Remembering Africa

This collection of essays is concerned less with the representation of Africa than with the memory of the continent.

Remembering Africa is a magical conjuring of the continent of old through the eyes of 33 explorers, adventurers, rogues, raconteurs, literary giants, celebrated scientists, and historical figures, invited to the campfire of memories by best-selling author and photographer Robert Vavra. A dazzling display of 160 images accompany this 624-page archive of fireside chats among those whose lives were molded by their African experiences, and whose intimate recollections forever enshrine captivating details of days long past.

"This is the first comprehensive study of contemporary German literature's intense engagement with German colonialism and with Germany's wider involvement in European colonialism. Building on the author's decade of research and publication in the field, the book discusses some fifty novels by German, Swiss, and Austrian writers, among them Hans Christoph Buch, Alex Capus, Christof Hamann, Lukas Hartmann, Ilona Maria Hilliges, Giselher W. Hoffmann, Dieter Kühn, Hermann Schulz, Gerhard Seyfried, Thomas von Steinaecker, Uwe Timm, Ilija Trojanow, and Stephan Wackwitz. Drawing on international postcolonial theory, the German tradition of cross-cultural literary studies, and on memory studies, the book brings the hitherto neglected German case to the international debate in postcolonial literary studies"--Publisher website, July 5, 2013.

After a 30-year career in New Mexico, it was time for a change, but what to do next? That was the dilemma. Jo was seeking something unknown and unnamed until she found her way to Africa, a place where she could live out her dream of adventure and travel. Remembering Africa: Moments in Time is the author's memoir of the two years she lived in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, while teaching at an International School with students and teachers from many different countries. Through her personal stories, she portrays both the humor and struggle of daily life in Dar and working at the International School there. She provides a window for the reader to share her travel adventures to the exotic island of Zanzibar, the Seychelles, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Namibia, and safari adventures into the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, etc. Jo was enchanted with the land and people of this amazing continent, and she recorded events from those memorable years in a journal. When she returned to the states, the memories of her life in Africa lingered and begged to be shared. Remembering Africa had to be written. The poem "Moments in Time", written by Jo, was inspired by her experiences while living and working in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Remembering Africa and its Diasporas is a collection of essays concerned with the construction of memories and public histories. It also explores the various dynamics that have shaped the way in which Africa and its diasporas have been viewed and chronicled outside of academia. The chapters focus on how public perception are used both within Africa and within numerous African diasporas. The essays are written by a broad range of authors from around the globe and discuss diasporas in Latin and North America, as well as the Caribbean.

The First World War was a widespread conflagration in world history, which, despite its European origins, had enormous effects throughout the world. Fettered to European politics and diplomacy through colonialism, Africa could not claim a position of neutrality, meaning that it mobilised human and natural resources to support the imperial war effort. Fighting both within and outside Africa, colonised Africans who were compelled or coaxed by the colonial regimes of the warring European countries fought Europeans and Africans too. The soldiers fought with great dedication and contributed significantly to successes attained by the belligerent European colonialists. Similarly, African non-combatants, like carriers, brought zeal and enthusiasm to difficult wartime tasks. The impact of the war on Africa was immense with far-reaching consequences in specific colonies, and touched the lives of all Africans under colonial rule. Although the continent’s connections to the war were immense and diverse, these experiences are not widely known among scholars and the general public. This is because, over the years, most studies and commemorative events of the war have centred on the European theatre of the war and its outcomes. This book brings together interesting essays written by scholars of African history, society, and military about African experiences of the war. It complements and problematises some key themes on Africa and the First World War, and offers a stimulating historiographical excursion, providing possibilities for reconsidering normative conclusions on the war. The volume will be of interest to general readers, as well as students and researchers in different areas of scholarship, including African history, war studies, postcolonial studies, cultural studies, labour history, and the history of memory, among others.

- Remembering African Wild Dogs is the stunning sixth book in the Remembering Wildlife charity series - The aim of the creators is to make the most beautiful photographic book ever seen on a species and to use that to raise awareness of the plight facing that animal and also funds to protect it - Remembering African Wild Dogs is full of images generously donated by many of the world's top wildlife photographers - All profits from the sale of this book will be donated to projects working to protect wild dogs in Africa - over $1 million USD has been raised by the series so farRemembering African Wild Dogs is the sixth book in the Remembering Wildlife fundraising series, which has so far raised more than USD $1 million for conservation. The aim of the creators is to make the most beautiful book ever seen on a species and use that to raise awareness of the plight facing that animal and funds to protect it. Each book is full of images generously donated by many of the world's top wildlife photographers and also gives an overview of the species, its distribution and the challenges it faces. All profits from the sale of this book will be donated to projects working to protect wild dogs in Africa.

Across Africa, funerals and events remembering the dead have become larger and even more numerous over the years. Whereas in the West death is normally a private and family affair, in Africa funerals are often the central life cycle event, unparalleled in cost and importance, for which families harness vast amounts of resources to host lavish events for multitudes of people with ramifications well beyond the event. Though officials may try to regulate them, the popularity of these events often makes such efforts fruitless, and the elites themselves spend tremendously on funerals. This volume brings together scholars who have conducted research on funerary events across sub-Saharan Africa. The contributions offer an in-depth understanding of the broad changes and underlying causes in African societies over the years, such as changes in religious beliefs, social structure, urbanization, and technological changes and health.