Читать книгу Female Monarchs and Merchant Queens in Africa - Nwando Achebe - Страница 10

Acknowledgments

I agreed to write this book at a time when my world had fallen apart. It was early 2013, and my dearest father, confidant, and friend, Chinua Achebe, had just passed away. It would be an understatement to say that I was not in the frame of mind to begin the process of researching and writing these African women’s worlds; it would take me the better part of five years to get to a point where I had healed sufficiently to put pen to paper.

I would like to thank Gill Berchowitz for realizing that I was in a very bad place when I had committed to this project. For not pressuring me after I had missed the submissions deadline by more than four years, for continuing to believe in me and my ability to pull this project together, Gill, heartfelt thanks are not enough. Thus, in the tongue of my foremothers, I say, dalu so.

During the course of writing this small book, things would again fall apart in my world, as the love of my life, my greatest cheerleader and supporter, my spouse, Folu Ogundimu, was facing a life without sight. He would give me the strength to persevere and see this project through. For that I am eternally grateful and dedicate this effort to him.

I would also like to thank Tara Reylets, James Blackwell, Chioma Uchefuna, and Eric Kesse, who served as graduate assistant researchers for me. Their help in locating source material for this book is very much appreciated. Thanks also go to Harry Odamtten and Peter Alegi, who provided Asante-Twi and isiZulu translations.

My heartfelt thanks extend to the two anonymous reviewers who read this manuscript closely and provided comments and suggestions for improvement. To Rick S. Huard, acquisitions editor of Ohio University Press, I say another dalu so, for his steadfast support and encouragement of my vision for this project.

I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the love and support of my family and friends. Immeasurable thanks go to my mother, Professor Christie Chinwe Achebe, whose love and support have been a constant in my life. She has had faith in me, even when I have not. She has carried me when I have faltered. She is my rock. My daughter, Chino, my heart, my life. I have watched you grow into a beautiful, intelligent, and poised woman; I hope you find inspiration in the lives and worlds of these powerful and influential African women. Last, but not least, my friends Pero Dagbovie and LaShawn Harris, Melissa McDaniels, Carl Taylor, Dee Jordan, Dawne Curry, Deborah Johnson, Dave and Lorraine Weatherspoon, Shawna Forester, Linda Kahler, and Philip Effiong deserve special mention. Each has been an attentive and supportive ear for me during this difficult past year and a half. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I hope that this book serves to introduce my readers to the fascinating and compelling worlds of elite African women. As an African woman myself, I can attest to the fact that these [her]stories of powerful and influential African women, and the female principle, give me a sense of pride in whence I have come, and who I am.