Historical Dictionary of the Comoro Islands [Hardcover]

Martin Ottenheimer (Author), Harriet Ottenheimer (Author)

Book Description

Series: Historical Dictionaries of Africa | Publication Date: June 1, 1994

Islands of stark contrasts and complex syncretisms, the Comoros hold a major key to the history of the western Indian Ocean area. Recent archaeological studies have confirmed that the islands were a crossroads of the region. Extensive long-distance maritime trade was recorded in oral histories and is reflected today in the cultures of the Islands: a mix of Arabian, Asian, African, Malagasy, and European traits. The coelecanth (a fish once thought to have been extinct for seventy-five million years) can be caught. The Islands have attracted recent world-wide attention for the political activities of the notorious mercenary, Bob Denard.

This book is an authoritative introduction to the Comoro Islands; past and present. It is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the history, economics, cultures, languages, geography, geology, or politics of the Western Indian Ocean.

Editorial Reviews

Review

It is an unusual sort of introductory book and really rather effective. The authors are established scholars and have written in a lively way. The book is easy to dip into and to move around in as one gleans a variety of useful and often recondite information. (The International Journal Of African Historical Studies )

"The dictionary covers a wide range of terms...with succinct, complete definitions... This thoroughly competent and authoritative introduction to the Comoros fills a gap in information for the general readers and students interested in learning more about the nation." (Choice )

...should be part of any library dealing with Africa as a whole... (African Studies Review )

About the Author

Martin Ottenheimer (Ph.D., Anthropology, Tulane University; M.A., Philosophy, Tulane University; B.S., Philosophy, Renselaer Polytechnic Institute) is Professor of Anthropology at Kansas State University. He has lived in the Comoro Islands and published numerous articles about them. Professor Ottenheimer has also co-published a Folkways Album containing a sample of music from the island of Nzwani and Marriage in Domoni, a book describing social life in a historical settlement of the Comoros.

Harriet Ottenheimer (Ph.D., Anthropology, Tulane University; B.S., Literature, Bennington College) is Director of American Ethnic Studies and Professor of Anthropology at Kansas State University. She has engaged in research in New Orleans and in the Comoro Islands. Her publications include Music of the Comoro Islands--Domoni, and Cousin Joe: Blues from New Orleans. She also maintains a computer-assisted dictionary of ShiNzwani, the language of the island of Nzwani.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 164 pages
• Publisher: Scarecrow Press (June 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810828197
• ISBN-13: 978-0810828193
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,829,730 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #9 in Books > History > Africa > Comoros