Category: Africa

(graphic novel) book review: Aya, by Marguerite Abouet & Clément Oubrerie

David Evans1 Comment

life in Ivory Coast for an adolescent girl in the 70s was kind of like life in lots of places – an enjoyable little tale

Abouet emigrated from Ivory Coast many years ago, and this fictional narrative about three adolescent girls and their struggles to grow up and find their romantic footing draws on her memories. It takes place in Ivory Coast in 1978, when the country was really blooming economically (before many sad years ahead – there is a nice foreword that places the graphic novel in the broader context of Ivorian history).

The novel does an excellent job of teaching something about life in Africa without that being the goal: these are girls, with mostly the same concerns that girls probably have around the world, with some contextual constraints that affect their decisions, desires, and incentives.

I found it a light, quick escape with a little something more (the context). It took a total of an hour or so to read.  There is now a sequel entitled Aya of Yop City.  Thanks to Helge Dascher for the good translation (hidden on the copyright page: shame on you publishers!).

Note on content: Sex is implied, teen pregnancy is dealt with, and sexism is observed.

development in dangerous places: more military intervention?

David EvansLeave a comment

Given my own (past, all in the past) propensity to find danger in developing places, I was drawn to this Boston Review Forum on Development in Dangerous Places, in which

I completely recommend it all, and especially Nancy Birdsall’s comments.

schweitzer’s mercy towards mosquitos

David Evans2 Comments

When Schweitzer escorted Adlai Stevenson, a former governor of Illinois and presidential candidate, on a tour of the hospital grounds at Lambaréné in Gabon, Stevenson noticed a large mosquito alighting on the good doctor’s arm and promptly swatted it.  “You shouldn’t have done that,” the doctor said sharply.  “That was my mosquito.  Besides, it wasn’t necessary to call out the Sixth Fleet to deal with him.”

from Yi-Fu Tuan’s Human Goodness, p56

the non-consensus on Moyo’s new book Dead Aid

David Evans6 Comments

The Complete Review – which is the Rotten Tomatoes for lucky books – brings together snippets of major reviews on Dambisa Moyo’s critique of current foreign aid, Dead Aid, together with links to the reviews. 

I get very tired of overstaters.  So the Economist review turned me off:

“Dead Aid does not move the debate along much. Yes, she has joined the chorus of disapproval — and that in itself might surprise a few diehards who think that Africans should just be grateful for the aid and shut up. But her arguments are scarcely original and her plodding prose makes her the least stylish of the critics. Moreover, she overstates her case, almost to the point of caricature.”

my dubious popularity among African students

David Evans2 Comments

In March of 2008, I published a short review of the Senegalese classic novel, The Beggars’ Strike, by Aminata Sow Fall.  A number of the comments on that post have suggested that the book is assigned reading somewhere:

  • i am a student i realy realy enjoy the play (feb 2009)
  • Hi, please i need urgent help on my project topic IRONY OF FATE IN AMINATA SOWE FALL “BEGGAR’S STRIKE”. Will be very happy if anyone can help me with relevant materials to aid me in writing my final year project. Thanks alot!!!!!!!!. (may 2009)
  • please i urgently need help on writing on discussing the general setting of the beggar’s strike in relation to the writer’s handling of the theme. thanks (july 2009)
  • can i please know how dose the setting of the book relates to its theme? (july 2009)
  • hi, i need the summery of the novel the beggars strike please kindly send it to my mail box which is –. thanks in anticipation. (july 2009)
  • sir the book has really tells us africa background, however sir i want to know the theme of oppression in the novel (july 2009)
  • I love this novel but i need to know if it is totaly a satire (nov 2009)
  • pls can u summarize the entire book (dec 2009)

and much more!  I only wish I could be of more use.  Maybe I could post a couple of sample term papers based on the book?  Alas, mine is a paltry little review…

nicest compliment all week

David Evans3 Comments

Last night around midnight I checked out of my hotel in Dakar.  I’d spent a fair amount of time making calls from the concierge’s desk, coordinating various events.  As I was leaving, the concierge – named Ndiack – said, “Hey man, I like the way you move.”  I’ll take it!

I also managed to keep people laughing during my presentation on data collection.  Of course, an hour after the talk, one of the more experienced participants said, “Dave, I remember I had a great time during your talk, but I don’t remember what it was about.”  Maybe I should work with the Men in Black.

best liberia line ever

David EvansLeave a comment

This afternoon I was sitting with several people from Liberia’s Ministry of Education. 

Liberia – quote unquote – is a welfare state.

But where do the quotes go?  “Liberia” – Rejection of colonial borders?  Or “welfare state”?  I always think of Sweden, Norway, and … Liberia 

The next participant clarified:  “Everyone looks to the government.”

best polygamy line ever

David Evans4 Comments

I’m in Senegal for a workshop with representatives from education ministries around Africa.  A representative from the Senegal Ministry of Education welcomed the delegation, and Fatu – a young graduate student on our team – translated his comments into English for the Anglophones.

Thank you, Fatu.  My favorite wife’s name is Fatu.

Not what I was expecting.

* Fatu isn’t really her name.  But the story is real.

100+ reviews of African literature (plus)

David EvansLeave a comment

As we draw near the close of the Africa Reading Challenge, I’m delighted to share another 11 reviews from across the continent.  You can read the other 100 here.

don’t be the first off the plane! another crazy lagos airport story

David Evans10 Comments

About a year ago I shared a story about a crazy experience a friend of a friend had at the airport in Lagos, Nigeria.  Here’s another one!  This morning, at the airport in Brussels, I was chatting with a retired Scottish aid worker.  He told about his friend who got on a flight in Lagos to find it completely full…plus one.  One person was standing in the aisle with no seat.  The flight attendants went through and checked that everyone had a boarding pass, which they did.  (Apparently someone had a forged pass; welcome to Lagos.)  The staff then made an announcement that everyone was going to de-plane and that they were going to check everyone’s boarding pass carefully. 

As soon as the first person stepped off the plane, the staff slammed and locked the airplane door, despite the person’s cries and banging on the door.  Problem solved.