Monique and the Mango Rains: Two Years with a Midwife in Mali
by Kris Holloway; Consulting Editor John Bidwell
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Book Summary Information
Author: Kris Holloway; Consulting Editor John BidwellEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2006-07-20
ISBN: 1577664353
Number of pages: 240
Publisher: Waveland Press
Book Reviews of Monique and the Mango Rains: Two Years with a Midwife in Mali
Book Review: Far more than the story of a midwife in Mali!
Summary: 5 Stars
The Minianka tribe of Nampossela Village in the African country Mali has a culture that is distinctly connected to the past. This makes sense. It is a patrilocal society in which all women move to an arranged husband's village and keep house for the in-laws, and all of the people are trying to hold onto the bits and pieces of ancient culture still left over from before French colonization. Historical myth is weaved into relatively everything that they own, think, do, and say. This is a people so poor, that they must depend on the richness of their customs.
The connection that the Minianka have to nature is beautiful, and certainly unparalleled by any Western culture's standards. The people depend on nature for everything from birth to death. Indeed, they are subject to nature's whims, but they do not view it in this pessimistic way. Instead, they see themselves as synchronized with the natural world. They do not fear it, much like the ancient Mesopotamians did. They accept death and celebrate it readily. Village elders hold the hand of the deceased and whisper words along the line of "Where we have been, where we are, and where we are going. Where you have gone. We will follow" (66).
Simply put, the ideal Nampossela villager would be able to speak Minianka, Bambara, some French, and Arabic for prayer. Both male and female must be strong and healthy, or at least pretend to be, so that hard work can be achieved for the sake of everyone. His or her home must always be welcoming and open to any guests, and an extra bowl of tô must always be available in case of a visitor. He or she must respect all levels of social stratification, and work toward the smooth application of all cultural norms. Above all, the ideal Minianka tribesperson must never be lazy or a burden to the society.
Holloway joined the Peace Corps in 1989 and stayed with this tribe for two years. She treated these people like family, and they treated her as a daughter. A sister. A friend. The reader will find in this book whatever it is the reader wishes to find. It might be read as an ethnography, although Holloway is not an Anthropologist. In another light, it reads as well as any dramatic novel, although it is not a work of fiction. Monique and the Mango Rains, despite its many pages of impossibly sad moments, is one of the best reads that I have had in years.
Even though Kris Holloway was just as much the center of the story as Monique was, the book did not have as much of an American slant as might be expected. Holloway worked on her book for five years, and its publication was actually fifteen years after she had left Mali and the Peace Corps behind her. This gave her quite a bit of time to organize her thoughts, gather her materials, and interview as many people as she could to give an accurate reading of the Minianka tribe in Nampossela Village. She did a great justice to these people, and I was impressed with the interviews with her that I read about the publication of this book. Kris Holloway has an MPH and was already very successful; she did not have to write this book to make money off of a far away, destitute people. Instead, she wrote it to make money for them. Proceeds from this book, at least in part, are going to benefit the women of Nampossela, and that is certainly commendable.
Holloway did aim to change the worldview of the people with whom she stayed, which some people might frown upon. As she is not an anthropologist, it is hard to find fault with her for that. She is familiar with the work of cultural anthropologists, and she consulted several as she was putting together the chapters of this book. Her aim was not to exert white power over the people of Mali, but rather to show them that they can keep their culture while allowing for gentler treatment for women and children. She feels that sharing of ideas between cultures is inevitable, and that her work would have eventually been done anyway, even if she was not the one to do it. She understands the theory of cultural relativity quite clearly, and that the Minianka see their customs as having very important cultural context--she is careful not to judge them too harshly. That said, Holloway also feels (the very same as I do, to boot) that there are undeniable, absolute human rights that should always exceed culture. Holloway simply planted the seed of change in the hearts and minds of the Nampossela people. She knew that in order for the changes to endure, that the villagers would have to develop a reason to believe in them.
Monique's people did just as much good for Holloway as she did for them. Simply because she is an American does not mean that she has the better hand when it comes to things to offer. They lessened her fear of childbirth. They showed her that it is possible to do without silly items of comfort and still be happy. They taught her that death is just as important as life, and should be celebrated accordingly.
I wish I could give Holloway's book more stars. It should be required reading for every high school Global Studies student and certainly any cultural anthropology student. It is a beautiful story that holds the reminder that there is a larger world out there, and these days, it seems that many people need to be reminded of that.
Summary of Monique and the Mango Rains: Two Years with a Midwife in Mali
What is it like to live and work in a remote corner of the world and befriend a courageous midwife who breaks traditional roles? Monique and the Mango Rains: Two Years with a Mali Midwife is the inspiring story of Monique Dembele, an accidental midwife who became a legend, and Kris Holloway, the young Peace Corps volunteer who became her closest confidante. In a small village in Mali, West Africa, Monique saved lives and dispensed hope every day in a place where childbirth is a life-and-death matter and where many children are buried before they cut a tooth. Kris worked side-by-side with her as they cared for each other through sickness and tragedy and shared their innermost secrets and hopes. Monique?s life was representative of many women in one of the world?s poorest nations, yet she faced her challenges in extraordinary ways. Despite her fiercely traditional society and her limited education she fought for her beliefs?birth control, the end of female genital mutilation, the right to receive a salary, and the right to educate her daughters. And she struggled to be with the man she loved. Her story is one of tragedy joy, rebellion, and of an ancient culture in the midst of change. It is an uplifting tribute to indomitable spirits everywhere. Monique and the Mango Rains is a fascinating voyage to an unforgettable place, a voyage spent close to the ground, immersed in village life, learning first-hand the rhythms of this world. From witnessing her first village birth to the night of Monique?s own tragic death, Kris draws on her first-person experiences in Mali, her graduate studies in maternal and child health, medical and clinic records, letters and journals, as well as conversations with Monique, her family, friends and colleagues, to gives readers a unique view?and a friend in West Africa. (Not-for-sale instructor resource material available to college and university faculty only; contact the publisher directly.)Women Books
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