economic potential was immense. Yet, it soon struggled with corruption, violence and warfare, with few states managing to escape the downward spiral. So what went wrong? In this riveting and authoritative account, Martin Meredith examines the myriad problems that Africa has faced, focusing upon key personalities, events and themes of the independence era. He brings his compelling analysis into the modern day, exploring Africa’s enduring struggles for democracy and the rising influence of China. It is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the continent’s plight and its hopes for a brighter future.
Download or read book The Granta Book of the African Short Story written by Helon Habila and published by Granta Books. This book was released on 2011-09-01 with total page 376 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Presenting a diverse and dazzling collection from all over the continent, from Morocco to Zimbabwe, Uganda to Kenya. Helon Habila focuses on younger, newer writers - contrasted with some of their older, more established peers - to give a fascinating picture of a new and more liberated Africa. These writers are characterized by their engagement with the wider world and the opportunities offered by the end of apartheid, the end of civil wars and dictatorships, and the possibilities of free movement. Their work is inspired by travel and exile. They are liberated, global and expansive. As Dambudzo Marechera wrote: 'If you're a writer for a specific nation or specific race, then f*** you." These are the stories of a new Africa, punchy, self-confident and defiant. Includes stories by: Fatou Diome; Aminatta Forna; Manuel Rui; Patrice Nganang; Leila Aboulela; Zo Wicomb; Alaa Al Aswany; Doreen Baingana; E.C. Osondu.
Download or read book Out Of Africa written by Isak Dinesen and published by Harper Collins. This book was released on 2014-06-03 with total page 408 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In Out of Africa, author Isak Dinesen takes a wistful and nostalgic look back on her years living in Africa on a Kenyan coffee plantation. Recalling the lives of friends and neighbours—both African and European—Dinesen provides a first-hand perspective of colonial Africa. Through her obvious love of both the landscape and her time in Africa, Dinesen’s meditative writing style deeply reflects the themes of loss as her plantation fails and she returns to Europe. HarperTorch brings great works of non-fiction and the dramatic arts to life in digital format, upholding the highest standards in ebook production and celebrating reading in all its forms. Look for more titles in the HarperTorch collection to build your digital library.
Download or read book A Good Man in Africa written by William Boyd and published by Vintage. This book was released on 2011-07-06 with total page 366 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the small African republic of Kinjanja, British diplomat Morgan Leafy bumbles heavily through his job. His love of women, his fondness for drink, and his loathing for the country prove formidable obstacles on his road to any kind of success. But when he becomes an operative in Operation Kingpin and is charged with monitoring the front runner in Kinjanja’s national elections, Morgan senses an opportunity to achieve real professional recognition and, more importantly, reassignment. After he finds himself being blackmailed, diagnosed with a venereal disease, attempting bribery, and confounded with a dead body, Morgan realizes that very little is going according to plan.
Download or read book Navigating Colonial Orders written by Kirsten Alsaker Kjerland and published by Berghahn Books. This book was released on 2014-11-01 with total page 413 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Norwegians in colonial Africa and Oceania had varying aspirations and adapted in different ways to changing social, political and geographical circumstances in foreign, colonial settings. They included Norwegian shipowners, captains, and diplomats; traders and whalers along the African coast and in Antarctica; large-scale plantation owners in Mozambique and Hawai’i; big business men in South Africa; jacks of all trades in the Solomon Islands; timber merchants on Zanzibar’ coffee farmers in Kenya; and King Leopold’s footmen in Congo. This collection reveals narratives of the colonial era that are often ignored or obscured by the national histories of former colonial powers. It charts the entrepreneurial routes chosen by various Norwegians and the places they ventured, while demonstrating the importance of recognizing the complicity of such “non-colonial colonials” for understanding the complexity of colonial history.
Download or read book African Town written by Charles Waters and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2022-01-04 with total page 449 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Chronicling the story of the last Africans brought illegally to America in 1860, African Town is a powerful and stunning novel-in-verse. Cover may vary. In 1860, long after the United States outlawed the importation of enslaved laborers, 110 men, women and children from Benin and Nigeria were captured and brought to Mobile, Alabama aboard a ship called Clotilda. Their journey includes the savage Middle Passage and being hidden in the swamplands along the Alabama River before being secretly parceled out to various plantations, where they made desperate attempts to maintain both their culture and also fit into the place of captivity to which they'd been delivered. At the end of the Civil War, the survivors created a community for themselves they called African Town, which still exists to this day. Told in 14 distinct voices, including that of the ship that brought them to the American shores and the founder of African Town, this powerfully affecting historical novel-in-verse recreates a pivotal moment in US and world history, the impacts of which we still feel today.
