Women Writing Africa: West Africa And The Sahel (Women Writing Africa)

The acclaimed Women Writing Africa Project continues with the second volume of Women Writing Africa: West Africa and the Sahel . Drawing upon more than a decade of research, West Africa and the Sahel covers the territory where most African Americans find their roots. The collection encompasses an epic cultural history through the voices of women represented in twenty languages spoken in an area encompassing twelve countries. Beginning with African kingdoms dating six centuries or more before colonialism and independence, the volume gathers 132 texts—stories, songs, letters, drama, oral history, diaries, and historical documents—each with a readable authoritative headnote explaining its cultural and historical contexts. A general introduction provides an overview of West African cultural and literary history, including the brilliant and diverse traditions of women’s oral literatures.

a Major Literary And Scholarly Work That Transforms Perceptions Of West African Women's History And Culture.

library Journal

this Second Of Four Volumes Representing The Literary Expression Of African Women Focuses On 12 West African Nations, Documenting The History Of This Expression Since Upward Of Six Centuries Before Colonialism And 20th-century Independence. Editors Sutherland-addy (language, Literature, & Drama, Inst. For African Studies, Univ. Of Ghana) And Diaw (philosophy, Univ. Cheikh Anta Kiop In Dakar, Senegal) Have Compiled 132 Texts Accompanied By Head Notes By Eminent Authors (e.g., Buchi Emecheta, Ama Ata Aidoo, And Bernadette Dao Sanou) To Explain Their Cultural And Historical Contexts. These Texts Showcase Not Just The Written Word-in The Form Of Letters, Diaries, Historical Documents-but The Spoken Word As Well, In Lullabies, Songs, And Other Oral Traditions. Some Of These Texts Are Full Of Celebration And Some Of Powerful Emotions; All Evoke Powerful Imagery. Both The Texts And The Head Notes Are Fascinating To Read, And The Reader Is Truly Gripped By The Passion And Emotion Of The Writers. This Anthology Provides An Epic Tale Of African History While Highlighting African Women's Valuable Contributions To Their Culture And Bringing Their Voices To Life For Readers Everywhere. Highly Recommended.-susan Mcclellan, Avalon P.l., Pittsburgh Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

The acclaimed Women Writing Africa project "opens up worlds too often excluded from the history books" ("Booklist") and is an "essential resource for scholars and general readers alike" ("Library Journal"). It reveals the cultural legacy of African women in their own words, in never-before- published texts that include communal songs and lullabies, letters and speeches, poetry and fiction. Representing 20 languages and 12 countries, Volume 2 covers western Africa, where most African Americans find their roots. The collection presents an epic history of the region through the eyes of its women, from the age of African kings through colonialism and independence Ritual and ceremonial words Thirteenth century to 1916: the age of African empires Lullabies and songs of young women Work songs The 1970s and 1980s: negotiating new social identities Songs and tales of social negotiation The 1990s and the new century Collects stories, songs, letters, diaries, drama, oral history, and historical documents to provide a cultural history of women in West Africa. Edited By Esi Sutherland-addy And Aminata Diaw. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 71-83) And Index.