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Ama: A Story Of The Atlantic Slave Trade
A Story of the Atlantic Slave Trade. In great condition. I read it quickly one time.
374 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
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837 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
January 2, 2008
This is the kind of book I wish they had six stars for. I picked this up in a book store on the way to visit Mandela's prison on Robben Island. My version, published by Picador Africa, would have never found its way to my hands if I hadn't been there. And I sincerely believe my life would have been a tad less rich if I had never found it.
An amazingly intimate and emotionally real novel written by a white man about the experiences of a young black slave, it is a testament to the power of imagination (and a whole lot of research). Herbstein reaches into Ama's inner life so completely that you have to keep reminding yourself that it is not actually a memoir, but a lavishly done, wonderful novel.
The story picks up in inland Africa with a young native named Nandzi. Herbstein refrains from idealizing her life, describing it simply and eloquently. Nandzi is kidnapped by members of another African tribe and transported to the slave fort in West Africa, where she lives for some time, only to be ultimately sold to a vessel coming to the new world, with a middle passage horrific and well-told.
There aren't enough good things I can say about this book. Rich in details, filled with African myth and folklore and exquisitely researched, Ama should be required reading for all schoolchildren, as Anne Frank's diary is (although, at 370+ pages, we're talking seniors, not freshmen).
Something else notable about Ama is the wonderful, award-winning website put together to support the book, filled with maps and documentation that demonstrates that, although fictionalized, Ama's story is almost identical to thousands of people in the region. It's worth checking out as well: http://www.ama.africatoday.com/
An amazingly intimate and emotionally real novel written by a white man about the experiences of a young black slave, it is a testament to the power of imagination (and a whole lot of research). Herbstein reaches into Ama's inner life so completely that you have to keep reminding yourself that it is not actually a memoir, but a lavishly done, wonderful novel.
The story picks up in inland Africa with a young native named Nandzi. Herbstein refrains from idealizing her life, describing it simply and eloquently. Nandzi is kidnapped by members of another African tribe and transported to the slave fort in West Africa, where she lives for some time, only to be ultimately sold to a vessel coming to the new world, with a middle passage horrific and well-told.
There aren't enough good things I can say about this book. Rich in details, filled with African myth and folklore and exquisitely researched, Ama should be required reading for all schoolchildren, as Anne Frank's diary is (although, at 370+ pages, we're talking seniors, not freshmen).
Something else notable about Ama is the wonderful, award-winning website put together to support the book, filled with maps and documentation that demonstrates that, although fictionalized, Ama's story is almost identical to thousands of people in the region. It's worth checking out as well: http://www.ama.africatoday.com/
October 21, 2013
Ama - a Story of the Atlantic Slave Trade (374; Techmate) by Manu Herbstein won the Commonwealth Writers Prize for the Best First Book in 2002. It explores, boldly, one of the darkest moments of human history when human beings (blacks from Africa) were traded like articles or farm animals. Assessed for defects - muscles, clear eyes, etc. - and for profitability. Thus, in that period, black men and women were no different from livestock - in treatment and in conception.
Manu Herbstein painfully peels off the gangrenes from our necrotic wounds to show us our painful complicity as Africans in our own enslavement and therefore our debasement. To this extent Manu is in league with Ayi Kwei Armah, who in his books - Two Thousand Seasons and The Healers - showed how far we went as Africans, how lowly we bowed, how stupidly we grovelled, and how greedily we participated in our own destruction.
continue from here http://freduagyeman.blogspot.com/2013...
Manu Herbstein painfully peels off the gangrenes from our necrotic wounds to show us our painful complicity as Africans in our own enslavement and therefore our debasement. To this extent Manu is in league with Ayi Kwei Armah, who in his books - Two Thousand Seasons and The Healers - showed how far we went as Africans, how lowly we bowed, how stupidly we grovelled, and how greedily we participated in our own destruction.
continue from here http://freduagyeman.blogspot.com/2013...
October 23, 2011
Historical fiction follows the life of one African woman from her abduction through her life, depicting the conditions of capture, transportation, and slavery. In some fashion, the many characters all are tied to intelligent, educated, beautiful Ama. The author Manu Herbstein has plenty of background information related to the writing of this novel at www.ama.africatoday.com
March 31, 2012
Serious, sensual, surprising, and backed by serious research.
