I am fascinated by the natural and spiritual world of this novel by Ibrahim Al-Koni, and how that world is changing with contact with Europe, America, and modernization. I include images, of the Libyan desert and mountains of the Bedouins, and of the famous rock carvings described in the text. Howard Banwell has an interesting collection of pictures of Libyan desert petroglyphs, a UNESCO world heritage site. 
The interaction in the novel between Islam and Sufism and traditional African beliefs, practices, and religion is interesting.
"He'd become wary of hunting the waddan, and would never venture to the majestic heights until he'd recited all the Quranic verses he'd memorized, repeated, in Hausa, all the spells of the African magicians, then hung around his neck all the snakeskin amulets he'd bought from soothsayers traveling in caravans." (23-4)
1 comment:
The mountains you have posted on this blog are incredible. Have you been there? I wish that at some point in my life I can muster up the time and energy to travel and explore the mountains....Maybe that's where you found your positive outlook on EVERYTHING!
Post a Comment