Africa Access Review Of Children's Materials,

Introduction

AUTHOR: TITLE: AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE: VOICES IN A TRADITION. Publisher: Holt, Rhinehart and Winston Copyright: 1992 Type: Book Collation: 994 pp. Grade: M/H

ISBN: 0-03-047424

Subjects: Africa/Literature/African Americans/Diaspora

Review: This textbook on African American literature includes selections by some of Africa's most outstanding writers. Claude Ake, Buchi Emecheta, Ngugi wa Thiong'o, Leopold Senghor, and Amos Tutuloa are among the writers included. In addition, there are two works from the past, a poem by Pharoah Akhenaton, and an excerpt from Olaudah Equiano's famous narrative on his capture and enslavement in the 1700s. These selections and others in the text are preceded by background notes and information on the literary form being highlighted. At the conclusion of each offering, a "Responding to the Selection" section provides a review of the material covered. Additional features include a map of Africa which shows the birthplaces of the contributors, a pronunciation guide for Igbo words, and splendid photographs, many of which are in color. This outstanding collection is a must purchase for all schools. (Brenda Randolph)

AUTHOR: AARDEMA, VERNA TITLE: PRINCESS GORILLA AND A NEW KIND OF WATER Publisher: Dial Copyright: 1988 Type: Book Collation: Unpaged Grade: P Price: $10.95 ISBN: 0-8037-0413-5

Subjects: Folklore/Mpongwe/West Africa

Review: This retelling of a West African tale reinforces the use of stereotypical language ("hut" and "jungle"). The story focuses on the search for a husband for Princess Gorilla. King Gorilla wants a husband for his daughter who is "very strong and brave." The princess just wants someone who loves her. The king decrees that whoever can drink a barrel of a new kind of water (actually vinegar) can marry the princess. The winner or rather winners turn out to be a group of monkeys who trick the king by pretending to be one monkey. Curiously, the king accepts the deception. The princess is saved from an unhappy marriage by a leopard who denounces the monkeys as cheaters. The tale ends not by punishing the cheaters but by explaining why monkeys live in treetops. This conclusion is unexpected and puzzling. One expects a strong moralistic ending rather than an explanation about the habitat of monkeys. (Brenda Randolph)

AUTHOR: ABEBE, DANIEL TITLE: ETHIOPIA IN PICTURES Publisher: Lerner Copyright: 1988 Type: Book Collation: 64 pp. Grade: E/M Price: $9.95 ISBN: 0-8225-1836-8

Subjects: Ethiopia/ East Africa

Review: This book portrays contemporary Ethiopian life in most of its vital aspects. Unfortunately, much has changed that raise question marks, for example, Lenin's statue in Addis Ababa which was toppled with the fall of the Mengistu government. However, for the curious young reader that should not be a problem; helped by a knowledgeable teacher, the rest of the pictures can fill in some gap in the knowledge of young students about Africa. (Bereket Habte Selassie)

Review 2: Lerner Publications, whose address is not included in the present text, has apparently purchased publication rights to the Visual Geography Series, which was previously published by Sterling Publishing Company of New York. This is advertised as an "all new edition," within a series that lists 68 countries, 20 of which are African. The book includes four sections (The Land, History and Government, The People, and The Economy) in addition to a one-half-page Introduction and one-page index. The text is written for middle and high school students. While the photographs enhance the teaching and learning value of the text, they are not always captioned with proper detail. For example, on page 15, a color photograph, provided by the United States Agency for International Development, of one village is identified only as: "A cluster of round dwellings lies amid sparse woods in an elevated region of Ethiopia." While the walia ibex--a goat-family member found only in the Semien mountains--is identified, a desert plant located in an adjacent picture is not. Generally, however, the many photographs are an asset. Likewise, Daniel Abebe, the person who "prepared" but perhaps did not write the text, has included terms in Amharic--the language of the Amhara ethnic group--but none from the languages of the Oromo, Galla, Beta Esrael, Tigrean, or Somali ethnic groups. The book is useful for teachers and students who need a starting point for reports or presentations. Abebe provides a brief description of Ethiopia's long political history and explains, in a section entitled "Change of Political Direction," the military coup of September 1974 which led to the imprisonment of Emperor Haile Selassie and his replacement by the Dergue (Amharic: "committee," a group of military officers), and its eventual leader, Major (later Lieutenant-Colonel) Mengistu Haile-Mariam. This self-described "socialist military government" was later replaced by an elected government, with Mengistu as President. Ending with events in 1986-7, the book does not, obviously, describe the defeat of the Ethiopian army, the invasion and capture of the capital, Addis Ababa, by a coalition of military forces from the northern areas of Eritrea and Tigre in March 1991, and the subsequent fall of Mengistu's government. This short book and Dennis Fradin's comparable one (Ethiopia [1988], reviewed in Irohin, Feb. 1991) are useful student introductions to Ethiopia's 52 million people and 40 ethnic groups. (Robert Hamilton)

AUTHOR: ABRAHAMS, ROGER TITLE: AFRICAN FOLKTALES: TRADITIONAL STORIES OF THE BLACK WORLD Publisher: Pantheon Copyright: 1983 Type: Book Collation: 352 pp. Grade: M/H

Price (pap): $16.00 ISBN (pap): 0-394-72117-9

Subjects: Folklore/Africa

Review: This book brings together 94 African folktales from around the continent as an addition to the Pantheon Fairy Tale and Folklore Library. Selecting from a variety of sources such as the early missionaries as well as some of the later collections and ethnographies, Roger Abrahams, a leading American folklorist, has retold the stories in this readable volume. The tales are divided into five sections, including: "Tales of Wonder from the Great Ocean of Story;" "Stories to Discuss and Even Argue About" (commonly known as dilemma tales); "Tricksters and Other Ridiculous Creatures;" "Tales in Praise of Great Doings;" and "Making a Way Through Life." Each section is preceded by a short introduction putting the folktales in a more general world context. Missing are sociocultural contexts for the individual tales or background information on tale tellers. In fact, the original source for each tale is not provided other than through a select bibliography which does not indicate the original source of particular tales. The only specific background information the reader receives is the ethnic group of the tale's origin, and that is not as significant since these stories travel readily across ethnic and language boundaries. Furthermore, any stylistic or local flavor of the tales is not preserved in a retold version where elements such as audience response, a most important component of Africa storytelling, is completely missing. This kind of information, although it is essential to a folklorist's analysis, may not be required for middle and high school students who are non-specialists in the field of African folklore. For those who are looking for an enjoyable, wide ranging representation of African folktales, this volume comes well recommended. (Eren Giray)

AUTHOR: ADZINYAH, ABRAHAM; MARAIRE, DUMISANI; TUCKER, JUDITH TITLE: LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD: SONGS FROM GHANA AND ZIMBABWE Publisher: World Music Press Copyright: 1986 Type: Kit Collation: Book with 1 audio cassette Grade: E/M/H Price: $20.95 ISBN: 0-937203-22-X

Subjects: Ghana /Zimbabwe/Music/Folklore/Akan/Shona

Review: This is a 116 page song book with translations, teaching suggestions, illustrations, glossary, percussion techniques, and bibliography. The song selection is quite representative of the ethnic societies in Ghana and Zimbabwe. The musical transcriptions are fairly accurate and reflect the true rhythmic and melodic phrasing of the folk traditions. The stories preceding the songs are focused and seem to enhance the mood for each performance, but explanations to some of the games accompanying the songs are unclear. A video demonstration might be a viable alternative e.g. Kyekyekule. Kyekyekule should also reflect a pentatonic scale pattern d r m s l (see pg. 11). Some picture illustrations do not have any relevance to songs, games, or stories (see pp. 13, 39, 72, etc.) Voices on taped-music do not serve as a good model. Still, the kit is generally good and useful for multicultural music education programs in schools. (Joe Attah)

TITLE: AFRICA: HISTORY, CULTURE, GEOGRAPHY. Publisher: Globe Books/Prentice Hall Copyright: 1992 Type: Book Collation: 308 pp. Grade: M/H

ISBN: 0-8359-0413-X

Subjects: Africa/History

Review: This textbook is one of the better ones for secondary school students. It is similar in most respects to the previous edition published in 1989. Like its predecessor, it avoids most pejorative terms, is less problem-oriented than many works, and keeps Africans rather than Africa's colonizers in the forefront of discussions. There are ten chapters, a glossary, a bibliography, numerous maps and charts. Chapters 1-6 provide basic information on geography and history to the eve of independence. These chapters are generally accurate, balanced, and free from stereotypes. One wishes, however, that the term "black African" had been avoided since it tends to interject Western concepts about race into a continent that defines itself more by language and ethnicity than by dubious racial definitions. Also, the new bibliography is disappointing. It does not compare with the excellent one in the 1989 edition. It has fewer titles, fewer African authors represented, and fewer works written expressily for secondary school students. Also disappointing is the outdated discussion of human origins in Africa. Although the text cites Africa as the original homeland of humans, it fails to discuss the more recent fossil and DNA evidence on the origins of Homo sapiens in Africa. Another problem is the simplistic discussion of European missionaries in Africa. The text fails to describe the complex roles missionaries played in helping and hindering African development. Chapters 6-9 explore past and contemporary history in four major geographical regions of Africa - West, Central, East, and South. The obvious omission is North Africa. This is unfortunate as it truncates discussions and leads to gaps and distortions. Each of the regional discussions provides an overview of the region and highlights a few countries. As one would expect, this broad scope and selective country treatment results in uneven coverage and gaps. A few countries, Ghana, and Zaire for example, receive several pages while other countries receive a few paragraphs or hardly a mention. Also, while political and economic complexities are revealed in some discussions, other discussions are overly simplistic. The final chapter is a strong one. It does a good job of assessing Africa's progress while noting areas for improvement. There are other strong points in this textbook. The brief vignettes of African life and culture dispersed throughout the book are informative and interesting. The black and white photographs are representative and tastefully chosen. Most importantly, Africans are allowed to speak for themselves in this work. There are numerous excerpts by outstanding literary figures and well-known politicians. This is a textbook schools will want to acquire. The work is clearly better than the usual textbook fare on Africa. (Brenda Randolph)

AUTHOR: ALLEN, JUDY; MCNEILL, EARLDENE; SCHMIDT, VELMA TITLE: CULTURAL AWARENESS FOR CHILDREN Publisher: Addison Wesley Copyright: 1992 Type: Book Collation: 253 pp. Grade: T (P/E)

Price (pap): $32.00

Subjects: Multicultural education

Review: Eight cultures including Africans and African Americans, are highlighted in this teacher's guide. The bulk of the discussion focuses on what purports to be "African culture." The information provided is often trivial, superficial, and stereotypical. Pejorative terms and errors abound (e.g. the Zulu of South Africa are described as "tribesmen" from West Africa). Activities for students are simplistic and reinforce stereotypes (e.g. making "thatched huts," "shields," and "grass skirts"). Not recommended. (Brenda Randolph)

AUTHOR: ANDERSON, DAVID TITLE: THE ORIGIN OF LIFE ON EARTH: AN AFRICAN CREATION MYTH Publisher: Sights Productions Copyright: 1991 Type: Book Collation: Unpaged Grade: P/E Price: $18.95 ISBN: 0-9629978-544

Subjects: Folklore/Mythology/Yoruba/Nigeria/West Africa

Review: David Anderson weaves an incredibly wonderful tale in his retelling of "The Origins of Life on Earth." This story is based on the Yoruba creation myth. At last, we have a very good rendition of this story that is readable by children and adults alike. I recommend it for every child (K-12). The story is so dramatically told that it draws its reader to the imaginary world it creates. Obatala represents what is human in all of us - - children's inquisitiveness and desire for adventure. The author and illustrator demonstrate their sensitivity to some of the current issues in the society today, such as gender and multiculturalism. The introduction provides a necessary background for locating the story culturally and geographically. My suggestion is to add a map of Africa with Nigeria or Ife (the home of the Yoruba) identified. It is not enough to mention "west and north of the Niger" delta without showing the region on a map, as some of these readers may not know where the Niger is in the first place. This weakness not withstanding, the book is well done. The non-gender specific nature of the "all powerful" Olurun is commendable, for it emphasizes the need to recognize that powerful figures can belong to either gender. Appreciation is shown for all kinds of people, whether they have twisted legs, partial fingers, complete body parts or plugged ears. The authors suggest the common origin of all people. In addition to the wonderful narrative, the book is dramatically well illustrated. Kathleen Wilson, expresses the current desire for an affirmation of African roots within the African American community through a splash of colors that brings to life the beautiful designs of African textiles. Not only is the story endearing, but the colorful illustrations are so well coordinated that one can almost "see" the beautiful shades of the African landscape. This book is highly recommended. (Maureen N. Eke)

AUTHOR: ANDERSON, JOY TITLE: JUMA AND THE MAGIC JINN Publisher: Lothrop Copyright: 1986 Type: Book Collation: Unpaged Grade: P Price: $12.95 ISBN: 0-688-05443-9

