The river Niger, a source of life and danger for the people in
impoverished eastern Mali, is also the origin of elaborate
mythology. From his travels through Mali and down the Niger in a
dugout canoe, Jean-Marie Gibbal has created a personal documentary
of the cultures of the region. The result is at once an ethnography
of cultures in crisis and a poetic evocation of the environment and
people he encountered.
Gibbal portrays the river as the dominant, cohesive force among
people in the face of social and environmental strife. He focuses
on the "Ghimbala" healing cult, which centers on the river, and how
the cult structures social relations in the region. Gibbal vividly
recreations the "Ghimbala" rites, nocturnal ceremonies of spirit
possession and seance which animate the water spirits, or "genii, "
that inhabit the river. The "genii, " he finds, provide the
strength of social identity in a world where famine and competing
versions of Islam threaten to overpower traditional culture.
In its original French publication, "The Genii of the River Niger"
was honored with an Alexandra David-Neel literary prize in 1989.
Its powerful lyricism, combined with fascinating ethnographic
depth, will delight general readers and specialists alike and will
stir debates among specialists in African studies, the anthropology
of religion, and literature.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
