Learning Calabar

Notes from a Poet's Year in Nigeria

By: Anne McCrary Sullivan

Write A Review

Hardcover | 16 March 2022

At a Glance

Hardcover
130 Pages

Edition Type
New edition

Dimensions(cm)
22.23 x 14.61 x 1.27

Hardcover

$104.75

or 4 interest-free payments of $26.19 with

or

Ships in 5 to 7 business days

This book represents a close engagement with vulnerable populations in the city of Calabar in southeastern Nigeria. Following the traditions of Clifford Geertz' thick description, Elliot Eisner's arts-based research, and Laurel Richardson's poetic inquiry, Learning Calabar weaves prose and poetry in a hybrid form that evokes the everyday lives of gate keepers, grounds keepers, taxi drivers, cooks, and children with whom the author interacted during a Fulbright year. From the stance of a participant-observer, it traces her learning of history and the evolution of her understanding as she lived, along with her neighbors, in the chaos of governmental failure, extended power outages, and dysfunctional systems, aware that her privilege offered protections not afforded to her neighbors. This work opens doors to a long sweep of Nigerian history, while keeping a laser eye on people living now in the aftermath of that history, which is both culturally rich and politically torn. Written from the viewpoint of a learner, this book will be of interest to learners of West African history, cultural anthropology, ethnography, women's studies, cross cultural studies, and poetic inquiry. Its vibrant voice and poetic renderings also make it accessible and engaging for general audiences.

Industry Reviews

"Learning Calabar is a wonderful tribute to the people and place of Calabar, a major port for the trans-Atlantic slave trade from the 1600s to 1840, and the first capital of Nigeria, until 1906. In poetry and prose, with an open mind and an attitude of solidarity, Sullivan bears witness to the struggles and triumphs of her contemporary Calabar neighbors. The long poem 'Mary Okoi's Garden' creates a striking portrait of working class 'women's power' in a West African context." -Ivor Miller, Calabar on the Cross River: Historical and Cultural Studies and Voice of the Leopard: African Secret Societies and Cuba

Shipping

	Standard Shipping	Express Shipping
Metro postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Regional postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Rural postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95

Orders over $79.00 qualify for free shipping.

How to return your order

At Booktopia, we offer hassle-free returns in accordance with our returns policy. If you wish to return an item, please get in touch with Booktopia Customer Care.

Additional postage charges may be applicable.