Subjects: Kenya/Fiction/East Africa

Review: Lamu, Kenya is the setting for this picture book. Bored with school and endless math problems, Juma longs to go someplace where there is nothing to learn and no one to remind him to behave. Storekeepers spin yarns about beautiful jinns (spirits who often take human form) who make magic but Juma doubts that they really exist. When Juma pops the cork on a blue jinn jar and a lovely jinn appears and offers him a wish, his doubts vanish. Seizing the opportunity to escape, he replies, "I wish to be someplace...new where I cannot learn anything. I am tired of learning things." Juma soon discovers the folly of his wish and seeks to return to school and home. This book is instructive as well as entertaining. Lamu was once an important city-state in the ancient international trading area known as Azania. Traders from Persia, India, and China came to the island to exchange their goods for African ones. A major result of this trade was a blend of African, Arab, and Asian cultures. Anderson demonstrates her awareness of this cultural blend in her illustrations and text. (Brenda Randolph)

AUTHOR: ANGELOU, MAYA TITLE: MY PAINTED HOUSE, MY FRIENDLY CHICKEN AND ME. Publisher: Random House/Clarkson Potter Copyright: 1994 Type: Book

Grade: P/E Price: $16.00 ISBN: 0 5175 96679

Place Of Publication: New York Subjects: South Africa/Ndebele

Review: This book is about an eight year old Ndebele girl, Thandi (which means love and not hope as the book claims), and her friendship with a chicken. Friendship between a girl and a chicken is very unlikely in Ndebele culture. Chickens are not pets. Thandi's primary relationships seem to be with animals rather than humans. The book is set against a background of beautiful painted houses and beadwork. The pictures are bright and attractive but in some places they bear no relationship to the text. There is not much movement in the book. The pictures are static and Thandi dressed in colorful beads seems to spend all her time posing in front of beautiful walls. She seems to be living in a highly decorated exotic world. What the book illustrates is not even a 'traditional' world; it is one that never existed. There is no sense here of a world that includes both old and new. The book will leave young readers with an inaccurate picture of a Ndebele child's life. (Lesego Malepe)

TITLE: APARTHEID: CALIBRATIONS OF COLOR Publisher: Icarus/Rosen Publishing Group Copyright: 1991 Type: Book Collation: 159 pp. Grade: M/H Price: $16.95 ISBN: 0-8239-1330-9 Price (pap): $8.95

Place Of Publication: New York Subjects: South Africa /Literature/Apartheid /Southern Africa

Review: This assemblage of short stories, plays, photographs, and essays provides a penetrating and pithy look at South Africa. The book opens with Norma Kitson's "Masimba," a boisterous selection that ridicules South Africa's "homeland" policy. The book ends with "Don't Dance," a description of the founding and fortunes of "Shifty Records," a recording company that provides an outlet for banned music. Sandwiched between these two pieces are works that provide a representative sampling of the life experiences of the oppressed of South Africa. An additional and valuable contribution is Frank Brown's riveting account of the student divestment campaign at Columbia University. Also, Zoe Wicomb provides a look at the international dimensions of apartheid in her poignant,"In the Botanic Gardens." For historical balance there is Achmat Dangor's "Places of Stone." This short story examines social and economic relationships engendered by slavery. It explodes the myth of a "benign" slave system in colonial South Africa. This excellent volume should find wide-spread use in secondary schools. (Brenda Randolph)

AUTHOR: APPIAH, SONIA TITLE: AMOKO AND EFUA BEAR Publisher: Macmillan Copyright: 1989 Type: Book Collation: Unpaged Grade: P Price: $13.95 ISBN: 0-02-705591-4

Subjects: Ghana/Fiction/West Africa

Review: Written by a British woman married to a Ghanian man, this picture book reflects the author's western background. Indeed, the story is based on the experiences of the author's daughter's first trip to Ghana. The Ghanian lifestyle depicted here is that of an urban, well-to-do elite, people who have blended western and Ghanian cultures. Amoko, for example, lives in a nuclear rather than the typical Ghanian extended family. Her home is decorated in a western manner and her favorite toy, a stuffed bear named Efua, is a manufactured animal alien to Africa. The family members, however, wear African dress, shop in an open-air market, and eat dinner Ghanian style. (The illustrator, one should note, makes a mistake when she depicts the mother eating with her left hand. This is an absolute no-no in Ghanian culture.) Amoko's elite status is not likely to be detected by American children. She is given a bath by her mother outside and she and her family often go about barefooted. American children accustomed to indoor plumbing and sneakers may comment that Amoko is "poor." Adults reading the story may need to redirect children's attention to the bounty Amoko has, i.e. good food, a warm bed, and parents who love her and try to make her happy. The book is a useful addition to American school collections overweighted with folktales and fables. (Brenda Randolph)

AUTHOR: ARLABOSSE, SEVERINE TITLE: L'AFRIQUE EN FRANCAIS Publisher: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - Center for African Studies Copyright: 1986 Type: Curriculum Guide Collation: 204 pp. Grade: T (M/H)

Price (pap): $15.00

Subjects: Francophone Africa - Study and teaching/West Africa/French/Language and languages

Review: This text is detailed and covers a wide range of topics -- both historical and contemporary -- which will give students a pretty good portrait of Africa and Africa's experience with the French and France. The "cartoons" from "Famille et Development" are a good way of conveying information and inducing language learning, but the illustrations in the section on clothing -- "Les Vetements Senegalais" -- are tacky. Slides should be used to give a more accurate picture of the nature of dress in Senegalese society. The lessons are good and the author provides a helpful guide as to how to use and derive most benefit from the text. (Mbye Cham)

Review 2: This is a collection of readings in beginning and intermediate level French on history, religion, literature, family, and the following countries: Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali, and Senegal. It also includes activities related to crossword puzzles, comics and a videotape, and teaching suggestions. Materials in the volume may be duplicated for classroom use. (Nancy Schmidt)

AUTHOR: ARMSTRONG, CAROL; MASAGARA, NDIZI TITLE: LA DIVERSITE EN AFRIQUE FRANCOPHONE Publisher: SPICE Copyright: 1991 Type: Curriculum Guide Collation: 108 pp. Grade: T (M/H)

Price (pap): $24.95

Subjects: Francophone Africa/West Africa/Language and languages/French

Review: The cultural content is well integrated in the lessons. Africa is shown in its traditional and modern life as well. This approach is always helpful to non-African teachers and students since it informs about the diversity in modern African customs. However, the section that deals with geography is a total disappointment to me. Instead of describing weather, seasons, climate etc., the lesson focuses on the oldest Western stereotype about Africa: land of exotic animals. Though all the animals listed in that lesson do exist in Cote d'Ivoire, I am afraid that making them the central theme of the lesson will only strengthen the stereotype. In lesson 3, there is a grave overstatement about Nina who is considered to be "occidentalisee" simply because of how she dresses. For many Africans, especially Africans of the younger generation, western clothes are part of their recent cultural heritage since these clothes are now made by tailors of African descent. I do believe that one does not become "occidentalisee" by wearing a tie or a pair of pants. By the same token, one does not become African by wearing clothes that originated in Africa. (Mamadou Gueye)

TITLE: ARTS OF GHANA Publisher: UCLA Museum of Cultural History Copyright: 1977 Type: Filmstrip Collation: 1 sound filmstrip, with guide Grade: E/M/H Price: o.p.

Subjects: Art/Ghana /West Africa

Review: This product consists of a filmstrip accompanied with narration recorded on audio-cassette tape. The authenticity and technical quality of the visuals are quite good. The visuals are accurate representations of the broad variety and richness of the creative arts of Ghana. The factual accuracy of content and terminological appropriateness of narration are of acceptable standard, though the narrative style is somewhat dull and lacks creative use of certain narrative devices that stimulate attention and enhance retention. Given the diversity and the broad range of artistic expressions in Ghana, the instructional effectiveness of the product would have been enhanced if the material had been presented in two or three parts. Too much information was packed into one filmstrip. A teacher's guide accompanies the kit. (Kwaku Ofori-Ansah)

AUTHOR: ASARE, MESHACK TITLE: CAT IN SEARCH OF A FRIEND Publisher: Africa World Press Copyright: 1988 Type: Book Collation: Unpaged Grade: P

ISBN: 0 86543 107 8 Price (pap): $6.95 ISBN (pap): 0-86543-107-8

Subjects: Fiction

Review: This simply told animal tale features a domestic cat and a number of plains and forest animals. As the title suggests, a lonely cat searches for a friend. Each animal Cat meets seems suitable as a friend until a more powerful animal appears. Ultimately, Cat decides to be friends with all but mistress of her own life. Regrettably, the illustrations are often muddy. Also, the author uses the pejorative term "hut" instead of the more positive "house." The story ends rather abruptly. One expects to see the cat alone on the final page. Still the story is an interesting one, the repetition and changing characters should hold the attention of primary children. (Brenda Randolph)

AUTHOR: AYOUB, ABDERRAHMAN TITLE: UMM EL MADAYAB : AN ISLAMIC CITY THROUGH THE AGES Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Copyright: 1994 Type: Book Collation: 49 pp. Grade: M/H Price: $16.95 ISBN: 0 395 65967 1

Place Of Publication: Boston Subjects: North Africa/Cities and towns

Review: This book, translated from Italian, is part of a series that provides similar coverage for cities on other continents. It describes and depicts a fictional city in North Africa from prehistoric times to the present. The core of the book is detailed city plans at 14 different historical periods, which are interesting but relatively difficult to interpret even with the accompanying text. In addition there are a few detailed black and white drawings of buildings, selected artifacts, eg. pottery, boats, hand tools, and people, who are not particularly North African in appearance, for each period. The short text traces the growth of the site from a hunting-gathering camp in the palaeolithic, to a neolithic community dependent on shell fish, through the iron age to a Phoenician city in the 9th to 8th century B.C., which was the first port. The changes in the size, arrangement and types of buildings are then traced through Punic-Numidian, Roman, Christian, Islamic, several Arab, Ottoman, colonial and contemporary periods. For each period only a few features of the city are mentioned in the text, for the most part public buildings and activities of the ruling, commercial or religious elite. Specialized vocabulary related to each period is defined in the text. The book is difficult to evaluate since the city is fictional and has no location more specific than being on the seacoast. The brief text does not do justice to the detail of the illustrations or the complexity of life at each historical period. No references are provided for readers curious to learn more about what is shown in the drawings or mentioned in the text. (Nancy J. Schmidt )

AUTHOR: AZEVEDO, MARIO; PRATER, GWENDOLYN TITLE: AFRICA AND ITS PEOPLE Publisher: Kendall / Hunt Copyright: 1982 Type: Book Collation: 211 pp. Grade: H

Price (pap): o.p. ISBN (pap): 0-8403-2730-7

Subjects: Africa - Study and teaching/History

Review: This textbook is the result of collaborative efforts of Africa scholars and public school teachers. Interdisciplinary in its approach, it aims to touch all major aspects of African life. The target audiences are secondary school students and college freshmen. The book has many strengths. History is balanced, aspects of culture are explained in African rather than Western terms, geography is related to human conditions, and the diversity and complexity of the continent's physical and social features are described. An additional plus is the background information that is provided in the introduction. Also, each of the seven units begins with a list of performance objectives and concludes with review questions, suggestions for activities and extensive bibliographies. The authors make an effort to avoid biased and derogatory language. A list of terms that reinforce myths and stereotypes is given and teachers are cautioned against using biased terms. Unfortunately, the authors themselves make occasional slips. The terms "non-Western," "non-white," and "Hottentot" are used. Also, after cautioning against the use of the concept "race" students are later asked to compare and contrast the "races" of Africa with those in the U.S. These are minor flaws in an essentially sound work. The authors are attuned to difficulties inherent in teaching African studies to an American audience. Efforts are made to explain unusual or complex issues in terms that Americans can understand. One will want to supplement the dated bibliographies and provide information from more recent country studies. Global Studies: Africa is a good choice for the latter. (Brenda Randolph)

AUTHOR: BACAK - EGBO, CAROL TITLE: AFRICAN STUDIES CURRICULUM: TANZANIA Publisher: Michigan State University - African Studies Center Copyright: 1984 Type: Curriculum Guide Collation: 175 pp. Grade: T (M/H)

Price (pap): o.p.

