Jan-Mar 2021 | A Fistful of Shells

[Laura]

That is super interesting Carolien. thanks for the links.

[Orgeluse]

Laura wrote: "That is super interesting Carolien. thanks for the links."

Indeed, it is!! Very insightful!!

[Carolien]

I'm also adding The Land is Ours to my list as I hope the first part will give me an idea how captives were treated in tribal wars. While slavery is acknowledged in South Africa, it is not a major narrative. Land dispossession is much more important and emotional, but also speaks to the loss of valuable capital to local populations.

[Carolien]

At the start of chapter 7 is a discussion on the Asante symbol of two entwined crocodiles which signified "Unity in diversity".

The motto on the South Africa coat of arms is in |Xam (San) "ǃke e꞉ ǀxarra ǁke" and translates as Diverse People Unite.

[Ardene]

I am late to the party, but am learning as I go. I agree that both Indian and South American trade networks would be good additions to study. Trying to absorb the the European & West African links right now.

What I would love is to follow food & plant exchanges.

[Wim, French Readings]

Ardene wrote: "...What I would love is to follow food & plant exchanges."

The origin of crops and their diffusion is truly fascinating. I like this website. And here an article with some background information.

[Carolien]

I finally completed it today and it was a fascinating read. As I've said in earlier posts, I'm definitely also rethinking some South African history. One of the references that is found in many South African history books is that the first traders "bartered" with the local population. That may not be the case at all and some of the local skirmishes may actually reflect that the locals felt they were underpaid in the currencies of the time - iron was definitely traded for cattle.

https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/...

In any case, thank you so much, Wim, for nominating this book.

Orgeluse and I will be reading The Golden Rhinoceros: Histories of the African Middle Ages in March as a buddy read. Is anybody else interested in joining us?

[Ardene]

Thanks for the links in post #56 Wim.

I'm excited to discover Feast Afrique, a digital archive of West African Culinary information, including a 2021 reading challenge. Videos, sound recordings, access to some free books. Now all I need is a sound track!

[Wim, French Readings]

Carolien wrote: "Orgeluse and I will be reading The Golden Rhinoceros: Histories of the African Middle Ages in March as a buddy read. Is anybody else interested in joining us?"

I'm in for the Golden Rhinoceros buddy read and have my copy ready. Hopefully I find enough time this month to read!

[Carolien]

Excellent, look forward to you inputs, Wim.

Tinea, would you be able to create a topic thread for us for it as a side read?

[Orgeluse]

Wim wrote: "Carolien wrote: "Orgeluse and I will be reading The Golden Rhinoceros: Histories of the African Middle Ages in March as a buddy read. Is anybody else interested in joining us?"

I'm in for the Gold..."

Great to have you on board, Wim! Looking forward to our exchange!

[Carolien]

Here's an interesting article on her slave trading great grandfather by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani, author of I Do Not Come to You by Chance.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa...

There is a fascinating section at the end on the fact that slaves were still traded locally until the middle of the 20th century in Nigeria.

[Wim, French Readings]

Carolien wrote: "Here's an interesting article on her slave trading great grandfather by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani, author of I Do Not Come to You by Chance..."

Thanks for sharing Carolien! Fistful of shells allows us to better understand the dynamics that lead to the role of her great grandfather in the slave trade.

[Tinea, Nonfiction Logistician]

Carolien wrote: "Excellent, look forward to you inputs, Wim.

Tinea, would you be able to create a topic thread for us for it as a side read?"

Done! Find the thread for The Golden Rhinoceros: Histories of the African Middle Ages over here.

[Orgeluse]

Thanks a lot, Tinea!

[Carolien]

Thank you, Tinea!

[Carolien]

Given our earlier discussion on the Benin Bronzes, this caught my eye:
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddes...

[Orgeluse]

Carolien wrote: "Given our earlier discussion on the Benin Bronzes, this caught my eye:
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddes..."

Thanks for the link! This fits my message earlier in this thread and I am glad to read that the Humboldt-Forum has come up with this policy now!

[Carolien]

Here's an article on how a specific fruit from Ghana ended up in Jamaica due to the slave trade which I thought may interest some of you.
http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20210...

[Laura]

Brilliant read Carolien. Thanks for posting. I have as yet not managed to read a Fistful of Shells but am going to try and finish it off during Easter.

[Orgeluse]

Carolien wrote: "Here's an article on how a specific fruit from Ghana ended up in Jamaica due to the slave trade which I thought may interest some of you.
http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20210......"

At the moment, there is a radio play on the massacre aboard the slave ship Zong in 1781 available on BBC Sounds.
Here is the link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00...

[Valerie]

I am late in finally getting started on this book but I share everyone's enthusiasm about it. It is such an interesting and eye-opening book. The author's premise in the first part of the book that West Africa has been part of economic globalisation well before the arrival of the Europeans is particularly fascinating to me.

[Carolien]

There's a new book out that deals solely with the Benin Bronzes and their removal from Nigeria:
https://www.economist.com/books-and-a...

Loot: Britain and the Benin Bronzes

If anybody is interested, it may be something for us to consider at some point.

[Orgeluse]

Carolien wrote: "There's a new book out that deals solely with the Benin Bronzes and their removal from Nigeria:
https://www.economist.com/books-and-a...

[boo..."

You keep digging up these really interesting titles :)))! And yes! It sounds like a candidate for a future group / buddy read!!

[Carolien]

I read Wanted Dead & Alive: The Case for South Africa's Cattle to review for a local podcast aimed at farmers and found an interesting echo of the concept of value as described in A Fistful of Shells. In the early chapters there is the discussion that the goods used as currencies (copper, iron, cloth) were not only seen as a store of value, but used by the Africans in ceremonies and daily use,

Cattle in southern Africa plays a similar role for rural households - the animals are used to pay lobola, sold to pay school fees, but kept for milk and as draught animals and a connection to the ancestors. Unlike commercial farmers, who buy and sell cattle only for profit, households want to keep their cattle alive and refrain from selling them as they have other uses. So again this difference in perspectives on how a form of capital is used.

[Carolien]

Two new books that specifically looks at Nigeria and may be interesting to read:

Formation: The Making of Nigeria From Jihad to Amalgamation (covering 1900 - 1914, so at the end of Fistful of Shells)

What Britain Did to Nigeria: A Short History of Conquest and Rule

Review here:
https://www.ft.com/content/5760e4b6-d...

[Carolien]

Loot: Britain and the Benin Bronzes is on special on Kindle for those who may be interested: $1.99.

[Anetq, Tour Operator & Guide]

Carolien wrote: "Loot: Britain and the Benin Bronzes is on special on Kindle for those who may be interested: $1.99."

Oooh nice tip! Thank you Carolien!

[Manu]

For about British loot, check
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7fMb...