The decades of independence in Ghana have strengthened the idea of a national Ghanaian culture. The culture and customs of Ghana today are a product of diversity in traditional forms, influenced by a long history of Islamic and European contact. Cul…
The Democratic Republic of Congo, formerly Zaire, continues to struggle with socioeconomic and political development. Culture and Customs of the Congo provides the full context of traditional culture and modern practices against a backdrop of a turb…
Examines Egyptian history, government, economy, religious rituals, literature, performing arts, fine arts, architecture, social customs, and lifestyles.
Zambia stands out in Africa as one of the continent's most peaceful countries. In its early years as an independent state, Zambia became a regional bulwark against imperialism and colonial domination and South African apartheid. Today, it stands out…
Ideal for high school and undergraduate students, this addition to the Culture and Customs of Africa series examines the contemporary cultures and traditions of modern Gambia, from religious customs to literature to cuisine and much more.This title…
Kenya, a land of safaris, wild animals, and Maasai warriors, perfectly represents Africa for many Westerners. This peerless single-source book presents the contemporary reality of life in Kenya, an important East-African nation that has served as a…
A blend of indigenous life in the rural countryside and metropolitan culture in urban centers, Senegal has been a small, yet prominent country on Africa's western coast. In this comprehensive study of contemporary Senegalese life, readers will learn…
Discusses the history of Zimbabwe, including marriage, family, gender roles, and the influences of Western traditions on the cultures and customs of Zimbabwe.
Botswana's large deposits of diamonds have made it one of the richest African countries on a per capita basis. However, more than wealth, what has made Botswana a model country in southern Africa is its long tradition of democratic rule, respect for…
The Central African Republic is one of the least-known African countries. This volume is the first to give a cultural overview of the key elements of this former French colony. Wood fork shows how the Republic has the fundamental building blocks, wi…
Nigeria, one of the largest and most important countries in Africa, is rich in traditions and customs, both indigenous and modern. Culture and Customs of Nigeria is the only concise, authoritative, and up-to-date discussion of Nigerian culture that…
This book provides a fascinating, up-to-date overview of the social, cultural, economic, and political landscapes of Tanzania.In Culture and Customs of Tanzania, author Kefa M. Otiso presents an approachable basic overview of the country's key chara…
This book provides an overview of the history, culture, and society of Namibia, a country on which little information in English exists.Namibia is a sizeable and significant country in southern Africa that is little known to the outside world. A vas…
Cameroon, in Central Africa, has been called Africa in miniature. It is characterized by exceptional social and ethnic diversity, with more than 250 ethnicities now forming five major regional-culture groupings. This volume is the first to encapsula…
Touching on everything from its rich musical heritage to its varied cultural traditions, this is a thorough and accessible introduction to the contemporary lives of the different peoples who call Mali their home.Rated among the world's ten poorest n…
Ideal for high school students and undergraduates, this volume explores contemporary life and culture in Libya.Libya is one of Africa's largest nations, but its topography is dominated by a huge southern desert with some of the hottest temperatures…
Rwanda has been in the news for the genocide of 1994 and its aftermath. This volume exposes Western readers to the fuller picture of Rwanda. Early European travelers attested to Rwanda's beauty, describing it variously as the Switzerland of Africa a…
An ideal resource for anyone interested in learning about Ethiopia, this accessible, single-volume work provides all-encompassing and up-to-date coverage of the ancient and diverse cultures of Africa's second-most populated nation.Explore the fascin…
Moroccan culture today is a blend of Berber, African, Arab, Jewish, and European influences in an Islamic state. Morocco's strategic position at the tip of North Africa just below Spain has brought these cultures together through the centuries. The…
Somalia, the Horn of Africa nation, is finally recovering from recent wars and famine. Written by a native Somali, Culture and Customs of Somalia gives students and interested readers an in-depth look at the land and people, past and present. It is…
Angola has been brutalized by the civil war, which only ended in 1992. The war's adverse effect on every facet of Angola's post-independence life is clearly evident in the range of topics covered in this volume. The human cost of the war can be coun…
South Africa can be considered the newest of African nations, with the ending of Apartheid in 1994. It is one of the most ethnically, culturally, and linguistically varied countries on the continent and the economic powerhouse of southern Africa. Th…
Amid a Sudan's dark history, saturated with conflicts and tragic current events, lies a culture with deep roots, going back as far as 8000 BC. With several hundred ethnic groups and languages, Sudan is one of the world's most diverse countries. Lear…
Liberia has a strong connection to the United States in that it was founded by former slaves in 1822. Although Liberia had existed as an independent African nation and a symbol of hope to the African peoples under the rule of various colonial powers…
