{"title":"David C Conrad","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"status-and-identity-in-west-africa-book-david-c-conrad-9780253209290","title":"Status and Identity in West Africa","description":"The nyamakalaw, a major professional class of artists and other occupationally defined specialists among the Mande-speaking peoples of West Africa, play powerful roles in Mande society. Yet they remain its most misunderstood social group. Constituting endogamous lineages, blacksmiths, potters, leatherworkers, and bards are accorded a special but ambiguous status apart from the rest of Mande society. 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. Kendall, Robert Launay, Adria LaViolette, Patrick R.McNaughton, Tal Tamari, and Kalilou Tera.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49548210110737,"sku":"GOR013737100","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":50761657647377,"sku":"CIN0253209293G","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0253209293.jpg?v=1751164634"},{"product_id":"empires-of-medieval-west-africa-book-david-c-conrad-9780816055623","title":"Empires of Medieval West Africa","description":"Drawing on a rich oral tradition, numerous trips to the region, and the latest scholarship available on this important but little-studied era, scholar and author David Conrad explores the people, places, and ideas that made up this trio of empires. Connections to life today include the continuing impact of Islam and tribal groups in Africa, and the influence of the medieval traditions on modern music and cuisine.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"US \/ VERY_GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":50163886424337,"sku":"CIN0816055629VG","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":50208160448785,"sku":"CIN0816055629G","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50582055977233,"sku":"GOR014005017","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50599627489553,"sku":"GOR014010379","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0816055629.jpg?v=1750946862"},{"product_id":"empires-of-medieval-west-africa-book-david-c-conrad-9781604131642","title":"Empires of Medieval West Africa","description":"Beginning about 1200 CE, the Mali, Songhay, and Ghana empires spread their sequential influence across the western horn of Africa. This title discusses the vital role salt and other natural resources played in the development of the empires, the rich and diverse cultures, and the influence of the Islamic Empire on every day life.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"- \/ - \/ -","offer_id":51851714658577,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"US \/ GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":51851714855185,"sku":"CIN1604131640G","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/9781604131642.jpg?v=1753647292"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.worldofbooks.com\/en-gb\/collections\/author-books-by-david-c-conrad.oembed","provider":"World of Books ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}