At the Threshhold of the African Soul

[Stephen]

This concise book is an important document on African culture, society, social structure, education, economy, politics, religion and art with insights into the past, present and future of Africa.

Yaya Diallo writes:

Nothing is more difficult than to write on the subject of Africa, of Africa as it is lived, of what is profound in Africa. I dared to speak about Africa in a general way. It is not that I deny there are differences in the rituals, the shape of the instruments, the dialects, etc. But I continue to believe that there is an underlying uniformity of basic philosophy at the community, family, and even religious level. I believe that an old Dogon from the Bandiagara cliffs, if he were to be transported to Mount Cameroon, would not suffer a great cultureal shock even if he did not speak the local language. Yes, there are differences between one place and another in the details, but in terms of basic philosophy, the substrate itself of the African heart, there is a common core.

... Today there are many who speak about the Africa "of yesterday." In fact, some 80% of the population still live in that Africa. People who talk this way are in the minority of intelligentsia who speak for Africa abroad. There is another Africa, that of the acculturated.

INTERculture
October 2001 Issue No. 141

Editor: Robert Vachon
Associate Editor: Scott Eastham

Intercultural Institue of Montreal
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