Download or read book A Touch of Africa Down in My Soul written by Krystylle Richardson and published by . This book was released on 2007-01-01 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book A Touch of Africa written by Bert D'Amico and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 232 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Forces of feng shui and a powerful, benevolent Chinese dragon create a whirl of excitement for Seth Coleman as he pursues his search for Rachel Ramsey, an heiress who is presumed to have survived the ravages of World War II in Paris. Leaving Paris, the trail to find Rachel expands to Macau via the Panama Canal and Hong Kong. Traveling aboard a tramp steamer, murder, mystery and intrigue manifest to a compelling plot, which continues to the shores of Hong Kong, the island of Lantau and Macau. Seth gains maturity during his adventurous holiday. The Orient, with its mystical beliefs in the ancient Chinese theory of feng shui, opens a new dimension for Seth in learning about the principles of harmony and balance in nature with its influences for good or evil. There is a choice, and Seth's decisions affect his consequences, igniting energetic support from the invisible world of the Chinese dragon. This ancient, antediluvian creature, which symbolizes power, fertility and well being in the Far East, is from the beginning of Seth's adventure his protective guardian. A man now wiser in worldly matters emerges at the end of his journey to capture the essence of friendship, loyalty and love.
Download or read book The Studs Terkel Interviews written by Studs Terkel and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A collection of the Pulitzer-Prize winning oral historian's remarkable conversations with some of the greatest luminaries of theatre and film. Among the many highlights are Buster Keaton explaining the wonder of unscripted silent comedy and interviews with Arthur Miller, Edward Albee, and Tennessee Williams. Because Studs knows his subjects' work intimately, he asks precisely the right questions to elicit the most revealing responses.
Download or read book Looking for Transwonderland written by Noo Saro-Wiwa and published by Catapult. This book was released on 2012-09-01 with total page 265 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A “remarkable chronicle” of a journey back to this West African nation after years of exile (The New York Times Book Review). Noo Saro-Wiwa was brought up in England, but every summer she was dragged back to visit her father in Nigeria—a country she viewed as an annoying parallel universe where she had to relinquish all her creature comforts and sense of individuality. After her father, activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, was killed there, she didn’t return for several years. Then she decided to come to terms with the country her father given his life for. Traveling from the exuberant chaos of Lagos to the calm beauty of the eastern mountains; from the eccentricity of a Nigerian dog show to the decrepit kitsch of the Transwonderland Amusement Park, she explores Nigerian Christianity, delves into the country’s history of slavery, examines the corrupting effect of oil, and ponders the huge success of Nollywood. She finds the country as exasperating as ever, and frequently despairs at the corruption and inefficiency she encounters. But she also discovers that it is far more beautiful and varied than she had ever imagined, with its captivating thick tropical rain forest and ancient palaces and monuments—and most engagingly and entertainingly, its unforgettable people. “The author allows her love-hate relationship with Nigeria to flavor this thoughtful travel journal, lending it irony, wit and frankness.” —Kirkus Reviews
Download or read book Recipes with a Touch of Africa written by Igor Broes and published by . This book was released on 1994 with total page 148 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Into Africa written by Yvonne Blackwood and published by Abbeyfield Pub. This book was released on 2000 with total page 212 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Africa and the Disciplines written by Robert H. Bates and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 1993-12 with total page 271 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: African Studies, contrary to some accounts, is not a separate continent in the world of American higher education. Its intellectual borders touch those of economics, literature, history, philosophy, and art; its history is the story of the world, both ancient and modern. This is the clear conclusion of Africa and the Disciplines, a book that addresses the question: Why should Africa be studied in the American university? This question was put to distinguished scholars in the social sciences and humanities, prominent Africanists who are also leaders in their various disciplines. Their responses make a strong and enlightening case for the importance of research on Africa to the academy. Paul Collier's essay, for example, shows how studies of African economies have clarified our understanding of the small open economies, and contributed to the theory of repressed inflation and to a number of areas in microeconomics as well. Art historian Suzanne Blier uses the terms and concepts that her discipline has applied to Africa to analyze the habits of mind and social practice of her own field. Christopher L. Miller describes the confounding and enriching impact of Africa on European and American literary theory. Political scientist Richard Sklar outlines Africa's contributions to the study of political modernization, pluralism, and rational choice. These essays, together with others from scholars in history, anthropology, philosophy, and comparative literature, attest to the influence of African research throughout the curriculum. For many, knowledge from Africa seems distant and exotic. These powerful essays suggest the contrary: that such knowledge has shaped the way in which scholars in various disciplines understand their worlds. Eloquent testimony to Africa's necessary place in the mainstream of American education, this book should alter the academy's understanding of the significance of African research, its definition of core and periphery in human knowledge. "These essays are at once exceptionally thoughtful and remarkably comprehensive. Not only do they offer an unusually interesting overview of African studies; they are also striking for the depth and freshness of their insights. This is the sort of volume from which both seasoned regional experts and students stand to learn an enormous amount."—John Comaroff, University of Chicago "These essays provide an important perspective on the evolution of African studies and offer insights into what Africa can mean for the different humanistic and social science disciplines. Many show in ingenious and subtle ways the enormous potential that the study of Africa has for confounding the main tenets of established fields. One could only hope that the strictures expressed here would be taken to heart in the scholarly world."—Robert L. Tignor, Princeton University
