ME Sharpe Professor

Niumi, a little-known territory located on the bank of the Gambia River in West Africa, is seemingly far from the reaches of world historical events. And yet the outside world has long had a significant—and increasingly profound—impact on Niumi.

This fascinating work shows how global events have affected people's lives over the past eight centuries in this small region in Africa's smallest country. Drawing on written and oral testimony, and writing in a clear and personal style, Donald R. Wright connects “globalization” with real people in a real place. This new edition revisits issue in global history and African history based on current studies and new developments that have been factored into the interpretive framework.

Reflecting on recent visits to Niumi, Wright extends the story into 2009, to consider the local impact of global recession and domestic political repression under a regime in power for the past fifteen years. Punctuating the narrative are photographs, maps, and “Perspectives” boxes on selected topics such as the sale of slaves five centuries ago, colonial sexism, the fate of press freedom, and how popular culture affects growing up in a traditional society. Throughout, the author deals with African history seriously, global trends critically, and human lives sensitively.

“One of the best and most widely adopted books for teaching about Africa in the context of world history. ...Through focusing on the small state of Niumi at the mouth of the Gambia River, beginning with the first direct contact with the Portuguese in 1446 CE and continuing to the present, Wright combines a detailed local history with that of the evolving intercommunicating world. By doing so, this study enables its readers to understand the changes that a growing involvement with the world economy introduced into the lives of real people at a very local level. In the words of one reviewer, it has developed a reputation as 'the best book on Africa.'” — R. Hunt Davis, University of Florida (*)

“It's the best combination of local sensitivity and global awareness I know of. The historical sweep is impressive, giving a sense of several major versions of global interaction. …The book is accessible to students, another obvious plus.” — Peter N. Stearns, Provost, George Mason University