A Serious Pair of Shoes, An African Journal

Rating:
Summary: Joan Baxter puts a human face to Africa's struggles
Review: I have always been fascinated by Africa, but it seems that the news if so often full of stories that paint a very grim picture of the so-called "dark continent" In this book Joan Baxter shows us that Africa is anything but dark or hopeless. Baxter has been living and writing in Africa since 1982 and it is her personal connection to the continent that makes this book unique. She tells the story of the decimation of the Pygmies and their rainforest in Cameroon and ethnic wars in Ghana. She introduces us to ordinary Africans whose voices are seldom heard - from a traditional Pygmy healer who bemoans the loss of Africa's homegrown Viagra to the boatman philosopher in Northern Ghana. This book is rich with African wisdom and insights.