Subjects: Tanzania - Study and teaching/East Africa

Review: This curriculum guide is focused on Tanzania and provides historical information, fact sheets, evaluation criteria, and classroom activities. It is designed for a variety of grade levels. The information is accurate and the student activities are good; the curriculum emphasizes Tanzanian history, a component that is often missing in units on Africa. Activities for younger students involving Swahili number games, proverbs, and poems are good. If teachers find this curriculum too specific to use as an entire unit, certain activities could easily be infused into the standard curriculum. I recommend this work as a resource for teachers. (Sara Talis)

AUTHOR: BAILEY, DONNA AND SPROULE, ANNA TITLE: KENYA Publisher: Steck-Vaughn Copyright: 1990 Type: Book Collation: 32 pp. Grade: E Price: $9.95 ISBN: 0-8114-2563-0

Subjects: Kenya - Description and travel/East Africa

Review: This easy-to-read book is part of Steck-Vaughn's Where We Live series. In each series title, a child, ostensibly from that country, introduces readers to aspects of life in his or her country. Kenya causes one to question the veracity of the publishers. Our Kenyan guide, Wanjiru, introduces himself on page 1 but is never seen again. On page 4 he tells us that the family pictured below is his own, yet the very same photograph appears in a Lerner publication, A Family in Kenya. In the Lerner book the people in the photograph are described as members of the Katama family from Mombasa! The deception or error is not the only problem with this work. Young readers are given a very superficial and highly selective view of Kenya. An inordinate amount of attention is focused on the Maasai (a Western favorite). The inclusion of information about the Maasai drinking "cow's blood mixed with milk" is certain to reinforce the Western stereotype of Africans as exotic and strange. The book ends abruptly during a discussion of another Western preoccupation, wild animals. Good materials on Kenya are needed for the primary grades. Unfortunately, this book does not fill the void. (Brenda Randolph)

AUTHOR: BANGURA, ABDUL TITLE: KIPSIGIS Publisher: Rosen Copyright: 1994 Type: Book Collation: 64 pp. Grade: M

ISBN: 0 8239 1765 7

Place Of Publication: New York Subjects: East Africa/Kenya/Kipsigis

Review: Each volume in The Heritage Library of African Peoples is about the environment, subsistence, social relationships, customs, beliefs and social and technical change in one ethnic group. There is a map of Africa at the beginning, which is not up-to-date, and numerous black and white and color photographs, some of which are not integrated with the text, which is divided into 6 or 7 chapters, each with short, titled sub-sections. The author of Kipsigis is a political scientist from Sierra Leone. The book begins with an excerpt from an origin story and a discussion of the migration of Kipsigis and related peoples from the Upper Nile region to Kenya. Their language is said to be a "form" of Nandi (it is an independent language). The chapters which follow discuss the organization of society before colonization in deterministic terms, "every aspect of life is a response to the environment," initiation and marriage ceremonies, family organization, European contact and colonial rule, and a view of the future (which focuses on polygamy, population growth and bridewealth). The book is primarily about the past and provides no sense of the place of the Kipsigis in contemporary Kenya. All of the books suggested for further reading were written for adults and none provides information on contemporary Kipsigis life. (Nancy Schmidt)

AUTHOR: BARYSH, ANN TITLE: SUITCASE SCHOLAR GOES TO KENYA Publisher: Lerner Copyright: 1991 Type: Book Collation: Teacher's Guide, 5 Lerner titles, map Grade: E Price: $49.95

Subjects: Kenya/East Africa

Review: This kit includes a teacher's guide, a map and five Lerner titles. The teacher's guide includes 11 lessons for students and a resource section for teachers. Three of the 11 lessons for students focus on the study of foreign cultures, the remaining eight lessons focus on Africa in general and Kenya specifically. The first five lessons of the guide, none of which utilizes Lerner titles to any significant degree, are excellent. Also of great use are the enrichment activities which accompany each lesson. The enrichment activities employ the use of materials (other than Lerner titles) which are listed in the Resource Guide. Included among these are materials written by scholars who specialize in the study of Africa. Unfortunately the lessons that employ the Lerner titles, Safari, Kenya in Pictures and Count Your Way Through Africa are highly problematic. Although the lessons are often well-thought out, the use of Lerner titles results in the very problems the guide cautions against, i.e. stereotyping, use of pejorative terms, and an emphasis on the exotic or strange. Additionally, some of these titles are so limited students cannot achieve the objectives outlined in the lesson. The lessons that utilize A Family in Kenya and Cooking the African Way, two relatively good works, are useful. (A word of caution with regard to A Family in Kenya. The child featured in the book and described as Salaama of the Katama family is pictured in the Steck-Vaughn series Where We Live as belonging to a family that lives in Nairobi. See the review ofKenya , authored by Donna Bailey and Anna Sproule, in this volume.) Lerner should be congratulated for devising a unique country-study approach. If equal care and thought are devoted to future Lerner titles, the Suitcase Scholar concept should prove quite useful. (Robert Cummings)

AUTHOR: BAYNHAM, SIMON TITLE: AFRICA FROM 1945 Publisher: Watts Copyright: 1987 Type: Book Collation: 62 pp. Grade: M/H Price: $12.90 ISBN: 0-531-10319-6

Subjects: Africa/History

Review: This book is about "Europe" in Africa. As part of a series, it continues the analysis of European conflict in the 20th century. Africa's peoples and history are secondary. The continent, in fact, is notable here only because it represents a geographical region in which Europeans: (a) confronted and competed with each other via their "Scramble for Africa;" (2) exploited the local human and material resources of that continent; and (3) require a revised local historical interpretation to justify their immoral and destructive actions in Africa. The primarily military focus of this volume restricts a balanced analysis even more and attempts instead to demonstrate the superiority of western culture, armaments and technology over that of Africa. (Robert Cummings)

AUTHOR: BECKER, LAURENCE TITLE: WHAT IS A RESOURCE Publisher: SPICE Copyright: 1985 Type: Book Collation: 35 pp. Grade: M/H

Price (pap): $6.50

Subjects: Economic development/Africa

Review: The product here is a self-contained study unit on the concept of natural resources and their role in human and societal development, using Africa as the case for study. I found it to be a splendid, well-informed and very thoughtful package -- displaying considerable insight into African problems from an objective rather than from the orthodox western perspective. The book remains current, not only for the time when it was published but still today, nearly seven years later. The only deficiency is that the author had an excellent opportunity to make some points about the ecological implications of resource use, but chose not to do so. (Robert Browne)

AUTHOR: BENITEZ, MIRNA TITLE: HOW SPIDER TRICKED SNAKE Publisher: Raintree/Steck Vaughn Copyright: 1992 Type: Book Collation: 32 pp. Grade: P Price: $13.32 ISBN: 0 8172 3524 8

Subjects: Diaspora/Anansi/Folklore

Review: This is an easy-to-read adaptation of a well-known story about the trickster spider also known as Anansi. According to the book's summary, this adaptation was drawn from a Jamaican tale. It is similar in some respects to older versions of the story told about Anansi in West Africa. In this version, Spider goes to Tiger, the king of all animals, to ask that all stories be called Spider stories. Tiger promises to grant Spider his wish if Spider is able to catch Snake and deliver him to Tiger. Spider devises several tricks to capture Snake but Snake is onto Spider's schemes. Eventually, Spider is able to outwit Snake and Tiger grants Spider's wish. In the popular version of this Ghanian tale, God or Nyame, is the owner of all the world's stories and it is to Nyame that Spider appeals. Several animals, in addition to a snake, must be captured before Anansi can claim the world's stories. Gail Haley's A Story, A Story is one of the better renditions of this tale. Supporters of the whole language approach to reading (who support keeping stories in tact with their original rich and complex language forms) may prefer Haley's work. Those who want to make the story accessible to younger readers may prefer this primer approach. The story may also be useful in demonstrating to children how stories traveled from West Africa to the Americas during the period of enslavement. The illustrations are undistinguished but not offensive and the text is free of pejorative terms. Teachers will want to supplement this folktale with books about contemporary life. (Brenda Randolph)

AUTHOR: BENTLEY, JUDITH TITLE: ARCHBISHOP TUTU OF SOUTH AFRICA Publisher: Enslow Copyright: 1988 Type: Book Collation: 96 pp. Grade: E/M/H Price: $12.95 ISBN: 0-89490-180-X

Subjects: South Africa/Biography/Desmond Tutu

Review: This biography of Tutu provides a smooth narrative that integrates South African history with personal details about Tutu's life. Bentley does a particularly good job of describing Tutu's philosophy of non- violence, noting Tutu's abhorrence of violence but his support of the liberation struggle. Also, Bentley provides brief but pointed excerpts of Tutu's scathing comments about Western economic support of apartheid. In general, Tutu's life and contemporary history are adequately covered. Unfortunately, Bentley's recounting of early South Africa history is quite problematic. She provides an Afrikaner version of history when she describes the Xhosa as migrating southward where they "met the Boers." She falls into another common pitfall when she simplistically suggests that some South African groups were warlike while others were "peaceful." Peace and war characterize historical periods rather than cultural groupings. Another problem is Bentley's use of pejorative terms. African houses should not be referred to as "huts." Ethnic groups should be substituted for the 19th century term "tribe." And "Bantu" and "native" are not acceptable (Bentley notes that Africans dislike the terms "Bantu" and "native" but goes on to use them anyway). The bibliography should be used with caution. Several titles present biased and/or stereotypical views of South Africa (e.g. Laures' South Africa: Coming of Age Under Apartheid, Lawson's South Africa and Meyer's Voices of South Africa: Growing Up in a Troubled Land ). (Brenda Randolph)

AUTHOR: BOROWSKI, RICHARD TITLE: THIS LAND IS OUR LAND : LAND REFORM IN POST-APARTHEID SOUTH AFRICA Publisher: Leeds Development Education Center, Address: 151-153 Cardigan Rd. Leeds LS6 1LJ, England Copyright: 1994 Type: Curriculum guide Collation: 16 pp. Grade: E/M/H

Price (pap): Pound2.75 ISBN (pap): 1 871268 55 9 Place Of Publication: Leeds Subjects: South Africa - Study and teaching/Apartheid

Review: This teaching guide is divided into two parts, "Introductory Activities," and "Land Reform Role Play." The major component of the introductory section is "Past to Present," an interactive activity aimed at providing students with historical background to contemporary land ownership and use issues in South Africa. This is the weaker part of the guide. It fails to include sufficient information on land ownership and use patterns among indigenous South Africans prior to conquest and colonization. The author errs on the date of contact between the Khoisan and Xhosa people (contact certainly happened before the 1700s). The strong resistance Africans mounted to Boer and British rule is overlooked and this section does not achieve the guide's stated aim of raising "awareness of the British involvement in the historical events which have led to the present land division in South Africa." The British reserve system was the blueprint for the post-World War II apartheid system, a fact not mentioned in the guide. Absent also is a description of the foot-dragging behavior of Western corporations with regard to sanctions and divestment. Another weakness is the repeated use of the term "Bantu." In the South African context "Bantu" is a derogatory word, it should be replaced with the term Bantu-speaking. The second part of the guide which focuses on land reform is quite useful. The student role-play activity helps students understand the difficult tasks facing the post-apartheid government with regard to land reform. If teachers supplement the historical content and correct the terminology where needed, they will find this a valuable resource. The lessons are practical and the directions for using the guide easy to understand and follow. (Brenda Randolph)

AUTHOR: BOROWSKI, RICHARD; KISOPIA, PETER; SAYER, GEOFF TITLE: THE FINAL FRONTIER? LAND ENVIRONMENT AND PASTORALISM IN KENYA Publisher: Leeds Development Education Center Address: 151-153 Cardigan Rd., Leeds LS6 1LJ, England Copyright: 1993 Type: Curriculum guide Collation: 48 pp. Grade: M/H

Price (pap): Pound9.50 ISBN (pap): 1 871268 50 8 Place Of Publication: Leeds Subjects: Kenya/Maasai/East Africa/Environment/Economic development

Review: This guide focuses on the Maasai of Kenya, a small minority group that has received a disporportionate amount of attention in the West. Surprisingly, the authors of this work manage to avoid the stereotypical depictions so commonly found in materials on the Maasai. To being with, the photographs are not designed as exotic representations rather they convey messages of value as illustrations of Maasai lifestyle. The Maasai are represented as living in a modern state in a real-life manner and the people are dressed in a variety of ways. The focus here is on pastoralism as a means of production that is linked to modern economic and environmental realities. Pastoralism is used to instruct students on the impact of external interventions - tourism, debt and land/resource maintenance - on real people and the earth. The lessons are interative, students are invited and motiviated to role play in a realistic manner. They are exposed directly to causes and effects, external decision-making, specific domino examples and the results as they affect human lives and resources at various levels. Recommended. (Robert Cummings)

AUTHOR: BOZYLINSKY, HANNAH TITLE: LALA SALAMAA Publisher: Philomel Copyright: 1993 Type: Book Collation: Unpaged Grade: P

Place Of Publication: New York Subjects: East Africa/Fiction/Swahili language materials

Review: A simple lullaby becomes a vehicle for illustrations of a variety of animals that inhabit East Africa. The text, in Kiswahili and English, features the greeting "lala salama," which means, "sleep in peace," (or as the book loosely translates the phrase, "peace, sleep well') and the Kiswahili names of the animals -- giraffe, hawk, rhinoceros, porcupine, hyena, hare, gazelle, elephant, crocodile, hippopotamus, lion, zebra, cattle, goat, and others. The boy who sings the lullaby begins in the savanna, where he his herding his family's cattle and goats. He crosses the river, leaves the cattle and goats grazing near his home, and finally says "lala salama" to his mother before going to sleep. An author's note gives a brief description of the way of life of the Maasai people, and there is a pronunciation guide. Illustrations are in gouache, with soft lines and earth tones dominant. Though attractive in its simplicity, the illustrations provide a confusing portrait of African life for young children. In most of the scenes, the African boy is shown frolicking with the animals. He swims alongside baby elephants, picks porcupine quills from the nose of an unfortunate goat, and rides a buffalo with a friendly lion following. With the exception of the rhinoceros and the crocodile, none of the animals so much as threatens the boy and his herd. This is especially confusing when one reads the author's note, for the author points out that hyenas and lions can kill members of the herd. The author explains that she wants to show the Maasai's simple lifestyle and closeness to nature. She succeeds in this goal, but in doing so, she presents a simplistic, misleading, and ultimately very stereotypical view of life in rural East Africa. (Lyn Miller-Lachmann)

