Janice Boddy Bücher

Adherents to the zar cult in northern Sudan encounter spirits that are parallels of historically relevant figures in the known human world. Based on nearly two years of ethnographic fieldwork in a Muslim village this study offers a multidimensional interpretation of the zar.

Focusing on the period between 1920 and 1946, the book delves into the clash of cultures between British colonial officers and Sudanese Muslims, particularly regarding the contentious issue of female circumcision. Janice Boddy utilizes colonial documents and popular culture to provide ethnographic insights, while also highlighting women's roles in zâr spirit possession rituals as a form of resistance and cultural expression. This exploration reveals the complexities of colonialism and the nuanced experiences of women in Sudan.

This is the intimate first-person account of a young woman's coming-of-age in Somalia. The daughter of tribal leaders, Aman recounts her dramatic life while at the same time illuminating an innocent childhood romance with a white boy that leads to murder; her circumcision ceremony; an unwanted marriage at the age of 13; and her escape to the city where her beauty and curiosity lead her into a world of white men, parties and runaway girls.