Segu (Ségou, #1)

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The year is 1797, and the kingdom of Segu is flourishing, fed by the wealth of its noblemen and the power of its warriors The people of Segu, the Bambara, are guided by their griots and priests their lives are ruled by the elements But even their soothsayers can only hint at the changes to come, for the battle of the soul of Africa has begun From the east comes a new religion, Islam, and from the West, the slave trade.Segu follows the life of Dousika Traore, the king s most trusted advisor, and his four sons, whose fates embody the forces tearing at the fabric of the nation There is Tiekoro, who renounces his people s religion and embraces Islam Siga, who defends tradition, but becomes a merchant Naba, who is kidnapped by slave traders and Malobali, who becomes a mercenary and halfhearted Christian.Based on actual events, Segu transports the reader to a fascinating time in history, capturing the earthy spirituality, religious fervor, and violent nature of a people and a growing nation trying to cope with jihads, national rivalries, racism, amid the vagaries of commerce. Best Read Segu (Ségou, #1) [ Author ] Maryse Condé [ Kindle ePUB or eBook ] – kino-fada.fr I read this years ago, before heading to live in Mali for several months I am thinking back on this intergenerational, magical realist epic that paints history in broad and intimate, familial strokes like Marquez s 100 Years of Solitude Segu tells the story of Mali s triple, simultaneous colonizations enslavement, French land grabbing, and Muslim religious conquest I am thinking now about the human imposed tragedy in Mali today with heartbreak, as this book is lived again through labor migr I read this years ago, before heading to live in Mali for several months I am thinking back on this intergenerational, magical realist epic that paints histor...A fabulous novel about a Bambara family living in the kingdom of Segu from 1787, prominent in it s time, however the father falls out of favour with the King and his son s each go off in search of adventure outside the kingdom, where they discover quite a different perception of their people and their race.It shines a light on the impact of cross tribal marriage and partnership, of slavery, both that perpetuated by the Europeans and also from within the African continent The role of the son and A fabulous novel about a Bambara family living in the kingdom of Segu from 1787, prominent in it s time, however the father falls out of favour with the King and his son s each go off in search of adventure outside the kingdom, where they discover quite a different perception of their people and their race.It shines a light on the impact of cross tribal marriage...An 80s rape festThis is my book from Mali for my world books challenge, and I looked forward to reading it, because you don t find much historical fiction set in pre colonial Africa Too bad it reads like it was competing with the instigators of Gamergate for some maximum misogyny prize.Segu begins in 1797, in a flourishing city state of the same name in what is now Mali, and follows the men of the Traore family for over half a century It is a volatile time in West African history traditional An 80s rape festThis is my book from Mali for my world books challenge, and I looked forward to reading it, because you don t find much historical fiction set in pre colonial Africa Too bad it reads like it was competing with the instigators of Gamergate for some maximum misogyny prize.Segu begins in 1797, in a flourishing city state of the same name in what is now Mali, and follows the men of the Traore family for over half a century It is a volatile time in West African history traditional practices and animist beliefs are losing ground to Islam, further complicating tensions between the various kingdoms coastal areas are dominated by the slave trade European trade and, later in the book, missi...When I picked up Segu it was quite by accident This forum I contribute to, the World Literature Forum, has been trying to guess who would win this year s Nobel Prize since the middle of summer It is one of the conversations that, year after year, brings out dozens of contributors and hundreds of responses Conde s name popped up once or twice, as, apparently, the French literary press was promoting her as a potential recipient prior to Modiano coming away with a win last year And then, a few When I picked up Segu it was quite by accident This forum I contribute to, the World Literature Forum, has been trying to guess who would win this year s Nobel Prize since the middle of summer It is one of the conversations that, year after year, brings out dozens of contributors and hundreds of responses Conde s name popped up once or twice, as, apparently, the French literary press was promoting her as a potentia...I think this was the fourth time I ve read this book and I still think it is an amazing read It is one of the few novels I m aware of that shows us an African society from the inside and succeeds in making it believable Cond has obviously put in a lot of research into the history, culture and customs of S gou and the result is a very good historical novel It s a book that will make the reader a lotaware of the fact that slave trade, religious fanaticism and colonialism left their sc I think this was the fourth time I ve read this book and I still think it is an amazing read It is one of the few novels I m aware of that shows us an African society from the inside and succeeds in making it believable Cond has obviously put in a lot of research into the history, culture and customs of S gou and the r...3.5 5As a work of historical fiction, Segu is often tremendous Following one family over 70 years of history from the late 18th century to the mid 19th, right at the beginning of European colonialism in inner Africa which, ironically, was partially driven by the official end of slavery , but from the POV of a family who are intimately involved with the intra African politics of the time the power struggle between various kingdoms, the spread of Islam and Christianity colonializing both minds 3.5 5As a work of historical fiction, Segu is often tremendous Following one family over 70 years of history from the late 18th century to the mid 19th, right at the beginning of European colonialism in inner Africa which, ironically, was partially driven by the official end of slavery , but from the...This is one of my all time favorite books Fiction excels at letting us feel history None does it better than Segu From .com The year is 1797, and the kingdom of Segu is flourishing, fed by the wealth of its noblemen and the power of its warriors The people of Segu, the Bambara, are guided by their griots and priests their lives are ruled by the elements But even their soothsayers can only hint at the changes to come, for the battle of the soul of Africa has begun From the east come This is one of my all time favorite books Fiction excels at letting us feel history None does it better than Segu From .com The year is 1797, and the kingdom of Segu is flourishing, fed by the wealth of its noblemen and the power of its warriors The people of Segu, the Bambara, are guided by their griots and priests their lives are ruled by the elements But even their soothsayers can only hint at the changes to come, for the battle of the soul of Africa has begun From the east comes a new religion, Islam, and from the West, the slave trade.Segu follows the life of Dousika Traore, the king s most trusted advisor, and his four sons, whose fates embody the forces tearing at the fabric of the nation There is Tiekoro, who renounces his people s religion and embraces Islam Siga, who defends tradition, but becomes a merchant Naba, who is kidnapped by slave traders and Malobali, who becomes a mercena...A most amazing epic set in West Africa along the Niger River in the 19th century You follow portions of the lives of a long series of characters, old and young, male and female Rather disturbing to read about all the warfare and distrust between neighboring groups.I had known nothing at all about the introduction of Islam in this part of the world During the 19th century people and whole villages tribes were converting to this foreign rel....I m on page 33 and it s taken me until now getting a sense of what the book is about This is historical fiction and I wanted to read about African kingdoms near the dawn of the trans Atlantic slave trade Though I m just near the beginning the author has already rolled out the usual suspects of treachery,avarice and jealousy at work to tear at the kingdoms as they are now at work tearing up some of our communities.Well I m half way through the book now Just as I was going to cart this book ri I m on page 33 and it s taken me until now getting a sense of what the book is about This is historical fiction and I wanted to read about African kingdoms near the dawn of the trans Atlantic slave trade Though I m just near the beginning the author has already rolled out the usual suspects of treach...

Segu (Ségou, #1)
  • English
  • 02 January 2018
  • Paperback
  • 512 pages
  • 014025949X
  • Maryse Condé
  • Segu (Ségou, #1)