African poetry is unique in its complexity, both because of its linguistic diversity and the devastating impact of colonialism and slavery. The collection includes a mix of poetry -humorous, celebratory, thoughtful and angry - and above all is a look at the history of Africa through the voices of those who lived through it.
In Guinea, situated in the background of central government struggles, rural elites, through the use of identity politics, employ history and contemporary political reforms to maintain their privileges and perpetuate a generation-old local social contract that bridges ethnic and religious divides.
"A delight for readers and listeners of all ages, these 25 traditional tales from West Africa were originally accompanied by music and dance. The stories' drama and folk wisdom shine through in these captivating retellings, which are illustrated by evocative woodcut illustrations. Age-old fables explain ...