Rowena's Reviews > The Shadow of the Sun
The Shadow of the Sun
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Rowena's review
bookshelves: african-lit, anthropology, history, favorites, favourite-authors
Apr 06, 2013
bookshelves: african-lit, anthropology, history, favorites, favourite-authors
“The population of Africa was a gigantic, matted, crisscrossing web, spanning the entire continent and in constant motion, endlessly undulating, bunching up in one place and spreading out in another, a rich fabric, a colourful arras.” - Ryszard Kapuscinski, The Shadow of the Sun
A man I’d unfortunately never heard of wrote one of the most engaging historical reflections I've’ve ever read. Ryszard Kapuscinski reported on African events for a Polish newspaper for over 40 years. He was definitely in Africa at the right times; during the fights for independence, military coups and so on. Kapuscinski placed events like the Rwandan genocide (and the lesser-known Burundian genocide that happened alongside it) in their cultural and historical contexts.
There were many surprises along the way, the biggest shocker for me being the fact that the descendants of former slaves , the Americo-Liberians, just about re-enacted what they had been through in America when they settled in Liberia among the indigenous Africans. It’s definitely a reminder of how history is often repeated.
Why I think this stands out as a historical account is not only because of the proximity of the writer to the actual events, but also his observations. I am always surprised when a non-African writer tries to understand the culture, in a non-judgemental or critical way, as pessimistic as that may sound. Kapuscinski was definitely an observer and tried to understand things that were “foreign” to him, things such as the African concept of time , which I found very interesting and enlightening.
“The European and the African have an entirely different concept of time. In the European worldview, time exists outside man, exists objectively, and has measurable and linear characteristics. Africans apprehend time differently. For them, it is a much looser concept, more open, elastic, subjective. It is man who influences time, its shape, course and rhythm.”
— Ryszard Kapuscinski, The Shadow of the Sun
The author showed the complexity of the African society, the fact that it’s not homogeneous in the least.
A very easy, entertaining read with passages of the most beautiful and poetic language. A great introduction to African history which encouraged me to learn more about the events in depth.
A man I’d unfortunately never heard of wrote one of the most engaging historical reflections I've’ve ever read. Ryszard Kapuscinski reported on African events for a Polish newspaper for over 40 years. He was definitely in Africa at the right times; during the fights for independence, military coups and so on. Kapuscinski placed events like the Rwandan genocide (and the lesser-known Burundian genocide that happened alongside it) in their cultural and historical contexts.
There were many surprises along the way, the biggest shocker for me being the fact that the descendants of former slaves , the Americo-Liberians, just about re-enacted what they had been through in America when they settled in Liberia among the indigenous Africans. It’s definitely a reminder of how history is often repeated.
Why I think this stands out as a historical account is not only because of the proximity of the writer to the actual events, but also his observations. I am always surprised when a non-African writer tries to understand the culture, in a non-judgemental or critical way, as pessimistic as that may sound. Kapuscinski was definitely an observer and tried to understand things that were “foreign” to him, things such as the African concept of time , which I found very interesting and enlightening.
“The European and the African have an entirely different concept of time. In the European worldview, time exists outside man, exists objectively, and has measurable and linear characteristics. Africans apprehend time differently. For them, it is a much looser concept, more open, elastic, subjective. It is man who influences time, its shape, course and rhythm.”
— Ryszard Kapuscinski, The Shadow of the Sun
The author showed the complexity of the African society, the fact that it’s not homogeneous in the least.
A very easy, entertaining read with passages of the most beautiful and poetic language. A great introduction to African history which encouraged me to learn more about the events in depth.
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Reading Progress
April 6, 2013
– Shelved
April 6, 2013
– Shelved as:
african-lit
April 6, 2013
– Shelved as:
anthropology
November 10, 2013
–
Started Reading
November 11, 2013
–
16.31%
""Individualism is highly prized in Europe, and perhaps nowhere more so than in America; in Africa, it is synonymous with unhappiness, with being accursed. African tradition is collectivist, for only in a harmonious group could one face the obstacles continually thrown up by nature.""
page
53
November 15, 2013
– Shelved as:
history
November 15, 2013
– Shelved as:
favorites
November 15, 2013
– Shelved as:
favourite-authors
November 15, 2013
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-23 of 23 (23 new)
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Lisa
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rated it 4 stars
Apr 06, 2013 11:23AM
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Awesome! I'm really enjoying it, how about you? :)
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2012...
Thanks so much, Lisa!I know that I am generally quite generous with my stars but I do think this deserved 5 stars:)
Thanks for the article link, Cheryl!I wonder how many of the anecdotes he made up in "The Shadow of the Sun." I actually picked up The Emperor from the library the other day because I really enjoyed reading this one.
I'm sorry to hear that:( Have you tried using an online bookstore?
I was also very taken with Kapuscinski's tone because he neither idolized the African people nor judged them condescendingly. His reflexions on the perception of time and history and his objective and firm views on the devastating effects of European colonialism on such a battered continent were informative and moving. A highly articulate and comprehensive review which captures the essence of the book to perfection.
I was also very taken with Kapuscinski's t..."
Thanks for your kind comments, Dolors! I read so many anthropology texts in school that depicted Africa (also Asia, the South Pacific, etc.) as a savage place with no hope so it did make me happy to read Kapuscinski's balanced approach:)