|
Following the death of her parents in 1892, Mary H. Kingsley embarked on two solitary expeditions to West Africa. She cemented strong friendships with traders and seafarers, both African and European, who represented the backbone of early colonial business. Fascinated by the fauna, the vegetation and the many people inhabiting the vast expanses of West Africa, she collected information on all aspects of African life. Open-minded and puzzled by what she saw, she was very keen to understand the originality and value of African ways of life, belief systems and spirituality. That of course put her on a collision course with missionaries and narrow-minded officials. |