Most early African Virginians came from the lands of the medieval Empire of Mali, founded by the original Lion King. Since the first Africans arrived in 1619, Virginia's history has been linked to Africa and to Mali. Virginia's culture is filled with West African music, food, and other influences--including slavery and colonial domination. Both cities have a victims' cemetery.

In this book, we meet the key actors of the Virginia-Mali sister cities adventure, exploring family structures, motherhood, religion, clothing, music, religion, and other aspects of cultural life. Friendships develop as our citizens meet and interact, especially the important women and mothers of Mali . . .

Author: Ana Edwards, Robin Poulton
Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Brandylane Publishers, Inc.
Published: 09/18/2019
Pages: 328
Weight: 0.97lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.69d
ISBN: 9781947860582

About the Author
Poulton, Robin: - Dr. Robin Poulton raised his children in Mali. When his wife, Michelle, moved to Richmond as vice president of ChildFund, Robin taught university students about Africa, the Middle East, and terrorism. He also taught third-grade students and teachers about the medieval Empire of Mali, which was founded by the Lion King. His teaching led Mali's prime minister to visit Richmond with the invitation to become Ségou's sister city.Edwards, Ana: - Ana Edwards, artist and educator, is a founder of Virginia Friends of Mali and of the sister city program between Richmond and Ségou, Mali's second city, which she has visited many times. She is chair of the Sacred Ground Historical Reclamation Project, which promotes the story of Gabriel's Rebellion and aims to reclaim Richmond's historic eighteenth-century African burial ground.