Jaguar: A Story of Africans in America

By Paul Stoller

Book Overview

Issa Boureima is a young, hip African street vendor who sells knock-off designer bags and hats in an open-air market on 125th street in Harlem. His goal is to become a "Jaguar"--a West African term for a keen entrepreneur able to spot trends and turn a profit in any marketplace. This dynamic world, largely invisible to mainstream culture, is the backdrop of this timely novel.

Faced with economic hardship in Africa, Issa has left his home in Niger and his new wife, Khadija, to seek his fortune in America. Devout Muslims, the couple has entered into a "modern" marriage: Khadija is permitted to run her own business, and Issa has agreed not to take additional wives. Issa quickly adapts to his new surroundings, however, and soon attracts several girlfriends. Aided by a network of immigrants, he easily slips through gaps in the "system" and extends his stay in America indefinitely. Following a circuit of African-American cultural festivals across America, he marvels at African-Americans' attitudes toward Africa, and wonders if he'll ever return to Niger. Meanwhile, Khadija also struggles to make it--to become a "Jaguar"--as she combats loneliness, hostile in-laws, and a traditional, male-dominated society. The eventual success of her dry goods shop and her growing affection for a helpful Arab merchant make her wonder if she'll ever join Issa in America.

Drawing on his own decades of experience among Africans both in Niger and in New York, Paul Stoller offers enormous insight into the complexities of contemporary Africa. Alive with detail, Jaguar is a story of triumph and disappointment, of dislocation and longing, and of life lived in a world that no longer recognizes boundaries.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0226775283
• ISBN13: 9780226775289
• Release Date: December 1999
• Publisher: University of Chicago Press
• Length: 213 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Jaguar: a story of Africans in America

Paul Stoller, a professor of anthropology at West Chester University of Pennsylvania, has spent much of his career conducting research on the Songhay people of the republic of Niger.In 1999, Stoller published a book, Jaguar: a Story of Africans in America, which is about West African Muslims who migrate to the U.S. and work as street vendors and traders. These men, who move across the globe for years at a time in order to make money, are known as Jaguars. In addition, this ethnographic fiction is about the world these African men leave behind in their native lands, and the responsibilities they have to their families living there. In Jaguar: a Story of Africans in America, Stoller illustrates the dichotomy between African culture and American culture by showing the differences in gender roles, class structures, and family. Furthermore, Stoller depicts the different views each culture has on topics like polygamy and adultery. Stoller's book also describes the tensions between contemporary and traditional gender roles. Finally, Stoller's book demonstrates a struggle between individualism and collectivism. Jaguar: a Story of Africans in America centers on a man from Niger named Issa. Issa has gone to America and left his wife, Khadija, in Niger in search of fortune and adventure. Issa becomes a street vendor in Harlem, New York, and his life begins to change as he lives with American culture. He encounters many new things and meets many people throughout his journey. Meanwhile, Khadija is left behind in Niger with no husband, and a mother-in-law who can't stand her because of her social class. With the departure of Issa, Khadija's life changes as she struggles to define herself as an individual. Issa and Khadija faced many other difficulties, including the struggle to remain loyal to each other and resist sexual temptations. Stoller's book contains 31 short chapters and 210 pages. The book is split between two settings, Niger and Harlem, that alternate back and forth throughout the story. This is the basic structure of the book, and the settings continue to alternate with about five chapters in each section. Paul Stoller's Jaguar: a Story of Africans in America is entertaining, and very easy to read. The book is well written, and the vocabulary is not difficult to comprehend. Stoller's book is very interesting because it teaches people about the struggles Africans face when migrating to America. It shows the difficult life styles that Africans have to live, in addition to leaving their families behind. Also, Stoller's book is very sad because African families are torn apart. Families are separated as the men leave for work and opportunity in America, in order to support their families who are left behind. Stoller's book focuses on West African Muslims living in America. He does a good job emphasizing the difficulties that many Africans face while living in America. However, Stoller does not do a good job emphasizing the Is

Religion 266

In his book Jaguar, Paul Stroller writes a remarkable piece about a man named Issa and his wife Khadjia and their lives, working to make enough money to support themselves as well as their families. Issa decides to go to America to make a better living than the one he was making in Abidjan, and he wanted Khadija to stay with his family in Niger until he made enough money to fly her out to America with him.

