West African Studies

This best-selling narrative of an Englishwoman's observations on West Africa was first published in 1899.

Mary Kingsley (Author)

9781108022019, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 9 December 2010

722 pages, 24 b/w illus. 2 maps
21.6 x 14 x 4 cm, 1 kg

Mary Kingsley (1862–1900) is one of the best known Victorian women travellers, whose solo adventures in West Africa made her a celebrity in England. This, her second book, published in 1899, was an instant best-seller. She travelled extensively, engaging in trade both to fund her trip and to get to know the African people, rather than merely observing as an outsider. Some of her views were considered controversial - she opposed the attempts by missionaries to impose European culture on native people, and defended polygamy and even slavery. She opposed direct colonial rule, and wanted Africans to have more self-determination. Her observations and interests are wide-ranging, and she showed an acute and sympathetic understanding of West African culture and society. For more information on this author, see http://orlando.cambridge.org/public/svPeople?person_id=kingma

1. Introductory
2. Sierra Leone and its surroundings
3. African characteristics
4. Fishing in West Africa
5. Fetish
6. Schools of fetish
7. Fetish and witchcraft
8. African medicine
9. The witch doctor
10. Early trade in West Africa
11. French discovery of West Africa
12. Commerce in West Africa
13. The Crown Colony system
14. The Crown Colony system in West Africa
15. More of the Crown Colony system
16. The clash of cultures
17. An alternative plan
18. African property
Appendix: 1. A short description of the natives of the Niger Coast Protectorate, with some account of their customs, religion, trade, etc. M. le Comte C. N. de Cardi
2. A voyage to the African oil rivers twenty-five years ago John Harford
3. Trade goods used in the early trade with Africa as given by Barbot and other writers of the seventeenth century M. H. Kingsley
Index.

Subject Areas: African history [HBJH]