Ghana Mali Songhay: The Western Sudan (African Kingdoms of the Past) [Paperback]

Kenny Mann (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-8?This eloquently written book opens with a retelling of the West African legend of the fearless warrior Amadou Sefedokote, who slew the sacred serpent Ouagadou-Bida and rescued the beautiful Sia from sacrificial death. The focus then shifts to the rise and fall of the once powerful empires of Ghana, Mali, and Songhay. An intriguing sidelight is the additional information provided on the beginnings of Islam; its spread and impact in West Africa; and background information on its founder, Mohammed. The Mandinka Empire of Mali and its kings, Sundiata and Mansa Musa, and the Songhay Empire and its kings, Sunni Ali Ber and Askia Mohammed Toure, are also discussed. The epilogue mentions how Europeans, lured by the news of gold, came to West Africa and ended up in the slave trade. The McKissacks' The Royal Kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhay (Holt, 1995) provides more detail and information on the same subjects. Mann's book, with its more enticing and accessible format, many excellent full-color and black-and-white photographs, and African decorative motifs, is an excellent companion to that title.?Gebregeorgis Yohannes, San Francisco Public Library,
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Dillon Pr (November 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0382391764
• ISBN-13: 978-0382391767
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 8.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,367,236 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #89 in Books > History > Africa > Mali

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful, Literate, and Useful Book, October 30, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Ghana Mali Songhay: The Western Sudan (African Kingdoms of the Past) (Paperback)

I used this book as the text to give 28 6th Graders an introduction to the wealth of Africa's past--and they hung on every word. The mix of storytelling, political, economic, cultural and religious history served as the basis for several lively student presentations. In short, my only complaint about this book is the fact that its out-of-print status prevents me from ordering copies by the dozen for next year's class.

Publishers--Please get on the ball. With the addition of these African Kingdoms to the Virginia State Standards of Learning, you have an eager market and a product that beats anything else now on the market for this age group.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reading., October 31, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: Ghana Mali Songhay: The Western Sudan (African Kingdoms of the Past) (Paperback)

This book is gorgeously illustrated with lots of graphics taken from authentic textiles and pottery. The legends are written in an easy to read narrative style and take readers from ancient myths through to modern theories on the history of this region. Highly recommended