Jaguar

Jaguar tells the story of Issa and Khadija, a young Nigerien Muslim couple. Upon Issa's move to New York City in pursuit of wealth as the first son and breadwinner of his extended family in Niger, the two are separated as Khadija remains in Niger with her husband's kin. As such, the book alternates sections between Khadija's life in Niger and Issa's in Harlem, focusing on the respective challenges they face. Issa's struggle stems from his life as a jaguar, while Khadija struggles to become a jaguar. Both Issa and Khadija prove to be authentic modern jaguars. Stoller explains the origins of the term, "In search of adventure and fortune, Jaguars were sleek young men who in the 1950s appeared in the market towns of Ghana's colonial Gold Coast.... Capitalizing on their adaptability and their market smarts, the Jaguars rapidly integrated themselves into the local economic scene, making themselves aware of fashion trends. In this way, they quickly transformed their knowledge into profits (14). It is the entrepreneurial and independent modus operandi that both Issa and Khadija so inherently possessed as market traders that qualifies them as modern Jaguars. Issa's struggle as a jaguar in America stems from a host of contradictions between his two lives. As a husband in a "modern marriage," he had agreed to remain faithful to his wife, yet years of separation left his sexual appetite unquenched. As a Muslim allowed four wives, Issa is torn between tradition and modernity, genuine love for Khadija and desire. Financial obligations as first son of the family and expected remittances result in an indefinite return date based upon his earnings. Amidst such difficulties Issa along is determined to succeed through patience, faith and the Jaguar mentality. His ultimate attraction to the freedom and excitement of life as a Jaguar, and obligations to his family required sacrifices that remained a constant source of struggle for Issa. Khadija's struggle to identify as such a Jaguar highlights the inequalities she faced based on class and gender. Her humble business aspirations and desire for family were constantly hindered by outdated traditions. As a peasant married to a noble Khadija never gained the acceptance of her in-laws. She also faced difficulties as a businesswoman in a largely patriarchal society. But more often than not her resourcefulness, good business sense and kindness resulted in her success, providing an exquisite example of how such qualities can defeat an unjust status quo. Stoller is effective in allowing the audience to identify with such a powerful woman. Her ultimate self-identification as a Jaguar is a powerful statement for feminism in the face of patriarchal domination. Khadija is the undisputed protagonist of Jaguar, an entrepreneur and an empowering figure for women everywhere. The Jaguar story is particularly important as globalization tightens its grip on the world. As the interaction of cultures, traditions a

Jaguar Book Review by Amanda Smith

Dark, fierce and quick the jaguar cat manages to adapt to diverse environments rapidly, while thriving off its natural ingenuity. Appropriately enough, in his first stab at writing a fiction novel, Jaguar, Paul Stoller depicts a young man who fits these characteristics perfectly. Jaguar, a term used by natives of West Africa to describe a man who capitalizes on his adaptability and entrepreneurship capabilities, defines the novels main character Issa Boureima. Descended from a line of Niger royalty and a clever businessman, Issa is the epitome of a jaguar in both his home community and abroad. Exploring the multiple dichotomies of American life and African life, individuality vs. collectivism and male and female, Stoller does an eloquent job in explaining multiple aspects of a jaguars' life. Through the telling of the social lives and inner thoughts of the characters, Stoller, creates a dynamic picture of interweaving lives that all divulge a different look into the formation of community at home and abroad for West African jaguars. Originally, an anthropologist who has spent multiple decades studying and immersing himself in West African culture, Stoller writes a convincing ethnographic tale that remains true to his anthropologic roots while delving into the feelings, hopes and desires of the people he studied. Allowing the reader to identify with certain characteristics of the novel's actors, like the need for love and acceptance, gives the reader the feeling that Stoller is confident in his capability to bring to life characters that people can relate to.

Very Interesting Book

I loved this book! I read it almost non-stop until I finished it. I've read many books on Africa and African lifestyles, but this one was still informative. I admired Khadija for her strength of character, high principles and decisiveness in her business decisions. I was quite curious as to whether or not she and Issa would reunite, in the end. I must say that the book ended with a feeling of closure even though there were a couple of surprises. I will be looking forward to reading the next book that Mr. Stoller has very recently completed, on a similiar topic. I recommend this book for anyone interested in Africans, how some of them think, rationalize and go about the task of trying to "make it" in America.