AUTHOR: BROOKE-BALL, PETER TITLE: SOUTHERN AFRICA Publisher: Silver Burdett Copyright: 1989 Type: Book Collation: 46 pp. Grade: E/M Price: $11.24

Subjects: Southern Africa - Description and travel/History

Review: This title is part of the 24-book Silver Burdett series, People and Places. European and certain Asian countries in the series are treated in separate country studies. Southern African countries are simply lumped together. As one would expect in a volume of this broad scope, the information is inadequate. Accuracy is also lacking. Students are informed, for example, that early Bantu-speaking settlers "pushed" San hunters and gatherers into the desert. Actually, intermarriage and accommodation were the major relationships between Bantu-speakers and the San. The history section is quite Eurocentric, particularly when discussing 19th century battles and personalities. Shaka is described as "ruthless," while the notorious Cecil Rhodes is called a "statesman." Apartheid is discussed in this volume. Indeed, it is integrated into many of the topics. But this is one of the book's few strengths. The publishers should abandon the regional approach for southern Africa and adopt the single country format as it has for Europe. This would permit more in-depth discussion and help students distinguish among southern African countries. (Brenda Randolph)

AUTHOR: BROWDER, ATLANTIS; BROWDER, ANTHONY TITLE: MY FIRST TRIP TO AFRICA Publisher: Institute of Karmic Guidance Copyright: 1991 Type: Book Collation: 38 pp. Grade: P/E Price: $16.95 ISBN: 0-924944-02-1 Price (pap): $8.95 ISBN (pap): 0-924944-01-3

Subjects: History/Egypt/North Africa

Review: This is an excellent introduction to Africa for children. The authors wisely chose one African country, Egypt, and gave it their full attention. The authors are a father and daughter team, Anthony and Atlantis Browder. Atlantis, who is 8 years old, is our narrator and guide. The book chronicles her 13 day study tour of Egypt in 1989. Atlantis describes her visits to ancient Egyptian cities and historical sites. She also shows the influence of Egypt on architectural structures in her hometown of Washington, D.C. Black and white photographs and colored drawings illuminate the text. The book corrects distortions about Egypt and provides the original African names of certain places and people (e.g. Kemet is the indigenous name for ancient Egypt). Additional pluses include a gem of a glossary and a useful teaching guide. (Robert J. Cummings and Brenda Randolph)

AUTHOR: BROWN, BARBARA; JOST, DIANE TITLE: AFRICA: BEYOND THE MYTHS Publisher: Society for Visual Education Copyright: 1992 Type: Filmstrip Collation: 2 sound filmstrips, guide Grade: P/E/M Price: $89.00

Subjects: Africa - Study and teaching

Review: The concept for these filmstrips derives from a 1985 slide-tape program produced by the African Studies Center at Boston University entitled What Do We Know About Africa? Its aim was to address and dispel the negative stereotypes of Africa which appear to run relatively unobstructed through American film, popular literature, print media, television, advertising, and, consequently, Americans minds. Barbara Brown of Boston University and Diane Jost of the Field Museum in Chicago have adapted the What Do We Know About Africa? concept and converted it for use at the elementary and middle-school levels. Their credentials, timing, and perspective are welcome. The filmstrips' slides and scripts work well together. The focus upon Africans living in the countryside as well as those living in the city is nicely illustrated and enhanced by introducing a student and family in each of the separate programs. The 11- minute and 15 - minute length of the programs is appropriate, and teachers will appreciate the script of both programs, teacher's guide, and activity sheets included in the accompanying three-ring binder. Only three aspects of the filmstrips may detract from it as a teaching resource. First, it is a filmstrip and not a slide program or videocassette. My impression is that both students and teachers prefer and use slide-tape programs and videocassettes rather than filmstrips, but I am open to persuasion. Second, the narrator of Program 1 -- not identified in the credits -- is occasionally too bubbly and effervescent, perhaps the result of a few too many exclamation points and underlinings within the scripts or within the director's mind. On the positive side, the narrator is enthusiastic about the subject -- let's learn about Africa! -- and her enthusiasm is infectious. Third, the voices of the African students featured in both programs are clearly those of adults. It remains to be seen how the younger and older student audiences will respond to adults pretending to speak like a child or preteen. Regardless, Brown and Jost are on the right track in producing audio-visual materials with practical teaching value, proper organization, and a reasonable price. Both of these filmstrips are recommended for teachers seeking to introduce Africa in a positive way that also counteracts the wrong impressions and information collected by young students from less-informed sources. (Robert Hamilton)

AUTHOR: BROWN, KENNETH TITLE: FROM AFRICA TO THE NEW WORLD, 1000-1713 Publisher: Troll Copyright: 1970 Type: Filmstrip Collation: 1 silent filmstrip Grade: P/E

Subjects: African Americans/West Africa/History/Slavery/Diaspora

Review: This filmstrip is extremely dated in its contents, references and usages of terms. "Negro," "the new world," "discovery," "Dark Continent," and "tribes" are terms long since retired. The initial reference to "Portuguese explorers" as Africa's chronological point of departure is not valid. Africa has its own historical points of departure. The filmstrip jumps too quickly from one event to another. It gives the erroneous impression that the many events naturally follow each other, yet they often do not. Also, themes are left incomplete and without examples. In short, the author attempts too much and fails to provide a meaningful depth of knowledge. Additionally, today it is most unusual to encounter a silent filmstrip. Thus the first question a potential purchaser must address is whether a silent, captioned filmstrip is a worthwhile purchase. In this instance, the mediocre quality of the filmstrip obviates the need for such a decision. (Robert Cummings)

AUTHOR: BROWN, MARCIA TITLE: SHADOW Publisher: Scribner's Sons Copyright: 1982 Type: Book Collation: Unpaged Grade: P Price: $12.95 ISBN: 0-68417226-7 Price (pap): $3.95

Subjects: Africa - Poetry

Review: Shadow has no specific setting. Apparently, the book is meant to convey a sweeping view of Africa. Tangled forests, mountains, baobab trees, and large game animals suggest various climatic and vegetational zones. The visual messages this picture book sends are negative. Brown's illustrations evoke eerie and menacing images of Africa. Scary masks, waiting vultures, spear-carrying warriors, spooky spirits, and creepy crawlers are encountered in rapid succession. The "dark continent" theme is repeated on every page. Children learn virtually nothing about everyday life in Africa. Africans are depicted either dancing, hunting, standing around or going to war. It is difficult to understand why the Caldecott committee chose to honor this book with a medal. (Brenda Randolph)

AUTHOR: BRUYKER, DANIEL DE AND DAUBER, MAXIMILIEN TITLE: TINTIN'S TRAVEL DIARIES : AFRICA Publisher: Barron's Copyright: 1992 Type: Book Collation: 75 pp. Grade: E/M

ISBN: 0 8120 6425 9

Place Of Publication: Hauppauge, NY Subjects: Africa - Description and travel

Review: Full of stereotypes and offensive language this book is reminiscent of old colonial literature about Africa. The colonial flavor is not surprising. The book is inspired by a comic-strip series, the Adventures of Tintin, which was launched during the colonial era (in 1929) by the Belgian cartoonist George Remi better known as Herge. Hugely popular, the comics highlight the daring activities of Tintin, an intrepid boy reporter. Although critics credit Herge with scrupulous research for his Tintin books, some have lambasted the series for its bias against various groups (including Jews, women, and Africans). At least one charge of bias struck home. Herge reportedly stated his regret for the colonial prejudices that appeared in his Tintin book on the Belgian Congo. The format for Tintin's Travel Diaries, Africa is different from the Herge series. Tintin's adventures are not the focal point here, instead Tintin provides comic relief as serious and not so serious subjects about Africa are discussed. The book poses thirty questions about Africa, each of which is answered in a two-page spread which consists of (1) a brief answer in italics, (2) a longer answer of several paragraphs, (3) color photographs, and (4) a cartoon. A glossary, chronology, map, index, and undistinguished bibliography complete the volume. The cover of the book shows Tintin (clad in a white hunter's outfit) and his faithful pooch, Snowy, sweating their way through Africa. En route they encounter "Pygmies," "Bushmen," "tribes," and "natives" who believe in "fetishes" and "magic." The plethora of pejorative terms in the book is matched with images that evoke old stereotypes of Africa. Most shocking is an illustration representing African religions. A clawed, evil spirit hovers behind an unsuspecting Tintin as he walks, gun in hand, in a thicket. In addition to the stereotypical presentations and offensive language there are two glaring errors. The Xhosa of South Africa are not the "Xhana" and the Khoisan are not a Bantu-speaking people (their language belongs to the Khoisan language family). Tucked amid the nonsense in this book, one does find answers that reflect solid research. Unfortunately, the stereotypical and ethnocentric presentations that predominate obviate the usefulness of the information. (Brenda Randolph)

AUTHOR: BRYAN, ASHLEY THE STORY OF LIGHTNING AND THUNDER TITLE: THE STORY OF LIGHTNING AND THUNDER Publisher: Macmillan/Atheneum Copyright: 1993 Type: Book Collation: 27 pp. Grade: P

Subjects: Folklore

Review: Ma Sheep Thunder and her son, Ram Lightning used to live on earth in the West Afircan coastal village of "Alkebu-lan, called Africa today." They were docile: pattable and chattable. However, as he matures, Ram Lightning wants to display his horns before the King and villagers; to do so he uses his head and horns to move from the back of the fron of the assembled community. To protect the villagers from Ram's head, the King orders him and Ma to move to the outskirts of the village. Later, Ram Lightning ears the hat maker's wares and knocks her to the ground. Eventually, Ram Lightning's destructive behavior prompts the King to banish him to the sky. From time to time, he leaves his sky home. A fine book for reading aloud and discussing with elementary school students. Well- written and well illustrated by Ashley Bryan, the book offers insights into unintended consequences, the nature of our natures, villlage political life, and the dependence of humans upon land and rain. (Robert Hamilton)

AUTHOR: CARAWAY, CAREN TITLE: AFRICAN DESIGNS OF THE CONGO, NIGERIA, THE CAMEROONS AND THE GUINEA COAST Publisher: Stemmer House Copyright: 1986 Type: Book Collation: Unpaged Grade: E/M/H

Price (pap): $15.95

Subjects: Art/West Africa/Central Africa

Review: The focus of this book is a rendering in black and white line drawings of images derived from a variety of art forms from selected African traditional societies. Images were selected from various visual art forms created by peoples from what the author terms as "The Congo, Nigeria, the Cameroons and the Guinea Coast." This classification is confusing since the Guinea Coast, technically, includes Nigeria and Cameroon. Most of the book is pictorial and comes without pagination. Textual information is very scanty and does not make substantive reference to the content of images featured. Out of the 140 pages, only nine were devoted to textual information. The text contains some useful general information, much of it which is accurate. However, a substantial amount of obsolete data, terminologies and misconceptions about Africa are found in the text. Such terms as "Pygmies"and "tribes," and concepts such as "hot, humid rain forest," "climate that has long made cultural development difficult in many areas," and "when the Portuguese discovered The Congo in 1482" are all considered inaccurate and therefore out of usage in current literature on Africa. There are also incorrect usages of names of ethnic groups or peoples. The use of prefixes such as "ba" in names of peoples is inaccurate and inconsistent with the language patterns of those peoples. Bakwele, Bakuba, Bateke, Ashanti, etc. are all incorrect usages. The usages are Kwele people, Kuba people, Teke people and Asante people. While some of the images presented are identified by names of ethnic groups, many are not identified at all. Since the focus of the book is on designs in African art, greater attention should have been given to the names of the art pieces, and the symbolic significance of motifs and patterns featured. This information should have appeared alongside the corresponding images and would have enriched the information base of the book. The line drawings are generally accurate portrayals of the original art forms. The technical quality and craftsmanship are quite impressive. It is those aspects of the book that make it useful if properly adapted for a variety of instructional purposes. Its usefulness lies in how creatively those designs can be adapted for use in school art activities. (Kwaku Ofori- Ansah)

AUTHOR: CASE, DIANNE TITLE: LOVE, DAVID Publisher: Lodestar / Penguin Copyright: 1991 Type: Book Collation: 128 pp. Grade: E/M Price: $14.95 ISBN: 0-525-67350

