The World and a Very Small Place in Africa: A History of Globalization in Niumi, the GambiaNiumi, a small, little-known territory located on the bank of the Gambia River in West Africa, is seemingly far from the reaches of world historical events. And yet the outside world has long had a significant - and increasingly profound - impact on Niumi. This fascinating work shows how global events have affected people's lives over the past eight centuries in this small region in Africa's smallest country. Drawing on written and oral testimony, and writing in a clear and personal style, Donald R. Wright connects 'globalization' with real people in a real place. This new edition updates discussions of global history and African history based on current studies and new developments that have been factored into the interpretive framework. Reflecting on recent visits to Niumi, Wright extends the story into 2009, to consider the impact of global recession and domestic political repression under a regime in power for the past fifteen years. Punctuating the narrative are photographs, maps, and 'Perspectives' boxes on selected topics such as the sale of slaves five centuries ago, colonial sexism, the fate of press freedom, and how popular culture affects growing up in a traditional society. Throughout, the author deals with African history seriously, global trends critically, and human lives sensitively. |
Contents
| 3 | |
Before AD 1446 | 11 |
Before AD 1446 | 15 |
Before AD 1446 | 38 |
14461816 | 59 |
Waxing Atlantic Trade Continuing Sudanic Trade 14461600 | 61 |
Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries | 82 |
18161965 | 113 |
Independence or In Dependence? 19652009 | 185 |
19651994 | 189 |
The Second Republic 19942009 | 211 |
Niumi 2009 Global Recession Local Oppression | 251 |
Notes | 269 |
Bibliography | 295 |
| 309 | |
About the Author | 319 |
Other editions - View all
The World and a Very Small Place in Africa: A History of Globalization in ... Donald R. Wright No preview available - 2010 |
Common terms and phrases
African agricultural Albreda areas Atlantic trade Banjul Bathurst began Berending British brought Cape Verde cloth coast colonial commercial commodities country’s crop cultural Curtin decades early eighteenth century Essau Europe European exchange export farmers farming force French Futa Toro Gambia River garden global growing History horses important interview involved Islamic James Island Jammeh Jinak Jokadu Juffure Kaabu labor land living lower Gambia Lower Niumi Luso-Africans Mali Mandinka Manneh merchants miles Muslim nations nineteenth century Niumi residents Niumi village Niumi’s mansa Niumi’s rulers North Bank Province officials peanuts percent persons plantation political population Portuguese Precolonial production region relationships Report rice royal ruling lineages Sahara savannas season Senegal Senegal River Senegambia sixteenth century slave trade social society soninke Sonko state’s tourists traditional twentieth century University Press Upper Niumi wealth West Africa Western women world economy world system