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In an effort to distinguish the misconceptions of outsiders from the ambiguity of the social reality, this book critiques Western perceptions of nyamakalaw that led to the colonial construction of the Mande 'caste' system.Going beyond the colonial model, the contributors explore the dynamic status and identity of the nyamakalaw, the history of this phenomenon in various Mande contexts, and the role of individuals in its development in time and space. From a wide variety of interdisciplinary perspectives, the authors begin to reconstruct the social and cultural history of nyamakalaw. Contributors are Charles S. Bird, David C. Conrad, Barbara E. Frank, Barbara G. Hoffman, Cheick Mahamadou Ch rif Keita, Martha B. 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From Blyden to Sartre, Temples to Senghor, Mudimbe provides a bold and versatile resume of Africa's literary inventors.\" —Village Voice Literary Supplement  \" . . . a landmark achievement in African studies.\" —Journal of Religion in Africa  In this unique and provocative book, Zairean philosopher and writer V. Y. 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Among the Akan of Ghana and in other areas of West Africa, royal speech is not articulated with a single voice but is rather a composite of the chief's words and their artistic relay by his orator and principal diplomat, the okyeame. In the royal entourage the okyeame is the most conspicuous personage, functioning as the chief's mouth and ear: the individual through whom the chief speaks and through whom others' words may reach the chief. This little-studied phenomenon receives comprehensive exploration in Kwesi Yankah's engaging Speaking for the Chief, a theoretically informed work rich with firsthand observations. 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It is masterfully presented, and is an ideal text both for advanced undergraduates and graduate students.\" —International Journal of African Historical Studies  \" . . . a detailed, critical guide to fifty years of African philosophy . . . \" —Teaching Philosophy  \"Masolo offers an expansive and lucidly panoramic view of the origin and developments in African philosophy.\" —Africa Today  \"The excellence of this book lies in the wealth of perspectives that it brings to the discussion on what constitutes philosophy, rationality, and meaningful reflection. It is both thought provoking and illuminating.\" —Ethics  A Kenyan philosopher surveys themes and debates in African philosophy over the last five decades. Masolo's purview includes Francophone and Anglophone philosophers in both the analytic and phenomenological traditions.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"- \/ - \/ -","offer_id":51729609130257,"sku":"","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"US \/ GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":51729609294097,"sku":"CIN0253207754G","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0253207754.jpg?v=1752316182"},{"product_id":"religious-encounter-and-the-making-of-the-yoruba-book-j-d-y-peel-9780253215888","title":"Religious Encounter and the Making of the Yoruba","description":"Contends that it is through their encounter with Christian missions in the mid-19th century that the Yoruba came to know themselves as a distinctive people. 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