Place Of Publication: New York Subjects: South Africa/Fiction/Southern Africa

Review: The setting for this novel is Cape Flats, an impoverished area near Cape Town, South Africa. The narrator is Anna Jantjies, a "colored" girl apparently 7 - 10 years old. The novel revolves around the tension between Anna's half brother David and his stepfather, Dadda (the father of Anna). Dadda's actions are often quite brutal, he frequently beats David and occasionally hits David and Anna's mother, Mamsie. David's resentment of his stepfather and the poverty that surrounds him leads him to petty crime. Eventually, he is arrested for selling marijuana. Following his arrest, white authorities return David to his parents. After a period of observation, he is removed from the home and sent to reform school. At novel's end, reform school is depicted as the best place for David. Whites, in this novel, are distant figures who are neutral or kindly. The only significant white character is Mamsie's employer. We never meet her directly but hear of her because of her charitable gifts to Mamsie. Dadda rails against these pittances and tells Mamsie she's being exploited but Mamsie has nothing but kind words for her madam. Apartheid is never discussed in this novel. Rather, the impact of apartheid is apparent in the poverty and pathology of Cape Flats. One wonders, however, if American students will make the connection between apartheid and the disruption in the Jantjies family. The victimization of women is another troublesome issue. Mamsie cringes in fear before her drunken husband's rages. She fails to protect her son from Dadda's abuses and endures her own beatings without complaint. Anna's view of her abusive father is similar to that of her mother. Love, not resentment, surges when her drunken father is asleep, "Mamsie and I struggled to remove his shoes and get him under the blankets. He sometimes does wrong things and says hurtful things, but I cannot love him any less, even though he makes me angry at times. When he snores so contentedly, all is forgiven." The author of this book, a South African, describes her novel as based on her mother's own childhood. The experiences she relates are certainly believable. Unfortunately there is little here to help readers see the total picture. Will they identify apartheid as the hidden disrupter of familial peace or will they simply point an accusing finger at Dadda? (Brenda Randolph)

AUTHOR: CATCHPOLE, BRIAN; AKINJOGDIN, I. A. TITLE: HISTORY OF WEST AFRICA IN MAPS AND DIAGRAMS Publisher: Collins Educational Copyright: 1983 Type: Book Collation: 147 pp. Grade: M/H

Price (pap): $13.95 ISBN (pap): 0-00-032650-X

Subjects: Maps/West Africa/History

Review: Catchpole and Akinjogbin's compilation of maps and commentary is an excellent contribution to the study of West African history and a very useful tool for students of the subject. The maps are arranged in chronological order, beginning ca. A.D. 100 and extending into the late 1970's. The detail of the maps is generally accurate, and includes not only the location of states, cities, and empires, but also the direction of ethnic migrations, trade routes, invasion patterns, cultural dispersions, military campaigns, etc. Each map is accompanied by a synopsis of the area in question's history and a brief discussion of important attendant issues. For example, the treatment of the Asante includes a rulers' list, a diagram of military formations, a reproduction of the Golden Stool, and a map illustrating Asante expansion. The section on the Atlantic slave trade is quite good, as it focuses on zones of origination, routes, period technology, and even touches on the complex question of underdevelopment. The book gives equal attention to developments in the Muslim savannah and the "traditional" forest, and discusses interaction between the two. The colonial era is well represented, and the post-colonial period includes discussion of the OAU. The book even discusses Garvey's influence on Africa and the rise of Pan-Africanism. (Michael Gomez)

AUTHOR: CHIASSON, JOHN TITLE: AFRICAN JOURNEY Publisher: Bradbury Copyright: 1987 Type: Book Collation: 55 pp. Grade: E/M Price: $16.95 ISBN: 0-02-718530-3

Subjects: Africa - Description and travel

Review: This is a book with high quality photos very reminiscent of a browse through National Geographics of pre-independence Africa. The book depicts people in five different cultural contexts as though these cultures are simple, one dimensional and devoid of the dynamic of ethnic diversity and political competitiveness. Both the photos and the narratives send an old colonial-era message: that these African cultures are locked in a timeless past. Time has stood still. Despite the fact that current demographic statistics for each of these cultures indicate increasing urbanization and a burgeoning urban and young adult population with attendant urban stresses of unemployment, noise and air pollution, lack of public services, etc., the cover photo conjures up an image of a past era - one of man against or in harmony with nature. It is a simplistic message in what is, in fact, an increasingly complex physical and cultural environment. Additional observations are as follows: (1) There is a definite bias in terms used. For example, the caption describing the cover photo uses the term "tribespeople" and the term "tribe" is used throughout the book. (2) There are over generalizations and questionable categorizations of ethnic groups. For example, the Tuareg are referred to as "light-skinned" and "nobles of the desert." This is a highly superficial and subjective observation based on the author's site specific encounter with this ethnic group. Having worked with both the Tuareg and the WoDaBee in Niger, I know there are dark-skinned Tuareg and never hear them referred to as "nobles of the desert." (3) "Man against nature" is the recurring theme and message of this photobook, despite the author's statement that this African journey includes a cosmopolitan city. Not one photo is of a cosmopolitan city, thus presenting a very misleading reality of African environments today. (4) The few references to present-day Africa are completely divorced from the political dynamic in these countries. For example, the author alludes to socioeconomic constraints faced by the Tuareg, but assumes no responsibility for articulating these constraints based on the facts. Instead, the reader is told that the future of the Tuareg seems to depend on the rain. (5) Finally, this photobook has nothing to recommend it, in fact, it sends an unrealistic, inadequate, and negative message to young readers being introduced to Africa. (Theresa Ware)

AUTHOR: CLARK, BEATRICE TITLE: LA FAMILLE SENEGALAISE Publisher: International Film Bureau and Hampton University

Type: Filmstrip Collation: 2 cassettes, Guides Grade: H Price: $70.00

Subjects: Senegal/West Africa/French/Francophone Africa

Review: The filmstrip portrays traditional as well as modern Senegalese lives. It can indeed help students grasp two different perspective on Senegalese values. The language is clear and understandable. Unfortunately, so many ideas are expressed in a rather superficial manner. Some of these cultural elements need some explanation for non-Africans to understand their significance. The cultural content is not explained with enough details at all. A thematic study that treats all the cultural elements in depth would have been helpful. A mere compilation of information on Africa may not be the best way to introduce material from Francophone Africa to non-African students. (Mamadou Gueye)

AUTHOR: CLARK, BEATRICE TITLE: UN CONTE AFRICAN: LE TAUREAU DE BOUKI Publisher: International Film Bureau and Hampton University

Type: Filmtrip Collation: 1 filmstrip, student and teacher guides Grade: H Price: $37.00

Subjects: Senegal - Social life and customs/West Africa/French/Francophone Africa

Review: The idea of using an oral narrative for language learning is good. However, the performance of the narrative via the filmstrip and the accompanying narration is a bit too static. The clarity of the performance is also questionable and this might constitute a barrier to easy comprehension. (Mbye Cham)

AUTHOR: CLARK, LEON ED TITLE: THROUGH AFRICAN EYES, VOL. 1: THE PAST: THE ROAD TO INDEPENDENCE Publisher: CITE (Council on International and Public Affairs) Copyright: 1988 Type: Book Collation: 294 pp. Grade: M/H Price: $28.95 ISBN: 0-938960-35-0 Price (pap): $19.95 ISBN (pap): 0-938960-27-X

Subjects: Africa/History

Review: This is a revision of the highly successful first edition published in1970. The focus is on African perspective. It includes reprints of primary resources, many written by Africans, with introductions by Clark for each section of articles and each article. There are four sections on the African past (ancient empires and oral tradition), the European arrival (slavery and trade), the colonial experience (missionaries, trade, colonial government), and the rise of nationalism (political and cultural aspects). A complementary work -- Teaching Strategies $8.95 paper, -- is also available. (Nancy Schmidt)

AUTHOR: CLINTON, SUSAN TITLE: THE WORLD'S GREAT EXPLORERS: HENRY STANLEY AND DAVID LIVINGSTONE Publisher: Childrens Press Copyright: 1990 Type: Book Collation: 128 pp. Grade: M/H Price: $17.95 ISBN: 0-516-03055-8

Subjects: Africa/Biography

Review: As a genre, explorer books are Eurocentric, for exploration as a science and challenge to manhood has been an aspect of Western culture. Thus, although the author generally avoids negative stereotyping terms, such as "native" or "primitive," that frequently characterize explorer books, there is little here that can help us understand the African experience. The author appears to rely primarily on the writings of her protagonists. Because Livingstone was more understanding of African cultures than Stanley, she is able to discuss the political problems created within Sechele's society by his conversion and the extent to which concern about their military security influenced the Makololo alliance with Livingstone. Yet these are minor observations in a story dominated by European heroes, and Stanley's accounts frequently distort. He tended to see Africans as hostile or not hostile--without attempting to comprehend their political realities, and this tone is carried into the book. The author's comment that, "He fought them when he couldn't avoid it" (p. 96) is a naive acceptance of Stanley's view of himself. In the one case where Clinton describes a leader articulate in his resistance to foreign encroachment, she uncritically recounts Stanley's story of the ruse by which Stanley intimidated him. This book deals with the anti- slavery/trade/exploration/imperialism nexus better than most juvenile books. Yet the interconnection doesn't become real, perhaps because too little space is given to the evangelical roots of abolitionism in Great Britain. The author's organization of the stories of the two men is effective. While the book is filled with interesting illustrations, many from the explorers' books, there is no discussion of the likely accuracy of the images presented. The single map is not clearly reproduced or adequately explained. (Loretta Kreider Andrews)

TITLE: COTE D'IVOIRE IN PICTURES Publisher: Lerner Copyright: 1988 Type: Book Collation: 64 pp. Grade: E/M/H Price: $9.95 ISBN: 0-8225-1828-7

Subjects: Ivory Coast/West Africa

Review: This is an even handed and fair historical and geographical text about a single West African country. The chapter on the people, and on cultural factors, is sympathetically presented. Although the swift deterioration which has taken place in the Cote d'Ivoire since the book was published has undercut the text's generally positive assessment of the Cote d'Ivoire's economic outlook, the book provides an accurate portrayal of that country's post-independence economic policies. (Robert Browne)

AUTHOR: CRANE, LOUISE TITLE: AFRICAN NAMES: PEOPLE AND PLACES Publisher: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - Center for African Studies Copyright: 1982 Type: Curriculum Guide Collation: 105 pp. Grade: T

Price (pap): $13.00

Subjects: Personal Names - Study and teaching/Africa

Review: This teaching manual provides a wealth of information on African names. Part I gives background information on personal and place names. Naming ceremonies are described as are the numerous ways African children receive their names. The section on place names gives historical background, describes changes made during colonial rule and efforts by Africans to reverse these changes after independence. Part III provides numerous activities teachers can use in the classroom. Part III also includes a pronunciation guide, a list of African countries and important places in African countries. All the activities are reproducible, a real plus. (Brenda Randolph)

AUTHOR: CROFTS, MARYLEE TITLE: TANZANIA IN PICTURES Publisher: Lerner Copyright: 1988 Type: Book Collation: 64 pp. Grade: E/M Price: $9.95 ISBN: 0-8225-1838-4

Subjects: Tanzania/East Africa

Review: This text is well presented with excellent pictures, maps, charts, etc. The colors are very appealing. The geographical and historical information is appropriate and presented with a positive view. I commend the preparer for an extensive coverage of Tanzania geographically. Though the material presented seems positive, there is a limited presentation of life in Tanzania today. In most African countries, especially cities, dress varies. Children learning about Africa need to understand this. Also emphasis should be given to the strong feeling of "Ujamaa" that prevails through Tanzania and goes across ethnic groups; there is some mention but it is inadequate. In summary, the text is adequate and I recommend it for students; however, it must be supplemented to give a thorough and adequate view of urban and rural life. The strongest features are the color and sharpness of the pictures. (Elvira Williams)

AUTHOR: CROWDER, MICHAEL TITLE: WEST AFRICA: AN INTRODUCTION TO ITS HISTORY Publisher: Longman Copyright: 1977 Type: Book Collation: 214 pp. Grade: M/H

Price (pap): $8.95 ISBN (pap): 0-582-60003-0

Subjects: West Africa/History

Review: The late Michael Crowder's introduction to West African history is fundamentally sound. It was written for the high school student and, as such, provides a very informative background on the region. The author's use of photographs, maps, and other illustrations greatly aids the student in formulating a composite picture of the subject matter. The substance of the textbook is straightforward and uncomplicated. The reader is treated to an overview of important developments, with discussion of significant leaders and themes. With regard to Islamic reform movements, the author's emphasis of Usman dan Fodio's efforts in Nigeria and relative disinterest in similar developments in 18th century Senegambia is regrettable, but it reflects the state of the literature at the time of the book's publication. Crowder's inclusion of the theme of resistance to the European conquest reflects his earlier research on the matter. However, the distinction between French "direct" and British "indirect" rule is problematic. Notwithstanding these observations, the book is generally reliable and enjoyable. (Michael Gomez)

