Clik here to view.
Nomads and Explorers
The landscape after Gashua became flat scrub, offering long views in a palette of tans, browns, and dabs of dusty green. Nasiru Datti said it could be farmland but had fallen into disuse as the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Cast of Characters: in Africa
Here are a few of the people most important to Barth during his five-year journey, and hence prominent characters in A Labyrinth of Kingdoms: James Richardson The expedition’s first leader. A British...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Golden City: the Allure of Timbuktu
When my grandfather wanted to signify something far out of reach or unimaginably far away, the thing or person would be “way out in Timbuktu” or “gone to Timbuktu.” As a child I loved the word’s...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Barth Slept Here (Uneasily)
Barth entered Timbuktu in September 1853. He didn’t expect to stay long. When explorers make plans, the gods snicker. He got stuck in Timbuktu and environs for eight months. For much of that time he...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Pity You Aren’t British
As I’ve mentioned, Heinrich Barth remains unknown to the general public despite being one of Africa’s greatest explorers. The reasons are complicated, but among them is his nationality. He was a German...
View Article
