Travels in West Africa

Mary H. Kingsley (1862 - 1900)

Mary Henrietta Kingsley (13 October 1862 – 3 June 1900) was an British explorer and writer who greatly influenced European ideas about Africa and its people. Kingsley was an outspoken critic of European colonialism, a champion for indigenous customs, and a dedicated campaigner for a revised British policy which supported traders and merchants over the needs of settlers and missionaries.

Her adventures were extraordinary and fascinating. Among other things she fought with crocodiles, fell into native spear traps and was caught in a tornado on the slopes of Mount Cameroon. She traveled in West Africa wearing the same clothes she always wore in England: long, black, trailing skirts, tight waists, high collars and a small fur cap. These same clothes saved her life when she fell into a game pit, the many petticoats protecting her from being impaled on the stakes below.

This is her story in her own words of her adventures and the people and culture of West Africa. (Summary by Kehinde)

Genre(s): Travel & Geography

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 00 Preface & Introduction Nathalie J.
00:33:11
Play 01 LIVERPOOL TO SIERRA LEONE AND THE GOLD COAST Nathalie J.
00:44:03
Play 02 FERNANDO PO AND THE BUBIS Nathalie J.
01:04:36
Play 03 VOYAGE DOWN COAST Nathalie J.
00:31:32
Play 04 THE OGOWÉ Nathalie J.
01:08:07
Play 05 THE RAPIDS OF THE OGOWÉ Nathalie J.
01:06:11
Play 06 LEMBARENE, Part 1 Nathalie J.
00:43:59
Play 07 LEMBARENE, Part 2 Nathalie J.
00:40:43
Play 08 ON THE WAY FROM KANGWE TO LAKE NCOVI, Part 1 Nathalie J.
00:32:51
Play 09 ON THE WAY FROM KANGWE TO LAKE NCOVI, Part 2 Nathalie J.
00:34:12
Play 10 FROM NCOVI TO ESOON, Part 1 Nathalie J.
00:35:29
Play 11 FROM NCOVI TO ESOON, Part 2 Nathalie J.
00:51:28
Play 12 FROM ESOON TO AGONJO Nathalie J.
00:33:57
Play 13 BUSH TRADE AND FAN CUSTOMS Nathalie J.
00:49:09
Play 14 DOWN THE REMBWÉ Nathalie J.
00:37:51
Play 15 FETISH Nathalie J.
00:57:43
Play 16 FETISH - (Continued) Nathalie J.
00:47:51
Play 17 FETISH - (Continued) Nathalie J.
00:42:44
Play 18 FETISH - (Continued) Nathalie J.
00:37:19
Play 19 FETISH - (Concluded) Nathalie J.
00:55:12
Play 20 ASCENT OF THE GREAT PEAK OF CAMEROONS Nathalie J.
00:33:42
Play 21 THE GREAT PEAK OF CAMEROONS - (Continued) Nathalie J.
00:31:01
Play 22 THE GREAT PEAK OF CAMEROONS - (Continued) Nathalie J.
00:21:09
Play 23 THE GREAT PEAK OF CAMEROONS - (Concluded) Nathalie J.
00:33:34
Play 24 TRADE AND LABOUR IN WEST AFRICA, Part 1 Nathalie J.
00:47:33
Play 25 TRADE AND LABOUR IN WEST AFRICA, Part 2 Nathalie J.
00:49:12
Play 26 TRADE AND LABOUR IN WEST AFRICA, Part 3 Nathalie J.
00:46:57
Play 27 DISEASE IN WEST AFRICA Nathalie J.
00:31:26
Play 28 APPENDIX. THE INVENTION OF THE CLOTH LOOM Nathalie J.
00:05:29