Description

Book Synopsis
In Africa Dances Gorer takes the reader on an odyssey across West Africa, in the company of Feral Benga, one of the great black ballet stars of 1930s Paris. It is a devastating critique of colonial rule, which is shown to be destroying African society just as effectively as Christian missionaries undermine indigenous morality. Africa Dances captures the rich physical and psychological detail of African village life from food and architecture to dance and magic. Gorer witnesses men diving for three-quarters of an hour without coming up for breath, witch-doctors conjuring thunderstorms out of clear blue skies, and chameleon fetishists whose skin changes from a dirty white to almost black. This is a place where if you believe, you can.

Trade Review
He has made one of the most singular journeys of modern times, and he has given us a book which opens a window on a world that most of us hardly realise exists ...There are no reservations in this astonishing book. Sex, religion, politics the place of fetish and magic, wrestling, dancing and marriage ... A book I could not put down from the first page to the last. Daily Telegraph

Africa Dances

    Product form

    A Paperback / softback by Geoffrey Gorer

    £13.49

    Includes FREE delivery

    RRP £14.99 – you save £1.50 (10%)

    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Sat 21 Nov 2026.

    5 in stock

      Trusted by thousands of customers. See 2,385+ Customer Reviews

      View other formats and editions of Africa Dances by Geoffrey Gorer

      Book details

      Publisher Eland Publishing Ltd
      Published 23 February 2023
      ISBN-13 9781780602141
      978-1780602141
      ISBN-10 1780602146
      Also in:
      Folk dancing

      Description

      Book Synopsis
      In Africa Dances Gorer takes the reader on an odyssey across West Africa, in the company of Feral Benga, one of the great black ballet stars of 1930s Paris. It is a devastating critique of colonial rule, which is shown to be destroying African society just as effectively as Christian missionaries undermine indigenous morality. Africa Dances captures the rich physical and psychological detail of African village life from food and architecture to dance and magic. Gorer witnesses men diving for three-quarters of an hour without coming up for breath, witch-doctors conjuring thunderstorms out of clear blue skies, and chameleon fetishists whose skin changes from a dirty white to almost black. This is a place where if you believe, you can.

      Trade Review
      He has made one of the most singular journeys of modern times, and he has given us a book which opens a window on a world that most of us hardly realise exists ...There are no reservations in this astonishing book. Sex, religion, politics the place of fetish and magic, wrestling, dancing and marriage ... A book I could not put down from the first page to the last. Daily Telegraph

      Recently viewed products

      © 2026 Book Curl

        • American Express
        • Apple Pay
        • Diners Club
        • Discover
        • Google Pay
        • Maestro
        • Mastercard
        • PayPal
        • Shop Pay
        • Union Pay
        • Visa

        Login

        Forgot your password?

        Don't have an account yet?
        Create account