May 2, 2024
Reading Ama by Manu Herbstien was such an experience; it's a call to remembrance, a celebration of resilience, and a challenge to confront the darkest parts of our shared history.
In this historical novel, we step into Ama's world, which is harrowing but necessary as she journeys through a period of immense human suffering. Despite the constant threat of violence, separation, and unimaginable hardship, her spirit flickers defiantly throughout the narrative. Manu paints very vivid and graphic descriptions of violence, suffering, and the brutalities that existed.
Ama’s resilience is what resonated most deeply throughout the book. She is a testament to the will to survive and the power of human connection, even in the direst circumstances. Her story serves as a stark reminder of the complexities of the slave trade. While European involvement undeniably fuelled the atrocity, Herbstein doesn't shy away from the role some African societies played in capturing and selling their own people. This unflinching portrayal can be uncomfortable, but it's necessary for a complete understanding of the times.
This is not an easy read; it can be emotionally overwhelming. It's a story that stays with you long after you turn the final page. It's a powerful and necessary read, even if it's a difficult one.
In this historical novel, we step into Ama's world, which is harrowing but necessary as she journeys through a period of immense human suffering. Despite the constant threat of violence, separation, and unimaginable hardship, her spirit flickers defiantly throughout the narrative. Manu paints very vivid and graphic descriptions of violence, suffering, and the brutalities that existed.
Ama’s resilience is what resonated most deeply throughout the book. She is a testament to the will to survive and the power of human connection, even in the direst circumstances. Her story serves as a stark reminder of the complexities of the slave trade. While European involvement undeniably fuelled the atrocity, Herbstein doesn't shy away from the role some African societies played in capturing and selling their own people. This unflinching portrayal can be uncomfortable, but it's necessary for a complete understanding of the times.
This is not an easy read; it can be emotionally overwhelming. It's a story that stays with you long after you turn the final page. It's a powerful and necessary read, even if it's a difficult one.
October 11, 2024
I bought this book after a guided tour in the capecoast castle in Ghana. This is one of two novels you can buy there, the other one is homecoming by Yaa Gyasi.
Ama is a page turner, a story of resilience and grit. It brings to reality the terrible inhumanity of the slave trade.
The church in the fort is built above the dungeons where slaves were packed before being shipped to the colonies.
Ama's story will keep you enthralled and hoping for good to prevail, even though we know it didn't.
Ama is a page turner, a story of resilience and grit. It brings to reality the terrible inhumanity of the slave trade.
The church in the fort is built above the dungeons where slaves were packed before being shipped to the colonies.
Ama's story will keep you enthralled and hoping for good to prevail, even though we know it didn't.
January 11, 2015
"To hell with you all. I will survive. I shall survive." This encapsulates for me the incredible will-power and love of life of the main character in the book, Ama. Through her intelligence and perceptiveness we discover the ancient animist rituals, the village rites and beliefs, the beauty and wealth of the Asante and their court in Kumase, as well as the horrors inflicted to her people by the many hands engaged in the slave trade, both European and African. Having visited Ghana and Elmina castle, I could visualise Ama's journey through it and the horror she experienced at the hands of brutality. The spirits of her village travel with her through her physical and mental journey and sustain her through her forced conversion into Christianity and the transition from an African way of life into a forced brutal European 'civilisation'. This is an outstanding piece of work that sheds light into so many dark areas of our shared European-African history. I found it both enriching emotionally and historically. The author did an incredible job of linking a variety of sources and bringing them to us in a way that feels so relevant to us nowadays.
October 1, 2012
I really, really enjoyed this book. I loved the characters and the story. The author did a great job of showing the humanity in (many) people no matter what side of the slave trade they were on. The courage and determination the main character showed in moving between decent, bad and horrifying experiences in her life and her constant drive to learn, were inspiring. A trip to Ghana was my excuse to finally start reading this book and it gave me much better insight into Ghana and its history with the slave trade. I will definitely be picking up the follow-on book Brave Music of a Distant Drum.
