Our Own Way in This Part of the World: Biography of an African Community, Culture, and Nation by Kwasi Konadu (review)

In Our Own Way in This Part of the World: Biography of an African Community, Culture, and Nation, Kwasi Konadu adopts an intriguing style and structure in discussing aspects of the history of Ghana, and to a lesser extent that of Africa, its diaspora, and the world. Here, although virtually unknown, and not writ large in the archives at notable places, Kofi Donko (1913–1995), a blacksmith, indigenous spiritual leader, and healer, becomes the prism through which local, regional, national, African, and global history are expatiated for greater clarity. Whereas this formula works in most instances, at certain points in the exposé Donko gets inundated, appearing in and out of the larger discussion. Konadu, however, often mitigates this situation with the caveat that his "concern is not so much the individual as it is the thousands of kin, community members, and strangers who knew, interacted with and lived during the historic moment Kofi Donko shared" (8). The author calls this concept "communography" (8). Among some of the underpinning arguments of this book, Konadu points out that while individuals may not be representatives of culture and communities, those that play different roles "can offer integral wide-angle perspectives on the lives of cultural and community members and a protracted commentary on an evolving culture or society" (12). African, global, and indeed history in general "can be greatly enriched by focusing on communal histories or communographies that take as their focus multifarious peoples rather than exceptional individuals" (12–13). Last but not least, Konadu argues that in spite of the shared genes and behaviors, human societies "are distinguished by their culture and the ideas and practices" (13).

These major themes are discussed in the book's seven chapters, introduction, and epilogue, all of which start with Donko, but eventually ripple into the larger issues. To the extent that the persona of Donko, an indigenous spiritualist and healer (both bordering on religion and health), underpins the contours of this book, Konadu's entire analyses equally amount to an exposé of complex social, political, economic, and even cultural maladies. Among others, these syndromes include the challenges of governance in Africa as seen in the Ghanaian situation where there is an undercurrent tension between indigenous cultural values and those imposed by colonialism. While colonialism is generally condemned, its draconian methods are often used by those in positions of authority. The illusive community or "common" good that turns out to be a perpetually complex pursuit is, in a sense, vividly demonstrated in Donko's reiterated "Our Own Way in this Part of the World," which forms part of the title of this book. Besides Donko holding onto the indigenous or traditional ways in his quest for the wellness and soundness of his clientele, from the evidence of this book, that search did not preclude collaboration with Islamic healing as well as Christian/Western medical practices. This stance is further complicated by Donko, himself an indigenous spiritualist and healer, becoming a patient at the Holy Family Catholic Hospital and at the same time resisting conversion to Christianity.

Yet another issue is the bold discussion of some scholars and researchers who, we are told, take advantage of collaborative efforts. However, the complexity of this matter becomes more than convoluted as there is no absolution for anyone. That problem might as well in varying degrees apply to all researchers and scholars who publish; in view of the well-known notion that in a situation where a good number of people do not possess the skill and culture of writing, the one who has the power to write always wins. It is pertinent to point out that the meaning and implication of certain Akan nouns as used in this book—such as Abosom (30), kɔmfo (38), Kwadwo (41), Hene (41), dɔnkɔ (63), and Manu (102)—are sure to generate interesting debate and discussion among that large...