A description of the history and culture of the people living in West Africa includes information about their economy, language, arts, political system, customs, and religion

"A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots" - Marcus Garvey.The manuscript of this book was written by Victoria Aikoroje (my late sister) driven by her passionate interest in tracing and establishing the origin of her people - the Ora people. Unfortunately, she could not publish the work because her life on earth was suddenly cut short. She died in 1984 aged 25 years.I took up the responsibility and task of publishing her manuscript into this book for the following reasons:*To keep alive the name and research work of the author. *To ensure that her valuable efforts to provide a credible narration of the history, origin, and culture of the Ora people are not wasted as a result of her demise.*To let the present and future generations of Ora people know where they came from and that because of their roots, they and their children are indeed "princes" and "princesses" who belong to the royal family of the great Benin kingdom as revealed by Victoria's research work.I have done very minimal edits to the original manuscript in order to rearrange the flow of the content for easy reading.The manuscript was dated April 1983 and for this reason, some aspects of the content of the book (as would be expected) have over the intervening period experienced social, political, geographical and economic changes. This calls for the reader to consider the text in the book from the perspective of the author writing her story during the aforementioned period. Please read, enjoy, be informed and intrigued.

Nishiyama Matsunosuke is one of the most important historians of Tokugawa (Edo) popular culture, yet until now his work has never been translated into a Western language. Edo Culture presents a selection of Nishiyama’s writings that serves not only to provide an excellent introduction to Tokugawa cultural history but also to fill many gaps in our knowledge of the daily life and diversions of the urban populace of the time. Many essays focus on the most important theme of Nishiyama’s work: the seventeenth to nineteenth centuries as a time of appropriation and development of Japan’s culture by its urban commoners. In the first of three main sections, Nishiyama outlines the history of Edo (Tokyo) during the city’s formative years, showing how it was shaped by the constant interaction between its warrior and commoner classes. Next, he discusses the spirit and aesthetic of the Edo native and traces the woodblock prints known as ukiyo-e to the communal activities of the city’s commoners. Section two focuses on the interaction of urban and rural culture during the nineteenth century and on the unprecedented cultural diffusion that occurred with the help of itinerant performers, pilgrims, and touring actors. Among the essays is a delightful and detailed discourse on Tokugawa cuisine. The third section is dedicated to music and theatre, beginning with a study of no, which was patronized mainly by the aristocracy but surprisingly by commoners as well. In separate chapters, Nishiyama analyzes the relation of social classes to musical genres and the aesthetics of kabuki. The final chapter focuses on vaudeville houses supported by the urban masses.

The dynamics of Traditional African Medicine/Magic, kings, mystical warriors,and priests on the rise of the Great Benin empire.

Africa is a vast continent, home to many millions of people. Its history stretches back millennia and encompasses some of the most ancient civilizations in the world. Modern Africa boasts a rich cultural heritage, the legacy of many diverse influences from all around the world, reflecting the central role African plays in world history. Encyclopedia of African Peoples provides extensive information about Africa's cultures, history, geography, economics, and politics; it provides an invaluable overview of the whole continent, region by region, ethnic group by ethnic group, nation by nation, personality by personality. Sections include: *Africa Today * The Peoples of Africa * Culture and History * The Nations of Africa * Biographies Past to Present * Glossary * Index.

How the mindset of traditional Japanese society can guide our own efforts to lead a green lifestyle today. If we want to live sustainably, how should we feel about nature? About waste? About our forests and rivers? About food? Just Enough is a book of stories and sketches that give valuable insight into what it is like to live in a sustainable society by describing life in Japan some two hundred years ago, during the late Edo period, when cities and villages faced many of the same environmental challenges we do today and met them beautifully and inventively.