March 8, 2015
Tough read
This book portrayed the absolute horror and indefensible ugliness of human bondage in a personalized way that made it more shockingly real than a mere history book ever could. The courage and perseverance of the enslaved men and women was almost beyond understanding, as was the cruelty of their 'masters'. This book was well written, although the subject matter kept it from being a pleasurable read. I'm glad I read it and increased my knowledge of this period in history. The author's notes say the characters and events are a work of fiction; I wish slavery was as well.
This book portrayed the absolute horror and indefensible ugliness of human bondage in a personalized way that made it more shockingly real than a mere history book ever could. The courage and perseverance of the enslaved men and women was almost beyond understanding, as was the cruelty of their 'masters'. This book was well written, although the subject matter kept it from being a pleasurable read. I'm glad I read it and increased my knowledge of this period in history. The author's notes say the characters and events are a work of fiction; I wish slavery was as well.
June 8, 2009
This book is meticulously researched and full of historical details with resonance for the story. I learned a great deal about the circumstances of the slave trade and the varying circumstances of slaves from different regions and tribes. The book requires fairly slow, careful reading, but definitely rewards the patient reader.
June 21, 2012
I wasn't sure what to expect with this book and because of that, had a bit of trouble getting into it. Once I got into it, I really enjoyed it. Manu created a couple of characters that really stuck with you. I also appreciated the bits of history he included.
October 16, 2010
Check out my Blog for a review: http://kwesispot.blogspot.com/
May 4, 2011
Powerful, vivid, thought provoking and emotional.
December 2, 2013
Bought the book when visiting Elmina Castle, what a story! Finished it in two days, couldn't put it down.
June 10, 2018
Kayira
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2021
Ama
I read Ama in 2010 and was fascinated by it. I became interested in African enslavement when I came across it in a book at the age of 12. I was shocked by the fact of enslavement. I remember poring over the internet to find out more about it. I read many books over the years on the subject but I rarely came across a book about enslavement set in Ghana so finding Ama at the Legon Bookshop was fascinating. Ama was an eye-opening read that taught me a lot.
Over the years, I've recommended Ama to many people, especially recently when Homegoing started to make waves. I would point out that Ama has so much depth and history. I decided to re-read it last month ahead of our book club meeting with Manu Herbstein. Ama is full of history about Ghana and its internal slavery that fed into the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Right from Bekpokpam, readers are acquainted with life in the small settlements that were constantly raided by slave raiders. Ama makes her way into Gonja land and handed over to the Ashanti kingdom as part of the annual tribute to the Asantehene. In Kumase, readers learn about the rich history of a highly functional and well-structured kingdom that invaded smaller ones to have a constant supply of enslaved people and raw materials. Eventually, Ama is sent away to the coast. Again, readers learn about coastal Gold Coast and its trade with Europeans.
So many things struck me about the novel. First is the vulnerability of women. Second is the vulnerability of enslaved people who are dispensable and could be disposed off at any time no matter how valuable they might have been at some point. The tragedy of enslavement is far too great to speak about. Manu Herbstein has done an immensely successful job at writing a book of such depth. Sadly, Ama's story is a drop in an ocean of unknown and untold stories...
I read Ama in 2010 and was fascinated by it. I became interested in African enslavement when I came across it in a book at the age of 12. I was shocked by the fact of enslavement. I remember poring over the internet to find out more about it. I read many books over the years on the subject but I rarely came across a book about enslavement set in Ghana so finding Ama at the Legon Bookshop was fascinating. Ama was an eye-opening read that taught me a lot.
Over the years, I've recommended Ama to many people, especially recently when Homegoing started to make waves. I would point out that Ama has so much depth and history. I decided to re-read it last month ahead of our book club meeting with Manu Herbstein. Ama is full of history about Ghana and its internal slavery that fed into the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Right from Bekpokpam, readers are acquainted with life in the small settlements that were constantly raided by slave raiders. Ama makes her way into Gonja land and handed over to the Ashanti kingdom as part of the annual tribute to the Asantehene. In Kumase, readers learn about the rich history of a highly functional and well-structured kingdom that invaded smaller ones to have a constant supply of enslaved people and raw materials. Eventually, Ama is sent away to the coast. Again, readers learn about coastal Gold Coast and its trade with Europeans.