AUTHOR: DALY, NIKI TITLE: NOT SO FAST, SONGOLOLO Publisher: Macmillan Copyright: 1985 Type: Book Collation: 30 pp. Grade: P Price: $13.95 ISBN: 0 696 50367 9 Price (pap): $3.50 ISBN (pap): 4 050715 9

Subjects: Fiction/South Africa

Review: Songololo is the Zulu word for millipede. The term is affectionately applied to Shepard by his granny. Granny is nervous about going into the city to shop so she takes little Shepard along to help her. Through Shepard and Granny's eyes we see the city. The illustrations depict patterns of segregation in apartheid South Africa but no direct comments are made about apartheid. This is a warm satisfying story with an emphasis on family and the interdependent relationship between old and young. Adults can explore the question of apartheid by discussing the illustrations. (Brenda Randolph)

AUTHOR: DAMALI, NIA TITLE: GOLDEN NAMES FOR AN AFRICAN PEOPLE Publisher: Blackwood Press Copyright: 1986 Type: Book Collation: 72 pp. Grade: E/M/H

Price (pap): $6.95 ISBN (pap): 0-945708-01-7

Subjects: Personal Names/Africa

Review: The foreword to this volume, by Professor Asa Hilliard, is an excellent introduction. Hilliard describes the history of name-giving by African people (especially African Americans) and the social dimensions involved in the selection of a name. The book is broadly divided into 2 parts -- "African Names" and "Arabic Names." This has the unfortunate consequence of reinforcing the notion that Arabic-speaking Africa is somehow separate from the rest of Africa. However, the African section does include some Arabic names; these are identified as "Arabic, N. Africa." Common personal names predominate in both sections but the Arabic section also includes names associated with Allah and Muhammad. Included here are "Ninety Nine Names of Allah," "Names of Prophet Muhammad," "Biblical Names and Arabic Equivalents," "Names of the Wives of Prophet Muhammad," and "Names of the Daughters of Prophet Muhammad." Approximately 1,320 names are given. Names in both sections are divided by gender. Gender names in the African section are arranged alphabetically and by ethnic group. Those in the Arabic section are simply arranged alphabetically. Meanings are given for most names. Phonetic pronunciations are given for the names in the African section. In the Arabic section, the names are written in Arabic and Roman characters. Phonetic pronunciations are not given on each page but the Arabic section is preceded by a "Transliteration of Arabic Names." Persons without knowledge of Arabic or unskilled in linguistics may need further help with pronunciations. (Brenda Randolph)

AUTHOR: DANAHER, KEVIN TITLE: BEYOND SAFARIS: A GUIDE TO BUILDING PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE TIES WITH AFRICA Publisher: Africa World Press Copyright: 1991 Type: Book Collation: 193 pp. Grade: H Price: $39.95 ISBN: 0- 86543-204-X Price (pap): $12.95 ISBN (pap): 0-86543-205-8

Subjects: Africa/Development/Volunteer workers

Review: Kevin Danaher is an activist regarding United States-African relations and policies. In 1988, he published South Africa: A New U.S. Policy for the 1990s through Food First Books in San Francisco. Beyond Safaris is aimed at the American who cannot afford one of Fielding's safaris or is interested in approaching Africa with different intentions. His first chapter -- Why Care About Africa? -- sets a pragmatic and humanistic tone for the remainder of the book. Other chapter titles include: Aid: From Charity to Solidarity; Studying and Volunteering in Africa; Partners with People; Travel with a Purpose; Fair Trade; Confronting Africa's Environment Crisis; and Corporate and Governmental Accountability. (Robert Hamilton)

AUTHOR: DE SAUZA, JAMES TITLE: BROTHER ANANSI AND THE CATTLE RANCH Publisher: Childrens Press Copyright: 1989 Type: Book Collation: 32 pp. Grade: P Price: $12.95 ISBN: 0-89239-0441

Subjects: Folklore/Central America/Nicaragua/Diaspora/Anansi

Review: Originally told in West Africa, Anansi stories traveled via enslaved Africans across the Atlantic to the Americas. This story about Anansi comes from the Atlantic coastal area of Nicaragua. The Central American environment and culture are reflected in the animal characters, terrain, the activities in which the characters engage and the bilingual text written in English and Spanish. Brother Tiger, the object of Anansi's tricks, is not a true tiger but an ocelot, a leopard cat that is indigenous to the Americas. Cattle, ranches, and palm trees -- all typical of Nicaragua -- are woven into the tale. Also, as often seen in tales from the Americas, Anansi appears in human rather than spider form. The story begins with Brother Tiger winning the local lottery. Brother Anansi quickly seizes this opportunity to swindle his friend. He persuades Brother Tiger to use his winnings to go into cattle ranching. Brother Tiger likes the idea. He tells Anansi: "We could sell meat, milk and cheese. We could ship to the United States and South America. We could make big business." Brother Anansi and Brother Tiger become partners but, of course, Brother Anansi ends up with all of Brother Tiger's cattle. In contrast to most Anansi tales, this one ends without a moral. Despite this rather unusual ending, the story can be used in several ways. To help primary children understand the concept of the Africa diaspora, children can follow the path of Anansi from West Africa across the Atlantic to the Caribbean and Central America. Modern aspects of the story (e.g. the lottery) can be used to illustrate the dynamic aspect of Anansi stories which are constantly evolving and adapting to different times and places. Teachers can also use the story to help students explore the economic ties between Nicaragua and its neighbors in South and North America. Finally, since the story ends with Anansi escaping punishment for wrong doing, teachers can instruct students to write a sequel in which Anansi gets what he deserves. (Brenda Randolph)

AUTHOR: DENENBERG, BARRY TITLE: NELSON MANDELA: NO EASY WALK TO FREEDOM Publisher: Scholastic Copyright: 1991 Type: Book Collation: 164 pp. Grade: M/H Price: $12.95 ISBN: 0-590-44163-9 Price (pap): $2.95

Subjects: South Africa/Biography/Nelson Mandela/Southern Africa

Review: This biography of Nelson Mandela is divided into five parts. Part I takes a brief look at Mandela's early life; Part II reviews South African history; Part III, the bulk of the book, summarizes the resistance movement to the 1980s, Part IV describes South Africa's lengthy state of emergency; and Part V focuses on Mandela's release. Mandela's life is adequately handled. His struggles, sacrifices and accomplishments are satisfactorily described albeit in a rather dry fashion. The author handles contemporary South African history (1948 to the present) quite well. He does a particularly good job of summarizing the resistance movement and discussing the various groups and philosophies. He avoids common pitfalls (e.g. red-baiting, "tribalism" ) and delivers hard hitting commentary on South Africa's oppressive policies. There are problems. No attention is given to women's role in the resistance movement (except Winnie Mandela, of course). Also, the role Western corporations and governments played in supporting apartheid is ignored. Attention is focused instead on recent divestment campaigns and the sanctions legislation the U.S. belatedly imposed. Among the most serious flaws is the author's treatment of South African history. The focus here is on Europeans in Africa. Africans are introduced only as their actions affect whites. Incredibly the first people to suffer European exploitation and dispossession, the Khoisan, are never mentioned. Asians enslaved by the Dutch are also overlooked. Language poses another problem. Africans object to terms such as "native," "primitive," and "tribal." In sum, the book's strongest feature is the coverage of resistance history since 1948. Indeed the book is as much a history of the contemporary resistance movement as it is a biography of Mandela's life. Teachers will want to supplement the historical treatment with works that are accurate and fair. Good choices are A New History of Southern Africa by Neil Parsons and Kevin Shillington's A History of Southern Africa. (Brenda Randolph)

AUTHOR: DIAMOND, ARTHUR TITLE: THE IMPORTANCE OF ANWAR SADAT Publisher: Lucent Books Copyright: 1994 Type: Book Collation: 111 pp. Grade: M/H

ISBN: 1 56006 020 4

Place Of Publication: San Diego Subjects: Anwar Sadat/Biography/Egypt/North Africa

Review: This biography of Sadat appears in The Importance of series which aims to place influential persons in historical perspective, using abundant quotations from primary and secondary sources. Sadat is presented as a bold, courageous peacemaker and a controversial figure because of his peace initiatives with Israel. His life is traced from his childhood to his assassination in 7 chapters. Six of the chapters focus on his political activities from 1939 to 1981 in considerable detail. His successes and failures are covered, as are changes in his thinking and strategies, as well as continuity with his rural upbringing. Sadat's life is discussed in the context of both Egyptian nationalism and Middle Eastern/Arab relations. A time line summarizes the important dates in Sadat's life, and small maps situate Egypt geographically, in 1947 at the time of the Israel-Arab partition, and in the Middle East after the 1967 war. Numerous black and white photographs with explanatory captions are integrated with the text. There are footnotes for the numerous direct quotations and the list of works for further reading is annotated. The biography shows the diversity and broad scope of Sadat' activities. Overall it appears to be balanced. Since it includes a lot of factual information in less than 100 pages, it is most appropriate for advanced readers. (Nancy J. Schmidt)

AUTHOR: DOSTERT, PIERRE TITLE: AFRICA 1991 Publisher: Stryker-Post Copyright: 1990 Type: Book Collation: 207 pp. Grade: M/H Price: o.p.

Subjects: Africa

Review: Like previous editions of this annual publication, this volume is full of errors, distortions, and flawed language. Dostert uses anachronistic racial categories, dated historical approaches, and offensive terms such as "native" and "Bushmen." Most objectionable are his superior, ethnocentric, and racist attitudes towards Africans. He displays unabashed disdain for Africans and their abilities, repeatedly describing them as childlike. His introductory statement sets the tone for the entire work: "All too many African nations... have come to resemble hulking undereducated teenagers who have done little or no work, and then pout when their allowances in the form of foreign aid are reduced or eliminated." (v) He characterizes Africans as generally lacking "the technical or social wisdom" (vii) to tackle important problems. He singles Kenyan men out for special condemnation: "...women and children of age do the vast majority of the work in the fields. Men lead a rather leisurely existence debating and quarreling over little or nothing most of the day." (p. 154) Dostert's Cold War approach to the study of Africa is another serious problem. A staunch anti-communist, Dostert indoctrinates rather than informs. African perspectives are frequently ignored and the facts often distorted to fit Dostert's world view. For example, despite considerable evidence to the contrary, he insists on characterizing South Africa's African National Congress (ANC) as "communist." He views "communism," rather than apartheid, as the primary reason for the increasingly repressive tactics of the South African government. He describes the ANC as having adopted "an openly communist, Black supremacy emphasis that struck fear in the hearts of most Whites." (p. 199) This view of South African history hardly squares with the facts. It is true that some ANC members belong to South Africa's communist party but most of its members, including Nelson Mandela, do not. Moreover, in its 80 - year - history, the ANC has never adopted a "Black supremacy" policy. Country studies are sorely needed by students. This volume, however, cannot be recommended. Global Studies: Africa , published by Dushkin, is a much more balanced and accurate annual. (Brenda Randolph)

AUTHOR: DREW, EILEEN TITLE: BLUE TAXIS: STORIES ABOUT AFRICA Publisher: Milkweed Editions Copyright: 1989 Type: Book Collation: 155 pp. Grade: YA

Price (pap): $9.95 ISBN (pap): 0-915-94341-7

Subjects: Short Stories/West Africa/Zaire/Central Africa/Literature

Review: Eileen Drew was born in Casablanca, Morocco, in 1957. Her father was a State Department employee and she lived, while growing up, in Lagos, Nigeria; Conakry, Guinea; and Accra, Ghana. From 1979 to 1981, she was a Peace Corps Volunteer librarian and teacher in Nsona Mpangu, Zaire. Nine of Drew's stories are included in this volume, one that provides American perspectives of African village and city life. As Rosellen Brown points out in her Foreword, the book's stories take place mainly outdoors "light- struck, under a wide African sky." But, "Drew is not smitten with a romantic view of the veldt, a desire to paint the kind of sweeping vistas that so bedazzled film audiences in Hollywood's construction of Out of Africa." Instead, Drew writes about ordinary Africans, Europeans, and Americans. Frequently the protagonist is clearly her younger self. The value of this approach, for American students and teachers, is that it includes various expatriate responses to Africa's social/political/economic conditions and pace of life, and Africa's opinions of "outsiders." Volunteer teacher Christina James of New Jersey--referred to as "Miss" in her classroom but "Miss Tomato" privately by her students because of her red hair -- was a puzzle. "Miss's" students, reflecting the respect and courtesy Africans generally reserve for guests and strangers, thought they could help her find a husband by plaiting her hair and encouraging her to eat more yams so that her cheeks and nose would become fuller and more attractive to men. Other Africans, newly impoverished by rising prices and unemployment, are envious of those who leave Europe or America to come to Africa. "Always without worries, without cares, so high in your skyscrapers and airplanes, your homes like botanical gardens," sneers "Cathy's" fellow passenger in a blue-colored taxi in Accra. If Americans harbor stereotyped views of Africans, the reverse is also true. American movies and television programs ("Dallas;" "Dynasty") lead urban Africans to believe that Americans can usually be found in the boardroom, bedroom, or limousine and usually with a drink in hand. Thus American PCVs, missionaries, and tourists in Africa sometimes hear: if you're rich enough to travel to Africa, you're rich! While angry and embarrassed by her African fellow-passenger, Cathy reflects upon the difference between him and the smooth-talking Kwame, who gives tennis lessons to embassy staff but never gives offense. "And I have to respect that man in the taxi," Cathy concludes. "Everything about him was honest, from his wire-rim glasses to his aching hate." Drew's American-in-Africa faces intellectual and emotional issues regarding personal values and what it means to live in someone else's country where the languages, sights, sounds, and smells are different. For some the "culture shock" never ends. Recommended for first-time travelers to Africa, including high school and college students. (Robert Hamilton)

AUTHOR: ECHEWA, T. OBINKARAM TITLE: THE ANCESTOR TREE Publisher: Dutton / Lodestar Copyright: 1994 Type: Book Collation: Unpaged Grade: P Price: $13.99 ISBN: 0 525 67467 5

Place Of Publication: New York Subjects: Nigeria/Fiction/West Africa

Review: The Ancestor Tree is the story of an old man Nna-nna and the children who eagerly come to listen to his wonderful stories every morning. The old man gets sick and he is sad because he has no children and there will therefore be no one to plant an Ancestor Tree in the Forest of the Ancestors when he dies. Only someone who has living children can have an Ancestor Tree planted for them. The children promise to plant an Ancestor Tree for him. After Nna-nna's death the children convince the Village Council to plant an Ancestor Tree for Nna-nna. One of the elders says, "You children have taught us that customs have a beginning, customs can change, and sometimes, customs come to an end. We have decided to end one custom and begin another." Apart from being a good story, The Ancestor Tree provides a corrective to the view of traditions in African societies as static. Here we see tradition evolving as is always the case. The only problem are the disappointing illustrations. They are awkward and lack cultural details.

