Faces of Africa (Hardcover)

by Carol Beckwith (Author), Angela Fisher (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
This striking coffee table study offers rare visages of Africa—that vast continent most often examined only through news reports of insurrection, plague and famine. Rather than view African cultures as an indistinguishable whole, seasoned photographers Beckwith and Fisher carefully focus on the varied life journeys and rituals of the peoples they have encountered over three decades of travel in 36 countries. From Ethiopia to Senegal to Namibia, they crisscross the continent to capture traditional rites of passage, starting with a Kassena woman who ritually awakens her newborn with his first cold bath in Ghana. They record a young Masai boy’s circumcision in Kenya, attend a Wodaabe charm dance in Niger and witness a Dogon funeral dance in Mali. Although the authors provide detailed captions, text is otherwise spare; instead, these arresting portraits rely almost entirely on the pair’s illuminating photography.
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From Booklist
The several hundred photographs in this album depict the traditional life of African peoples, as the authors captured it over three decades of work. Beckwith and Fisher have published several pricey collections devoted to the practices of particular groups (e.g., Nomads of Niger, 1983, and Maasai, 1990), so this work stands as an affordable anthology of their careers. Without doubt, Beckwith and Fisher compose beautiful and arresting images, capturing a range of emotions that leap from the pictures. They are especially drawn to ceremonies, including initiation into man- or womanhood, courtship and marriage, propitiation of the spirit world, and death. Consequently, their subjects are always dressed in their best for the occasion, and striking body paint, hairstyles, masks, clothing, and ornamentation are on full display. Whether capturing the exuberance of a dance or simply an attractive face, Beckwith and Fisher exude a joy in premodern African cultures that viewers will immediately share. Gilbert Taylor
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 252 pages
• Publisher: National Geographic (September 14, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 079226830X
• ISBN-13: 978-0792268307
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 8.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #91,525 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Faces of Africa, my impression!, September 20, 2005

By	T. Pickles (Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The book is a stunning display of the many facets of African tribal life and customs. The typography, while certainly aesthetic, is sometimes bordering on the unreadable by the use of coloured text on a black background.
I was disappointed, however, that the book virtually fell apart after having had it for barely 1/2 hour. The pages simply came away from the spine! I have had it repaired at a local bookbinders for very little cost but this shouldn't happen with a book of that quality and price. Those complaints aside though, it's a pleasure to own this book!

Trevor Pickles

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A celebration in words and images, February 23, 2006

By	Kathleen P. Willis "ocean spirit" (Wallingford, Vermont) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

What a delight for the eyes this book is! I found myself drawn deeper and deeper into each photograph. The accompanying text is beautifully crafted and I almost want to commit each entry to memory. When I visited Africa, I instantly fell in love with its people, its landscapes and the authenticity of life on this breathtaking continent. This book allows me to marvel at, and to cherish, the traditions and rituals which frame the lives of the African people.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful images of every day Africa, December 20, 2006

By	Piro Rexhepi "Scientia potentia" (New York City) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is one of my favorite illustration of Africa; jovial, moving, colorful and passionate, the best introduction to the many tribes and cultures of the African continent. The ceremonies of the Surma tribe in Ethiopia and the Samburu tribe in Kenya are beautiful and rich photographic testimony of African culture. Everyone should own this illustrative account of Africa.