In October, a new book on Africa hit the bookshelves: Africa-par-Adventure: Over 100 Tales, Insights and Observations of the Inconceivable....
This book isn't like most of the books on Africa. For one thing, it certainly doesn't follow the current politically correct Africentric approach that most academics employ these days, seeing Africa only through the eyes of Africans. Many, though by no means all, of the contributors view Africa through Western culture-its opinions and insights, its prejudices and frustrations.
What I like most about this book, written and compiled by Peter Ward, is that he allowed the book to develop naturally, without an ideology driving its compilation. He included stories, articles, and essays that he thought were funny and insightful, and if they contradicted or disagreed with another story or article in the collection, so much the better! How more appropriate for Africa than for a book about it to have internal contradictions?
An interview with Peter Ward
1) How did you end up writing a book on Africa?
"In 1996 I was in Zimbabwe, working with the voluntary organization called Raleigh International (www.raleighinternational.org). This is a youth development charity, which inspires people from all backgrounds and nationalities to discover their full potential by working together on challenging environmental and community projects around the world. This is similar to the Peace Corps, but non-government funded. After the expedition I hitch hiked through Southern and Central Africa with 2 friends, and had some wild side experiences.
A couple of years after the Africa stint a attended a reunion party in London and everyone was talking about their African experiences like it was yesterday, and that's when I thought wouldn't it be great to put down on paper some of these experiences.
Until 2 years ago I did nothing with this thought, until it got to a stage where I had been to just too many dinner parties and social gatherings and mentioned a story or situation in Africa and people said at the end of a conversation, 'I never knew that.' 'CNN never mentioned this!' or 'That's an amazing story, no way can that be true!?'
These comments were usually followed by, 'Have you considered writing a book?'
Well, this is exactly what I did. Compiled and edited a book on Africa that presupposes that people from all walks of life have interesting stories; viewpoints and experiences to share that will touch, inform, move and inspire the reader, as well as offering insight to this part of the world."
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