The Wind Within

By Rachel Cecilia Jillo Massaquoi

The Wind Within portrays some African traditions and cultural practices, particularly among the Mende of Sierra Leone, West Africa. It is an intriguing and exciting story told through the eyes of Kenyeh, a girl from this region. It also touches on the brutal rebel war that engulfed the Sierra Leone for ten years.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0595320112
• ISBN13: 9780595320110
• Release Date: December 2004
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Length: 200 Pages
• Weight: 0.66 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

The Wind Within

The author of "The Wind Within" is a master story teller who potrays colourfully the effects of a devastating rebel war and unpopular and sensitive subject of female circumcision. She offers an opportunity to the reader to appreciate the West African culture through the Mende tribe. The pages keep on turning. The novel is unputdownable.

One of a kind

"The Wind Within" takes a detailed look at Mende culture and boldly explores issues as devastatating as the rebel war, as sensitive as female circumcision and as fascinating as the meaning of names. A fun read, full of colorful characters and surprising twists.

A Must-Read Book for anthropologists and linguists

"The Wind Within" is a must-read for all who want to learn about the way of life - the culture, tradition, beliefs, superstitions - of the Mende people of Sierra Leone. It very vividly depicts the fabrics that hold the various components of the community together. Yet it is fascinating and eye-opening for the one who wants to learn a few vocabulary used in a dialect that is not international today but that was once spoken by many slaves of Europe and America hundreds of years ago, and that is till spoken today in some West African countries. The book may be a companion to "The Amistad", a movie about the valor of a young Mende slave.

A Breath of Fresh Air

Kenyeh's story provides a glimpse into a culture that, while initially unfamiliar to the western reader, is made compelling by the epic (yet understated) journey of its central character. The book's portrayal of familial bonds transcends cultural boundaries, and its perspective on cultural and societal flashpoints makes the story both compelling and relevant.

A must read for everyone!

This book is full of culture and stories. The words give in to a powerful country, Siera Leone, and its rich traditions. "The Wind Within" is a must read for anyone who has interest in other cultures and how a country lived in terror for ten years.