Review by Choice Review
The term Sahel conjures up images of drought and famine, of helpless and poverty-stricken victims. But the region and its people are far more complex than this perception implies and Rain describes and analyzes these complexities. The author, a geographer with the US Census Bureau and former Peace Corps volunteer in Niger, stresses the seasonal migration of people between their villages on the desert margin and the city of Maradi in Niger, near the Nigerian border, and beyond. He interviewed some 150 people during several visits and analyzed previous studies, current data on land use, statements of development policy, and much more. The result is a remarkable blend of geography, demography, sociology, development economics, history, cultural anthropology, ecology, politics, sharia (Muslim religious law), and government policies. Rain uses the first-person singular, describing vividly his experiences in the region and his reactions to them. He explains many contradictions, noting humorous elements and offering profound insights as well as his own conclusions on many subjects. The people come to life, as a group and as individuals. This book dispels many misconceptions and is an education in itself. Upper-division undergraduates and above. M. I. Glassner; emeritus, Southern Connecticut State University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
