Historical Dictionary of the Comoro Islands FROM THE PUBLISHER
Islands of stark contrasts and complex syncretisms, the Comoros hold a major key to the history of the western Indian Ocean area. Recent archaeological studies have confirmed that the islands were a crossroads of the region. Extensive long-distance maritime trade was recorded in oral histories and is reflected today in the cultures of the Islands: a mix of Arabian, Asian, African, Malagasy, and European traits. The coelecanth (a fish once thought to have been extinct for seventy-five million years) can be caught. The Islands have attracted recent world-wide attention for the political activities of the notorious mercenary, Bob Denard. This book is an authoritative introduction to the Comoro Islands; past and present. It is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the history, economics, cultures, languages, geography, geology, or politics of the Western Indian Ocean.
Author Biography: Martin Ottenheimer (Ph.D., Anthropology, Tulane University; M.A., Philosophy, Tulane University; B.S., Philosophy, Renselaer Polytechnic Institute) is Professor of Anthropology at Kansas State University. He has lived in the Comoro Islands and published numerous articles about them. Professor Ottenheimer has also co-published a Folkways Album containing a sample of music from the island of Nzwani and "Marriage in Domoni", a book describing social life in a historical settlement of the Comoros. Harriet Ottenheimer (Ph.D., Anthropology, Tulane University; B.S., Literature, Bennington College) is Director of American Ethnic Studies and Professor of Anthropology at Kansas State University. She has engaged in research in New Orleans and in the Comoro Islands. Her publications include "Musicof the Comoro Islands—Domoni", and "Cousin Joe: Blues from New Orleans". She also maintains a computer-assisted dictionary of ShiNzwani, the language of the island of Nzwani.
FROM THE CRITICS
Booknews
An introduction to the Comoro Islands, a major key to the history of the western Indian Ocean area. Dictionary entries contain information on rulers past and present, languages, cities, rituals, and political groups. Includes a chronology of the islands, a map, and an introduction providing information on climate, population, and the economy of the area. Lacks an index. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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