Travels in West Africa

Mary Kingsley s Travels in West Africa has become a classic and deservedly so Her story is remarkable In the 1890s unmarried and no longer having to care for her parents Kingsley decides she should travel in the tropics and sets off for West Africa i e the West coast of Central Africa She travels as a scientist collecting fish specimens and finances her travels by trading along the way but mostly she travels for the love of adventure and to satisfy an appetite for the unknown Travels in West Africa is a treasure trove of information about Atlantic coast Central Africa in the late 1800s The last third of Travels in West Africa consists of three long chapters on fetish customs Although she lacks a systematic view of the role of fetishes and other spiritual tokens in the cultures she met her depiction of their impact on everyday life and on funeral customs is enlightening She delves into the afterlife beliefs of the peoples she encountered in many of these cultures today the beliefs she relates are still expressed in a form of syncretistic Christianity But beyond its historic and sociological value the book is just wonderful Mary Kingsley s descriptions are vivid her insights interesting and her understated humor is a joy Anyone with a love of exploration and a good story would enjoy Travels in West Africa Mary Kingsley s account of her experiences suffused with an infectious good humor was published to immediate success in 1897 and remains a compelling tale of adventure