Karl Maier has often been asked why he has chosen to live for so
long in Africa, with its wars and famines and its labyrinthine
politics. Partly, he explains, it is because of his tremendous
sense of admiration for the courage and determination of so many
Africans, as they struggle to surmount their difficulties, and
because Africa has welcomed him over the years. He describes it as
'a place of constant surprise and seemingly limitless energy' and
clearly loves it. This book is intended to provide a balanced
picture of Africa in the late 20th century, as its peoples
endeavour to adapt to a rapidly changing world. Maier notes that
the era of 'big man' politics is fading and, instead, responsible
government is the new goal. He provides fascinating portraits of
individuals working hard to make a difference in their communities.
In particular, he introduces women such as Sibongile Zungu, a Zulu
paramount chief, or Merci Manci, who campaigns for better awareness
of AIDS, but we also meet university lecturers who have turned
their backs on rich pickings overseas, and ordinary men and women
who risked their lives in the Rwandan uprisings to save their
friends and neighbours, often at terrible cost. And yet, there is a
sense that Maier is doing little more than scratching the surface.
Because Africa is so complex a matter, one can hope to do little
more in one book, but to hang political analysis on personalities
is often risky. Nevertheless, a compelling account of a continent
working hard to make a difference. (Kirkus UK)
Experience the vibrant and volatile life of Africa's struggle for a "second revolution" in this penetrating narrative portrait of a continent at a turning point in history.
Based on hundreds of interviews—with traditional healers, chiefs, business innovators, scientists, generals, doctors, poets, and politicians—Into the House of the Ancestors goes beyond clichéd images of corruption, brutality, and starvation to illuminate the essence of Africa's extraordinary spirit. With an exceptional combination of insight and information, leading journalist Karl Maier reveals a rising force of activists and innovators taking control of their lives and their destinies in ways that are ingenious and inspirational. Distinctively African, they are forging a quiet revolution that holds immense promise for the continent's future.
As strikingly varied as the continent itself, Africans today are courageously "innovating the past," reviving and expanding the rich traditions of their cultures to find African solutions to Africa's problems. Turning away from dependence on foreign development and relief funds, these trailblazers are also rejecting the corruption and debilitating inefficiencies of postcolonialism and are demanding fundamental reforms.
Key to understanding the true complexity of Africa today, Maier argues, is an appreciation of the rich blending of tradition and modernization that infuses everyday life. From the spirit called Mungoi, who protects a small village from the ravages of a war in Mozambique, to the remarkable young woman doctor—trained in modern medicine—who becomes a Zulu chief, Maier captures the untold stories that reveal how creatively Africans are connecting tradition to development.
Maier grounds his hopeful view of Africa's potential not only on contemporary reporting, but on the keen perspectives and insights of the continent's most distinguished historians. Providing crucial context about the scope and impact of the slave trade and the colonial period, Maier offers a probing analysis of the key aspects of Africa's past that shape the challenges for the future.
Unique among books on Africa today, Into the House of the Ancestors comes right out of the virtually unknown wellspring of energy and commitment, profoundly determining the future course of scores of nations and their continent.
Praise for INTO THE HOUSE OF THE ANCESTORS
"Both well-informed and comprehensive, bearing witness to an experience of Africa both deep and wide. Above all, a very balanced book, reflecting a real human understanding." — Abiola Irele
"Maier comes to us as one who has had a great deal of empathy for Africa. The actors are African, and he is fully respectful of his subject matter." — Peter Ekeh
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