Africa

A breathtakingly beautiful journey introducing the countries, peoples and wildlife comprising Africa, the birthplace of mankind, each of the eight episodes in this National Geographic Nature series features stories of individuals that illustrate broader issues, in particular a desire to maintain culture and identity in a world increasingly dominated by a homogenous Western way of life. In the first episode, Savanna Homecoming, we meet two women: Alice Wangui, a single mother who owns a hair salon in Nairobi, travels across the savannah to her home village, so that her second child will be born in the land of her people, the Kikuyu. Flora Salonik, on the other hand, who was not only born and educated in Arusha (one of the largest cities in Tanzania), but is also a college graduate fluent in four languages, lives isolated in the wilderness with her Doboro husband, and their children. With no access to running water, electricity, mail service nor contact with her family for 11 years, Salonik struggles with the decision of whether to continue her tribal lifestyle or return to the city with its modern conveniences. Successive episodes cover a variety of topics including the Congo rainforest, coffin art, the rock-hewn churches of Ethiopia, maturation rituals, the quest for water, AIDS, and women in the workforce. Two years in production (detailed in the set's bonus program, The Making of Africa), this excellent documentary series provides insight far beyond the wars and famines into the diverse peoples who populate Africa. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (L. Stevens)