The epic of Sunjata is basically an oral story translated by the author. Actually the people of Mali Empire use to tell their stories orally or via singing poetry. There were fewer trends to write their histories or record their literature in writing as compared to the other areas in Africa .

Sunjata is basically a Mande hero of West Africa who is related to the empire of Mali . This is basically an epic related to the West African oral tradition for centuries that discusses the adventures and achievements of the grand medieval empire of Mali . (Berggren, September 2004) In the epic “Sunjata”, David narrates the thrust very beautifully that how the Mande hero liberated his people from Sumaworo Kanté who was the sorcerer king of Soso. The people of Soso were suffering from slavery and racial oppression by the King Sumawaro Kante. It was Sunjata who had the courage to raise voice against unjust and fight for the rights of the Mande people. Therefore, he made the people realize the importance of freedom and independence and help them liberating from the tyranny of the king. If today any one recognizes the Mande people or the Mali Empire, is only due to the efforts of Sunjata for liberating them from the King.

Though the author has done a very good job in compiling and translating the epic of Sunjata, but there are certain shortcomings in regard of the history and information provided in the book. This might be due to the narration, as much information added seems to be vague at some points. At the same time due to the writing style of the author it also entertains the readers specially who are interested in reading epic from the anthropological point of view.

Therefore, “Sunjata: A west African Epic Of the Mande People” is a book Translated by David Conrad. However the narrator of this book is Djanka Tassey Conde. The author David Conrad is basically a History professor at the State University of New York and at the same time has the credit of being the President of the Mande Studies Association. However, his literary skills when mixed with his strong knowledge about the subject provided in the book, makes the book quite influential and impressive.

Therefore, his translation is simple to understand, especially for the readers who are new to the epic of Sunjata. On the other hand his poetic style and the informative introduction about the scholars, heroes, heroines who were presented in a new dimension makes the book more interesting. Another characteristic of Conrad’s writing style is the introduction of secondary characteristics that increased the interest of the epic. At the same time he highlighted previous characters that were obscured. So not only the readers will find this interesting and easy but also the teachers can use this book as a study guide for the elementary source of information about the epic of Sunjata and the Mali Empire.

Therefore, this epic, which is narrated by Djanka and Translated by Conrad, despite having a few shortcomings, is a beautiful piece to read. It is not only a source of entertainment but also provides us information about the Mande people, the Mali Empire and the great works of Sunjata in liberating its people from the King. The language is very easy and simple to understand, where the use of poetry grasps the interest of the reader, as the book is basically a serious epic. It seems that the poetic style has added freshness and life to the epic. Earning some basic information about the Mali Empire, especially related to the efforts of Sunjata in liberating the people from the King of Soso called as Sumawaro Kante, must read the book at least once. Moreover the book in a hidden manner also provides information about the cultural trends of the people, their life style, and their interest towards music and specially highlights the Blacks suffering from slavery since the beginning.

In brief, one having interest in anthropological studies and desires to learn about the West African epic of the Mande people, should not escape from reading this book. It’s the simplest and easies source of information with poetic activity that holds the interest of the reader while making the reader understand the history of the Mande people and works of Sunjata.

APOSTLES OF DISUNION: SOUTHERN SECESSION COMMISSIONERS AND THE CAUSES OF THE CIVIL WAR

Many of the adult Americans are of the misconception that the “Civil War” is not about slavery but about the states right. Though, it is unjust to say that there was one single cause of the Civil War but it could be said that among the various causes of war, the principle cause that matters the most to the Southerners was only one. This is actually what the author tries to emphasis in the book. “Apostles of Disunion: Southern Secession Commissioners And The Causes Of The Civil War”, is written by Charles B. Dew. This is a very interesting book that explains the actual cause of the Civil War while highlighting the speeches of the Southern Session Commissioners. The most interesting aspect of this book is the beautiful and presentable writing style of the author as he not only gave the principle cause of the Civil war but also tried to clear the misconception that the actual cause of the war was the right of state and not slavery. However, the author used evidences from the speeches of the commissioners to prove slavery and racial oppression was the main cause of the war. Though he does not answer this question in the introduction neither in the conclusion but between the lines in every chapter Dew expresses that slavery was the actual cause and the Southerners wanted liberation.

Another interesting point about the author’s style is that he uses simple language with out adding any personal or emotional expression though believed that slavery and racial discrimination to be the principle cause of the war. At the same time, in an implicit manner uses the speeches of the commissioners as an evidence for the soul cause of the war. What marks this book different from all the other books related to the same question “the soul cause of Civil War is slavery or states right?” is the appalling behavior captured from the speeches of the commissioners, which Dew expressed both in the introduction and conclusion of his book. It was related to the commissioner’s speeches as many of these major powers of CSA apologized and took back their personal fear expressed about the results of abolition of slavery. These were made important points used as evidence that slavery was the soul cause of the war, not the right of state. At this stage Dew started discussing and exploring the myth and reality behind the states right and slavery to be the soul cause of war.

However, the way Dew manages to twist these two concepts, one of which is the single cause of the war, is very interesting. He observed the speeches of the Deep southerners, which were sent to the Western and Border states to persuade the legislative bodies to explain the reason behind the sensitive issue of slavery for the Southerners. So Dew very technically introduces the practice of racism and the feelings of the Southerners for liberation against slavery. Though he intertwined both the concepts i.e. slavery and right of state to be the soul cause of the Civil War, at the same time he allegorically made it a point that the main reason behind the civil war was slavery and the emotional chaos of the Southerners.

There were total fifty-two sessions of the commission where the speeches of the commissioners had three common points that are also related to the cause of the Civil War. These include the strong support over the supremacy of whites over the Blacks as they did not wanted to give them equal status as whites. The white American is in majority and they will not allow the minority to enjoy the status as the Native Americans. The other point in common expressed in the book was the racial war in the South and at last the genetics was made an important point that if blacks are given equal status and they socialize with whites and associates into physical relations then a time will come when there will be no distinction among the blacks and the whites. Basically socializing means opening room for marriages among blacks and white, allowing physical relations. Where it pregnancy with out marriages is one of the most common social issue in America these days. So the commissioners were visualizing the future of the American nation. They actually feared that amalgamating the blacks with white would fade away the actual identity of whites from America . Consequently in future the world will not be able to distinguish the original natives of the super power and the next generation will be a mixture of both. This will not be the end; the cultural trends, the life style and the original tradition of the white Americans will not remain pure. Therefore, the commissioners feared for any future impurity in their race, culture, tradition, life style and above all their future generation to adopt genetically changes by socializing with the blacks.

However, this was not the only evidence Dew used to support the case of blacks. He also discussed the reaction of the Buchanan President against the petition filed by Kansas to abolish slavery before the war had started. At the same time the decision of the Supreme Court regarding the Dred Scott, which mandated the government’s support to slavery was another instance that used as evidence in the book. This was not only an evidence supporting slavery to be the main cause of war but also meant a clear violation of the doctrine of states rights. Another issue related to this discovered in the book was the opinions of the future states and the Republican Presidency. The white commissioner were also afraid that given a choice, the Presidents of the future Republicans will sure recognize the social and political rights of the black Americans though will not abolishing slavery completely.

Though many books are written on the same subject but Apostles of Disunion is one of a kind. Its beauty lies in its conciseness and direct accessibility. The language is easy and the style is simple but intellectual as it contains all relevant information and facts supporting the soul cause of slavery with the help of evidences traced out of the slippery speeches of the commissioners themselves. Nonetheless the extraordinary use of documentation and letters of speech makes the book authentic and interesting that the reader will finish reading in just an hour.