AUTHOR: EKEH, EFANIM TITLE: HOW TABLES CAME TO UMU MADU: THE FABULOUS HISTORY OF AN UNKNOWN CONTINENT Publisher: Africa World Press Copyright: 1989 Type: Book Collation: 97 pp. Grade: M Price: $19.95 cloth ISBN: 0-86543-127-2 Price (pap): $7.95

Subjects: Africa - Folklore

Review: This modern-day aetiological legend about the allegorical introduction of tables to the village of Umu Madu reinforces the myth of the noble savage with statements such as "the good people of Umu Madu were quite content having their simple little feasts on the ground." The idea that all was well in the humble village before the colonizers (No Skin) brought total discord, jealousy, and chaos also reinforces: Africans as victims; colonizers as the incarnation of evil; and historical events as either all good or all bad. The parable intimates that fighting did not even exist in the village before No Skin came to teach the villagers how to wage war and become mercenaries. This is too simplistic. It does not allow the reader the possibility of viewing both positive and negative aspects of social events. Even though it is lanced by the author as a contemporary fable and its satirical intent clearly evident at certain very comical points, one questions whether the allegorical allusions may be too subtle for a young inexperienced school-age audience. Statements such as "The era of B.T. (Before Tables) was the era of darkness and primitivity ... [we] cannot go back. Tables are here to stay" (p.27), though funny on some level, are not accurate when coupled with the idea that colonization was the first evil and that all was well before that. The level of the children at which this book is geared, middle school-age as the author points out in an afterword, may not be sophisticated enough to appreciate the fine tunings of parody and satire which are literary devices studied at a much higher level. Students already familiar with African history, namely African students themselves may stand much more to gain from this borrowing of folklore forms, than American students who are still struggling to unlearn generations of stereotyped, one-sided information about Africa. (Eren Giray)

AUTHOR: ELLIS, VERONICA FREEMAN TITLE: AFRO-BETS FIRST BOOK ABOUT AFRICA Publisher: Just Us Books Copyright: 1990 Type: Book Collation: 135 pp. Grade: P/E Price: $13.95 ISBN: 0-940975-12-2 Price (pap): $6.95 ISBN (pap): 0-940975-03-3

Subjects: Africa - Description and travel

Review: This overview of Africa for young readers provides brief information on history, geography, wildlife, art, religion, and music. The topics are dealt with in a positive way. The author's objective is clearly to dispel common stereotypes about Africa. Important concepts, histories, and cultures, however, are glossed over or excluded. For example, there is an imbalance in the discussion of ethnic groups. There are nearly a thousand different groups in Africa, yet we learn of only a few. Included in the few are small atypical groups commonly and stereotypically depicted in the West, e.g. the Maasai, Mbuti, and San. The latter two groups are called by the negative Western terms - "Pygmy" and "Bushman." The pronunciation guide is generally good, but the correct phonetic pronunciation of apartheid is "ah-part-hate," not "a-par-thide". Despite these problems and the contrived dialogue, the work is useful. The generally accurate and upbeat treatment of Africa is sorely needed at the elementary level. (Brenda Randolph)

AUTHOR: EVANS, MICAHEL TITLE: SOUTH AFRICA Publisher: Watts/Gloucester Copyright: 1988 Type: Book Collation: 32 pp. Grade: E/M/H Price: $11.90 ISBN: 0 531 17056 X

Subjects: South Africa/ History/Apartheid/Southern Africa

Review: Brevity characterizes this work. Complex issues are reduced to a few paragraphs or worse, a few sentences. Questionable opinions and unsupported statements are frequently offered as if they were valid. The section on history (three paragraphs) is totally Eurocentric. Nothing, it would seem, happened in South Africa until the Dutch arrived. Afrikaners are described as though they were the sole architects of apartheid. The significant role of the British is completely ignored. Conditions under apartheid are accurately summarized but descriptions of efforts to bring about change are not. The violence spawned by apartheid and the Gestapo- like tactics of police and security forces are not explored. Instead attention is focused on tensions within African communities and what the author terms, ANC's "violent campaign." Better treatments are available, see Timeline: South Africa by Harris. For a different view of this book see the review in Our Family, Our Friends, Our World. (Brenda Randolph)

AUTHOR: EVERIX, NANCY TITLE: ETHNIC CELEBRATIONS AROUND THE WORLD: FESTIVALS, HOLIDAYS AND CELEBRATIONS Publisher: Good Apple Copyright: 1991 Type: Curriculum Collation: 160 pp. Grade: T (P/E)

Price (pap): $11.95

Subjects: Holidays/Multicultural Education

Review: Despite its title, European countries are the primary focus of this collection of ethnic celebrations. One Asian country is included, two African (Nigeria and Kenya), two from Central and South America and 10 from Europe. The author includes seven celebrations from Great Britain, six from Germany, nine from Italy yet only two from Kenya and three from Nigeria. Most of the information provided on Kenya and Nigeria is on general topics rather than specific celebrations. Overall the presentations of Africa are stereotypical and ethnocentric. Objectionable terms including"hut" and "tribal" are used repeatedly. Also, there is an inordinate amount of attention devoted to polygamy and "buying" brides. Religion is often misrepresented and distorted. The author's frequent references to "spirits" implies that most Nigerians and Kenya are polytheistic (actually most embrace monotheistic belief systems). The author misleads again when she states that Nigerians "worship" their ancestors. Unimaginative activities -- drumming, mask making, and animal activities -- are suggested for students. The author says that her work stresses similarities among people in the world. But telling American children that "Ibos despise" twins and "the mother is made to suffer for bringing them into the world" hardly promotes cross-cultural understanding and global unity. (Brenda Randolph).

AUTHOR: FAGAN, BRIAN TITLE: JOURNEY FROM EDEN: THE PEOPLING OF OUR WORLD Publisher: Thames and Hudson Copyright: 1990 Type: Book Collation: 256 pp. Grade: YA Price: $22.50 ISBN: 0-500-05057-0

Subjects: Evolution

Review: Fagan has written the kind of book that does justice to the long and interesting story of human history and culture. He explores the original homeland of human ancestors in the savannah of East and Southern Africa. He describes the role of the contemporary Saharan desert -- frequently a savanna itself during the past several million years -- in alternately absorbing and expelling people to its fringes. And, among other interesting chapters and sections of the book, he explains how Homo sapiens ("thinking person") survived in the frigid environment of Europe and Asia during the last Ice Age. Finally he demonstrates how "wise person" (Homo sapiens sapiens) managed to migrate not only to the earth's large land masses, but also to its large and small islands, separated from the mainland in some places by thousands of miles of ocean. The journey from Eden, according to Fagan, is one that has only been relatively recently completed. Fagan ends The Journey from Eden with a reference which may help teachers, as well as students, to explain why it is useful if not necessary to examine the origins, similarity, and diversity of human culture in order to fashion and re-fashion our social and political institutions with social justice in mind: "...'The Journey from Eden,' was perhaps the catalytic development of early human history. From it stemmed not only the brilliant biological and cultural diversity of humankind, but agriculture and animal domestication, village life and urban civilization, and the settlement of the Pacific offshore islands -- the very roots of our own diverse and complex world. It is astounding just how recently we have evolved, and how shallow our genetic roots go back into the past. This very shallowness serves to remind us that we are all products of a recent African twig." Such reminders of our common biological and cultural heritage, of our recent common ancestry, are needed in a world where racism is commonplace and altruism in short supply. (Robert Hamilton)

AUTHOR: FAIRMAN, TONY TITLE: BURY MY BONES BUT KEEP MY WORDS : AFRICAN TALES FOR RETELLING Publisher: Henry Holt Copyright: 1992 Type: Book Collation: 192 pp. Grade: E/M Price: $15.95 ISBN: 0 8050 2333 X

Place Of Publication: New York Subjects: Africa/Folklore

Review: Based on well-known African tales (ten of the thirteen tales found in this book were adapted from already published folktales) and the author's own memories, this book is filled with authentic details of daily life from various parts of Africa. Written in a casual style, the book is easy to understand. The stories are effective in teaching African social values: social behaviors, rewards and punishment. In this spirited retelling, Fairman conveys nicely the idea that in African cultures, storytelling is a participatory activity with no addresser or addressee. In one of the tales, Hare and his Friends for example, Edward, the supposed storyteller, responds to an interruption by saying: "Now listen here, [...], who is telling this story, you or me?" The author enthusiastically and rightly so, encourages the reader "to take them [stories] off the page and give them life." Although he provides valuable information pertaining to the social and physical contexts in which the stories are told, very little information on the tales themselves is provided. Without a glossary, for example, the reader (a future storyteller according to the author) must guess the meaning of many unfamiliar and onomatopoeia. Moreover, many overgeneralizations about the Africans and African cultures reinforce the same stereotypes that the author wants to dispel. Yet, despite these shortcomings, the book provides new insights on storytelling, the storyteller, and African cultures in general. Recommended. (Ndinzi Mazagara)

TITLE: FAMILY ACROSS THE SEA Publisher: South Carolina Educational TV

Type: Videotape

Grade: H Price: $32.45

Subjects: Diaspora/African Americans/Sierra Leone/West Africa

Review: This documentary chronicles the reuniting of Gullah (also known as Geechee or Black Seminole) families from South Carolina and off-shore islands with distant family members left behind 250 years ago in Sierra Leone. The film begins with the initial touchdown in Freetown and the enthusiastic welcome organized by the government of Sierra Leone. During their visit to Sierra Leone, the Gullah recall memories of grandparents and great-grandparents speaking Gullah and practicing craft, food, and agricultural traditions imported from the Rice Coast of Africa. They also visit, during a poignant moment of the trip, the Bunce island remains of the place where slaves were kept prior to their departure for the Americas. This moving and educational film will be a worthwhile addition to your school system's media library. The film has received several awards and honors, including: Global Africa Film and Video Festival; National Education Film and Video Festival (Silver Apple Award, "Anthropology"); South Carolina Associated Press Broadcasting Award (First Place "Documentary"); and Houston International Film and Video Festival Award (Gold Award). (Robert Hamilton)

AUTHOR: FARMER, NANCY TITLE: DO YOU KNOW ME Publisher: Orchard Books Copyright: 1993 Type: Book Collation: 104 pp. Grade: M/H Price: $15.95 ISBN: 0 531 05474 8

Place Of Publication: New York Subjects: Mozambique/Fiction

Review: This humorous story about the heroine's uncle who comes from rural Mozambique to join her family in Harare, Zimbabwe, reflects the author's interest in plants and insects (she spent 17 years working on biology projects in Mozambique and Zimbabwe). The story focuses on the uncle's attempts to adjust to urban life and teach his niece rural skills he has mastered, and on the heroine's relationships with her uncle, family, and rich, elite relatives. Some of the skills Uncle Zika tries to teach Tapiwa, the heroine, include hunting termites and mice, making a boar trap, catching bees, smoking fish, weaving baskets, and panning for gold. Each attempt at learning skills results in a humorous failure, as do the uncle's attempts to find paid employment. The uncle imparts knowledge to his niece, who prefers his company to being in school, and is declared a "national treasure" by a doctor at the Medical Research Center because he knows so much. Other humorous incidents take place at the heroine's school, a store where she attempts to buy cigarettes for her uncle, a hospital where her mother is taken after being "bewitched", and on a picnic with her wealthy relatives. There is a glossary of Shona words and a pronunciation guide for personal and place names. The black and white drawings, some of which include people with stereotyped faces, complement the text. This is an enjoyable story which could make some contribution to appreciating the skills of rural people in Southern Africa. However, it also could reinforce stereotypes about the inability of rural people to change and the wasteful behavior of urban elites. (Nancy J. Schmidt)

