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| Benin Kings And RitualsPosted on September 30, 2010.  Published to Accompany The Major international touring exhibition Which Comes to Chicago in The Summer of 2008, this monumental volume features stunning reproductions More Than 500 ALONGSIDE important new scholarship On The prized sculptures and carvings Of The Benin Kingdom of Sixteenth-through Nineteenth-Century West Africa (pre-colonial Nigeria). It Brings Together For the first time masterpieces That Have Been Scattered All Over the World Since The End of the Nineteenth Century, while simultaneously Documenting the Fall of the independent Kingdom, ITS reconstitution in The Twentieth Century and Its Continued existence-through today. From Elaborate bas-relief plaques to stately commemorative King's Head and towering elephant Tusks embellished With Detailed figurative scenes Illustrating Life Has Short & the heroic deeds of kings and warriors, The artworks Gathered here glorified The King as The Political and spiritual head of His people and Honored historical ancestors. The Detailed workmanship and Outstanding Aesthetic quality of Benin's royal sculpture Have Been Compared To The Work Of The Celebrated Renaissance artist, Benvenuto Cellini. And Their wealth of iconographic detail Convey The sumptuousness of the royal short and Its Historical importance as a regional powerhouse In The Benin (or Edo) era. CommentsPaola Gate says... This is a well-written book filled with facts and historical notes that are fascinating even if you're not planning a trip to Benin. Erika Kraus and Felicie Reid write with an objective but upbeat tone that keeps the book from being too dry, but the facts are all there: from the ties that various cities, temples, and even countries have to the ancient African kingdoms to the best times and transportation methods to visit them. Did you know that you can visit a _king_ in the Royal Palace of Ketou? Or that there are two sacred forests full of voudoun artifacts that are open to foreigners? All the research is there, at your fingertips: the local birds, the extremely edible bush rats, and how to avoid malaria. If bartering is as alien and unpleasant to you as it is to me, this book will help; it tells you the price range for everything from a clay necklace to a night at an upscale hotel. The bulk of the book deals with the "departments" in Benin, listing the major attractions in each area and how to get to them. It lists local restaurants, hotels, and describes native cuisine. In Ketou, women are forbidden to witness the celebrations of the Oro or ask about them in public. In general, don't take or give things with the left hand. Lastly, there is a dictionary of common French and Fon phrases to help you communicate. This book is an indispensable resource. Posted on October 1, 2010 Leola Cordaro says... Having also served in the Peace Corps in Benin like the authors, I know what a difficult place Benin is to navigate.I also know that there is beauty and adventure to be found almost anywhere in the country and I am so grateful to Erika and Felicie for putting this book together to share this wonderful country with the rest of the world.Bon travail et felicitations!! Posted on October 1, 2010 Irmgard Grossmeyer says... After my first overview of this book I knew I had to get to Chicago to see this incredible collection which is on display at the Institute of Art Chicago through September '08.I flew there from Houston two days ago, and it was worth every penny. The book and exhibition show examples of life, ceremonies, and art exquisitely colorful, illuminating and unique.The bronze castings date from the 16th century to 2006. Some of the pieces such as the exceptional bronze Queen Mother are so inspiring.Ivory and bronze pendants, Altar of the Hand bronze vessels,snake heads, Oba stools, an ivory double gong, the best bronze leopards I've ever seen,ivory and bronze salt cellars.This is really overwhelming, and the documentation is thorough and well organized.I'm so enthrawled with the artwork I can't take my eyes away to read all the information about the collection; it's so addictive.The container in the shape of a Palace building was a highlight to me because I've never seen anything like it before.I have about 70 books on African art.This is one of the very best. Posted on October 2, 2010 Shay Boyce says... Stating that this book is a masterpiece is an understatement. Certainly the best book I've bought about Benin City (pre-colonial Nigeria). The 500 color photos of the bas-relief plaques, heads and ivory are beautiful. This book is a great resource for the art of Benin City and its culture. When I received this book in the mail and started reading and viewing the photos, it took me on a journey of West African ancient history. I was not disappointed at all with this book. Posted on October 3, 2010 Rodrick Smejkal says... Having been to Benin a couple of times now there was always one thing missing: an up to date guidebook as all others are quite old and have not been updated in a long time. So I was quite glad to discover this new current Benin (Other Places Travel Guide. Useful and nice to read are the little paragraphs named "Insights" which show some aspects not written about in other guide books. Only useful if one reads this up prior to the trip are the "On The Web"-Links as the internet connection in most of Benin ist quite basic and one needs a lot of patience to check up on anything not really necessary on the web. The book starts with nice and easy to read introductory chapters about history, politics, religion and flora and fauna, food and drinks. There is a good section on the rstaurant and bars of Cotonou but very little or hardly anything about the route des pecheurs along the sea between Cotonou and Ouidah which nowadays has a lot to offer hotel and restaurant wise. On the other hand the auhtors cover some villages which are not mentioned in other guidebooks which is nice as the traveller realises there is more to Benin than just Cotonou, Porto Novo or any of the other standard sights. The authors show a good insight into the country and I can only recommend this book to all Benin-visitors. Posted on October 5, 2010 Latasha Oates says... This is a great guidebook. The perspective the authors give is tremendously insightful and informational. The detailed history of Benin is especially useful to Western visitors with limited exposure to Africa. The maps are detailed and the local inforamtion is top-notch. If you're traveling to Benin, this guidebook is requred reading! Posted on October 6, 2010 Lory Mccuistion says... Having lived for two years in Benin myself as a Peace Corps Volunteer (like the authors), I am amazed at this book! The detail enables even new and inexperienced travelers to access off the beaten path destinations and local hangouts.As a Peace Corps Volunteer I always wished there were travel guides written for other countries by volunteers - speaking the local language and living on small salaries for long periods of time in different countries allowed volunteers to amass a wealth of knowledge on great destinations in each country.When I travelled around Africa I used to go into the Peace Corps offices to ask where the best places to eat were!This book covers an enormous amount of activities with so much more variety and detail than a typical travel guide.Readers can truly experience Benin! Posted on October 8, 2010 Yi Rasher says... Absolutely fabulous travel guide that fits in your pocket for easy access during your travels to Benin. I looked all over for a guide for a recent trip and was thrilled to have found this one! An added bonus - it us up to date! The maps and photos are excellent and there are great recs about what to do, where to go and where to stay from Peace Corps volunteers who served in the country and really know the best of the best. Everything you may need... in this one book! Cheers! Posted on October 10, 2010 Lera Behrmann says... Great information from two with great experiences. The photos were excellent and the book gives great advice for anyone to feel comfortable traveling in West Africa. It's truly and amazing place. Posted on October 13, 2010 Tonisha Healey says... Having this book is like knowing locals. Erika Kraus and Felicie Reid give so much detailed information that I felt like they were touring Benin with me. It's obvious that the authors of this book spent years in Benin and didn't just visit. This book is very comprehensive. It offers information about rural areas and small towns, as well as the larger cities. This book describes the diverse cultures of Benin and guides the reader through areas rarely visited by tourists. This book is a wonderful travel companion and a rare insight into this fascinating country. Posted on October 13, 2010 Leave a Comment |
