Novel: African-American woman reconnects w/ African heritage
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1Essa
Fiction: Novel
Publishing date: Unknown; I read it c. 1989
Author: Unknown (cannot recall)
This novel featured an African-American woman protagonist, probably in her 40s or so. She ends up on a cruise or boat journey of some sort, I believe in the Caribbean area. At one point, she becomes violently seasick. The other women on the boat help her. During the incident, and during/after the boat lands, she learns about a festival or gathering (possibly the journey is for the purposes of arriving at this festival, but I can't recall).
The festival celebrates the people's West African heritage. A man befriends her, and explains about the Temne, the Mandingo, the Mende, and others, and how the people here at the festival all take turns dancing the traditional dances, each according to his ancestral lineage. The man explains that he does a brief dance for the {x} people, for his mother's sake, but that he predominantly identifies with the {y} people of his father, and thus dances the longest for them. The man opines that the woman protagonist is probably of Temne lineage.
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There is, of course, more to the book and its plot than this, but this jumbled bit is all I can extract from memory. Can anyone recognize enough to supply an author, title, or other clues? Many thanks. :)
Publishing date: Unknown; I read it c. 1989
Author: Unknown (cannot recall)
This novel featured an African-American woman protagonist, probably in her 40s or so. She ends up on a cruise or boat journey of some sort, I believe in the Caribbean area. At one point, she becomes violently seasick. The other women on the boat help her. During the incident, and during/after the boat lands, she learns about a festival or gathering (possibly the journey is for the purposes of arriving at this festival, but I can't recall).
The festival celebrates the people's West African heritage. A man befriends her, and explains about the Temne, the Mandingo, the Mende, and others, and how the people here at the festival all take turns dancing the traditional dances, each according to his ancestral lineage. The man explains that he does a brief dance for the {x} people, for his mother's sake, but that he predominantly identifies with the {y} people of his father, and thus dances the longest for them. The man opines that the woman protagonist is probably of Temne lineage.
-----
There is, of course, more to the book and its plot than this, but this jumbled bit is all I can extract from memory. Can anyone recognize enough to supply an author, title, or other clues? Many thanks. :)
2LibraryPerilous
I think this might be Praisesong for the Widow, by Paule Marshall. Her books have been on my TBR list for ages.
Here's a review: http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/paule-marshall-2/praisesong-for-the-wi...
And here's a quote from the Wikipedia summary: "That night, Avey, Rosalie, Milda, and Lebert all go to the "Big Drum" dances. There, Avey is at first happy merely to be a bystander and watch Lebert and other elders of the community sing and dance for the ancestors. However, by the end of the night, Avey is dancing along with the other people celebrating their cultural roots to Africa."
Here's a review: http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/paule-marshall-2/praisesong-for-the-wi...
And here's a quote from the Wikipedia summary: "That night, Avey, Rosalie, Milda, and Lebert all go to the "Big Drum" dances. There, Avey is at first happy merely to be a bystander and watch Lebert and other elders of the community sing and dance for the ancestors. However, by the end of the night, Avey is dancing along with the other people celebrating their cultural roots to Africa."
3Essa
That is definitely it! It all looks more familiar now that with the info laid out in front me. Avey Johnson is indeed the main character (albeit in her 60s, not 40s). I was in my teens/early 20s when I first read the book, and I think I would like to try reading it again as a "grown-up."
Thank you so much, DianaNowling! :)
Thank you so much, DianaNowling! :)