Review 2: After walking for two weeks from Mozambique to Zimbabwe, Uncle Zeka comes to live with nine-year-old Tapiwa's middle-class family in Harare, Zimbabwe. Tapiwa adores her new-found uncle, who regales her with stories of prospecting for gold in his village and living (and escaping) by his wits and his knowledge of nature. Unfortunately, his activities in his new home lead to mishaps, as he eats poisoned caterpillars, sets the grass on fire in Harare, while looking for mice, unleashes a swarm of bees onto himself and Tapiwa, and drives a Mercedes down the shaft of an abandoned gold mine. His exploits amuse and sometimes embarrass Tapiwa, but his self- confidence and devotion to her help her to stand up for herself at school, where she is rejected by her upper-class schoolmates. Other family members also learn humility and understanding as they come to terms with their relative from the village.`The author uses her southern African setting to explore universal themes. Differences between country and city, between traditional and modern ways, and among the social classes are central to this novel. Uncle Zeka is a variation of the trickster hero who appears frequently in the folklore of southern Africa. Humor is used effectively, with the illustrations reinforcing the story at key points. The novel is not without flaws, however, the most critical being the author's reliance upon caricatures rather than full characterizations. Tapiwa's Aunt Rudo, the wife of a government minister, is the most striking example; there is nothing redeeming in this selfish, physically unattractive villain who stuffs herself at the banquet of the elite War on Hunger Ladies Club. Her husband, a chronic speechmaker, is no more sympathetic, nor are any of Tapiwa's wealthy schoolmates. The too-neat ending defies logic; after the mishaps with the caterpillars and the bees, few will believe that Uncle Teka gets a job because of his knowledge of nature (and that his new employer considers him a "national treasure"). Readers at the lower end of the book's age range will probably enjoy Uncle Teka and Tapiwa's struggle against the "sophisticated" buffoons in their lives, but older readers will want a more complex treatment. (Lyn Miller-Lachmann)

AUTHOR: FORSON, ANDREW TITLE: BENIN SOURCE PACK FOR KEY STAGE 2 Publisher: Northamptonshire Black History Group Copyright: 1992 Type: Curriculum guide Collation: Teacher's guide, 5 booklets Grade: E/M

Price (pap): Pound16.95 ISBN (pap): 1 873886 04 7 Place Of Publication: Wellingborough Addresss: c/o Wellingborough REC, Wellingborough NN8 1HT, England Subjects: Benin Kingdom/Nigeria - Study and teaching/History/West Africa

Review: Excellent in design, this British curriculum guide describes life in the old kingdom of Benin and invites students to draw comparisons between Benin and England. The guide makes good use of primary source material, incorporates recent scholarly findings (including research from Nigerian scholars), describes the role of women, and notes the value of oral history. On the whole, the guide is accurate and balanced. However, the statement that the concept of divine kingship is "notably absent from Edo writings" is misleading. While absent in the written evidence, the concept is reinforced in other ways, particularly in the celebration of the annual Igue festival. Also one wonders why the authors raised the issues of human sacrifice in Benin and witch killing in the West yet refused to go forward with a comparison of these practices. If one is not prepared to go forward with the discussion, perhaps it is best not to raise the issues at all. Most importantly, one wishes for better photographs and more complete descriptions of certain art pieces. The inferior xerox copies do not do justice to luxuorius environment in the area or to the outstanding art of Benin. Moreover, some of the captions under the photographs are insufficient. A fuller description of the meaning of certain symbols (e.g. the leopard) would be helpful. Despite these criticisms, one will want to acquire this guide. Although written for British schools, the clear directions will make it useful for Americans teaching about Nigeria. Highly recommended. (Brenda Randolph)

AUTHOR: FRADIN, DENNIS BRINDELL TITLE: ETHIOPIA Publisher: Childrens Press Copyright: 1988 Type: Book Collation: 120 pp. Grade: M/H Price: $26.60 ISBN: 0 516 02706 9

Subjects: Ethiopia/East Africa

Review: A part of the Enchantment of the World series, Ethiopia contains 120 pages of readable information, approximately the same number of four- color and black-and-white photographs, a full-page map of Africa and two of the Horn region, plus appended sections containing biographical information about important Ethiopian historical figures, general information, important dates, and an index. Useful as an introductory reader on Ethiopia for secondary school students, the book includes information about geography, climate, resources, Ethiopia's cities, government, rural and urban occupations, culture, and an entertaining chapter on Ethiopian folktales. However, information about "The Eritrean Question" is limited to one brief paragraph followed by more important information about the Eritrean Liberation Front, the "movement...to free Tigray Province," and the Oromo Liberation Front in a section entitled "Revolution." But, even this information stops in the mid-1970s, puzzling readers who anticipated, given the year of publication, another decade more of information. Still, Fradin handles political issues in a balanced way, reporting with equal diligence the development goals and shortcomings of Emperor Haile Selassie, and the increase in literacy under Mengistu Haile Mariam even as he executed and imprisoned thousands of Ethiopians and allowed thousands of others to die of starvation (much as his predecessor had done). (Robert Hamilton)

AUTHOR: GEORGES, D. V. TITLE: AFRICA: A NEW TRUE BOOK Publisher: Childrens Press Copyright: 1986 Type: Book Collation: 48 pp. Grade: P Price: $11.27 ISBN: 0-516-01287-8

Subjects: Africa - Description and travel

Review: This overly simplistic survey of Africa provides little information on the continent. Major regions - which encompass vast areas - are allotted only a few pages. East Africa, for example, is covered in slightly more than four pages. One learns nothing about the people of East Africa. Mountains, lakes, animals, and white missionaries are the only topics covered. Pejorative terms and stereotypical depictions of Africa are found in the sections on equatorial and southern Africa. The latter section contains nothing on apartheid. (Brenda Randolph)

AUTHOR: GOODSMITH, LAUREN TITLE: THE CHILDREN OF THE MAURITANIA : DAYS IN THE DESERT AND BY THE RIVER SHORE Publisher: Carolrhoda Copyright: 1993 Type: Book Collation: 56 pp. Grade: P/E Price: $19.95 ISBN: 0 87614 759 7

Place Of Publication: Minneapolis Subjects: West Africa/Mauritania

Review: This is primarily a book of color photographs, with brief captions, and related text, which compares the daily activities of two children, a Moor girl who lives in the desert in northern Mauritania, and a Halpoular boy who lives in a village in the south. The color photographs of the two children and their surroundings are fully integrated with the text which describes, but does not evaluate, the children's lives. A brief introduction provides background on history and ethnic groups, while a series of questions and answers at the end of the volume provides information on the size, population, languages, currency, flag and capital of Mauritania. Two maps locate Mauritania in Africa and show the regions of Mauritania. The topics covered include the daily round of activities for the children, schooling and informal education, housing, recreation and special events, such as hospitality for guests and a visit to Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania. Local terms are defined in the text; a pronunciation guide is provided at the end of the volume. This is a successful presentation of diversity within an African country, which is rarely the subject of children's books, in a manner that is interesting and visually appealing to children. Because there are no subtitles in the text, which weaves back and forth between the lives of the two children, there is the possibility that some readers will be confused. (Nancy Schmidt)

AUTHOR: GORDON, SHEILA TITLE: WAITING FOR THE RAIN Publisher: Orchard Copyright: 1987 Type: Book Collation: 214 pp. Grade: M/H Price: $12.99 ISBN: 0 531 05726 7 Price (pap): $3.50 ISBN (pap): 0 553 27911 4

Subjects: South Africa/Fiction/Apartheid

Review: This powerful novel describes the friendship between two boys, one an Afrikaner, the other a black South African. Unlike Go Well, Stay Well which provided a look at South Africa through the eyes of whites, this novel provides both white and black perspectives. The first half of the novel is extremely powerful. The author does an excellent job of depicting the realities of each boy's life and the gross disparities between black and white life in South Africa. The second half is rather didactic. There are other problems. On the whole, readers learn more Afrikaner history than African history and there is some distortion of the facts. For example, the author makes it sound as though the 19th century wars between the Afrikaner settlers and Africans in the interior were the result of simple misunderstandings. It is true that some whites settled on African land in the mistaken belief that the land was unoccupied. However, many other whites were well aware that the land belonged to Africans or that the land grants extended to them by Africans were usufructory in nature. Another difficulty is the author's neglect of the British role in South African history. It was the British Imperial government rather than the Afrikaners who ultimately defeated the more powerful African states. Moreover, it was the British who were responsible for establishing the massive reserve system that became the blueprint for apartheid. The author ignores these facts and falls into the common pattern of characterizing the British as liberals. Perhaps the novel's greatest weakness is the author's failure to include information that explains why apartheid has survived for so long. No mention is made of Western, Japanese, and Israeli support of South Africa. Despite these flaws, the book is recommended. It succeeds in areas where novels such as Go Well, Stay Well and Beyond Safe Boundaries fail. (Brenda Randolph)

AUTHOR: GOSS, LINDA COPELAND TITLE: EGYPTIAN GODS AND GODDESSES OF THE ENNEAD Publisher: Maya Publications Copyright: 1992 Type: Book Collation: 23 pp. Grade: E

Price (pap): $10.00

Place Of Publication: Norfolk Subjects: Egypt/Religion/North Africa

Review: A god-by-god description of the ten major gods of the Heliopolitan Ennead (a word that means "nine gods," but which was often expanded by the Egyptians themselves). It includes their descriptions and retellings of the myths connected with them. This is a very simple presentation of the major Egyptian gods, illustrated by drawings (perhaps done by one of the author's students?). It represents the fruits of considerable research, although the author has apparently taken stories from less-thoroughly-researched secondary sources as well as primary sources. (At least I presume this is the explanation for the occurrence of stories I have never heard of.) The transliterated names most probably come from the work of E. A. Wallis Budge, whose work on religion and language is very outdated, but is unfortunately widely distributed (frequently without notation of its original copyright date) and is often used by non-professionals. The retellings of stories based on Plutarch's "Concerning Isis and Osiris," "Isis and the Secret Name of Re," and the "Contest of Horus and Seth" in particular, reflect the author's close (and unusual) fidelity to her sources. The few inaccuracies are doubtless the result of her confusion (there are numerous contradictions to be found in both primary and secondary sources) and her fidelity to secondary authors who were not as careful as she seems to be. I found numerous small errors in the text, which I have noted by page number below. I have also cited the stories and incidents of which I am unaware, and which may have been added by secondary sources that the author relied upon. (ii) The creator god is usually called Re-Atum (Re = Ra). "Atum-Ra" is probably a confusion with "Amun-Re" the dynastic god of the new kingdom. (1) Creation by speech is generally associated with the myth in which Ptah was the creator. (3) The name of Re's day bark is not "Matet" but "Mandjet," which means "the place of safety." Also, it is usually Seth (= Set) who battles the serpent Apep for Re, not Re himself who fights, except one instance I can think of where he is shown as a rabbit-eared tom-cat. The bit about Re travelling too close to earth and thereby causing the summer heat sounds like an embellishment, as do the explanations for storms and eclipses. (5) "Shu" means "empty," not "he who holds up." Atlas (not Alas) holds up the earth, not the sky, in Greek mythology. Tefnut is never shown supporting the sky, nor have I ever heard of her tears being the seeds of incense plants. (7) The tears of Geb filling the oceans and seas are mentioned by Plutarch, but it is not said that they result from his separation from Nut. The entire story of Geb and the uraeus serpent recorded here is unknown to me, but surely his kingdom was divided between Osiris and Seth, not Horus and Seth. (9) Isis and Nephthys were born on the fourth and fifth, not the fifth and sixth, days. I don't think there is any evidence that the Egyptians believed the sky (Nut) descended to be with her husband the earth (Geb) at night. (14) Isis is never said in the story of Isis and the Secret Name to be living apart from the other gods. (16) Seth's loss of his leg is unfamiliar to me. (Normally he loses his testicles, but that is perhaps a bit graphic for this grade level.) As mentioned above, it is normally Seth who defends Re's sun boat from Apep. I know of no story in which this offends Re. Seth is invariably depicted in Egyptian art with the head of a (probably) mythical animal, though the Greeks said red-haired people were associated with him. (18) Nephthys was not the "goddess of Death" any more than Isis was; both helped in rebirth. (20) I know of no story where Horus cut off the head of Seth (he did cut of the head of Isis, however). (21) Isis's trick in getting Seth to admit that Horus was the rightful heir of Osiris was not the final contest between Horus and Seth; the contest continued for some time. (Ann Macy Roth 6/95)