So many things struck me about the novel. First is the vulnerability of women. Second is the vulnerability of enslaved people who are dispensable and could be disposed off at any time no matter how valuable they might have been at some point. The tragedy of enslavement is far too great to speak about. Manu Herbstein has done an immensely successful job at writing a book of such depth. Sadly, Ama's story is a drop in an ocean of unknown and untold stories...
April 22, 2023
Indrukwekkend boek. Gaat over een Afrikaans meisje (noorden van huidige Ghana) die op jonge leeftijd wordt geroofd door de Ashanti. Met veel detail wordt verteld over de tocht naar Kumasi, haar leven daar als slavin van de plaatselijke koning. Vervolgens wordt ze naar de kust geleid, en daar verkocht aan de Nederlanders en komt terecht in Elmina. Doordat zij wordt opgemerkt door de hoogste baas heeft ze een tijdje een relatief goed leven, tot deze directeur overlijdt. Vervolgens komt ze op een Engels slavenschip dat aankomt in Brazilië en wordt slavin op een suikerplantage. De schrijver heeft veel research gedaan, waardoor ook de historische verwijzingen gewoon kloppen. Het geeft een heel realistisch beschreven beeld hoe, vanuit het perspectief van een (slimme) slavin de verhoudingen waren, de misstanden soms niet werden gezien, maar vaak ook werden gedoogd of normaal werden gevonden door de witte overheersers.
October 4, 2021
Ama is a beautifully written story about a rather terrible time in human history.
It is clear how thorough Manu Herbstein's research for this work was, as he carefully chronicles the journey of one heroic African girl, captured and sold into slavery.
The story is so vividly told that Ama's struggles and strength all felt so real and raw, several times I had to pause and put the book down, but couldn't help picking it back up shortly after.
Please read this book, if you haven't. It's packed with a wealth of history that is not always told.
It is clear how thorough Manu Herbstein's research for this work was, as he carefully chronicles the journey of one heroic African girl, captured and sold into slavery.
The story is so vividly told that Ama's struggles and strength all felt so real and raw, several times I had to pause and put the book down, but couldn't help picking it back up shortly after.
Please read this book, if you haven't. It's packed with a wealth of history that is not always told.
November 5, 2023
Krappe vier sterren. Interessant boek over iemand die tot slaaf gemaakt wordt en haar leven, maar niet fantastisch geschreven. Er zijn hele goede stukken, zeker het begin waar ze tot slaaf gemaakt wordt is heel interessant, er zitten ook mindere stukken in. Zitten wel een paar enigszins gekke stukjes in waar ze verkracht wordt maar het beschreven wordt alsof ze het bijna leuk vind, wat een beetje raar was.
June 13, 2019
Best book ever! As a native Ghanaian, it offered great insights into my country's history and the struggles of my ancestors. I could not put this book down until the last chapter.
Well written, captivating, it follows a slave woman's journey from her native land to the land of her captors. Her strength, resilience, her spirit...inspirational and thought provoking.
Well written, captivating, it follows a slave woman's journey from her native land to the land of her captors. Her strength, resilience, her spirit...inspirational and thought provoking.
July 17, 2020
A heartbreaking story about the atlantic slave trade in Ghana everyone should read...
February 22, 2023
A great read, albeit heart wrenching and emotional.
July 15, 2025
Virkelig god bog og meget hjerteskærende. Vi købte bogen efter at have besøgt Elmina Castle, derfor gjorde bogen et endnu større indtryk.
May 18, 2023
Reading this during my stay in Ghana allowed me to follow along the first parts of Ama’s journey. This made it apparent how deeply rooted this book is and how much it achieves in combining fiction with historical research. This is a brutal book, unflinching in its descriptions of the realities of slavery. It is equally a nuanced and humanizing tale, featuring many characters that cannot be easily characterized as either good or bad (though there are some exceptions which do clearly fall in the latter category). It also tells a tale of female strength. Would recommend.
June 16, 2015
I read this book in an African History course I took in undergrad some 9 years ago and I still occasionally think of the main character, Ama, and her story. I'm actually going to search my storage room to try and find this book so I can read it again! The author gives a very detailed depiction of Ama's life as a captured slave. Her story is also a unique one (although rape was not uncommon at all), she was one of very few African slaves to practically serve as the mistress of a Dutch slave master.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews