The book reads as a collection of snapshots and stories from some of African subsaharan countries after the formal independance. It’s quite educational and provides an overview of the historical and social context of the time. I appreciate how Kapuscinski smoothly shifts from vignettes of daily life, food, fauna and flora to elaborate naratives of Africa’s turbulent political past, while neither judging nor idealizing the societies.
However, there’s something disturbing about reading on Africa from a standpoint of a white european man, as it’s always bound to be questionable, problematic and inaccurate.

Ébano es un libro difícil de calificar. Se sitúa a mitad de camino entre la narrativa, la autobiografía y el reportaje periodístico. A su vez, se trata de una colección de ensayos y reportajes sobre las vivencias del autor en África a lo largo de varias décadas, por lo que inevitablemente atraviesa momentos históricos de descolonización. La primera historia data de finales de los 50, y la última de principios de los 90. Estas transcurren a lo largo de más de 10 países africanos, entre los que se encuentran Gana, Uganda, Etiopía, Nigeria, Kenia y Tanzania. Kapuscinski vivió momentos muy significativos de la historia del continente africano, como fue la descolonización y la lucha por la independencia en Ghana, diversos conflictos y guerras civiles (Guerra de Biafra en Nigeria), o la crisis de hambruna de Etiopía a comienzos de los años 80.

Saltando de país en país y de año en año, este texto fragmentario es extremadamente sugerente. Kapuscinski empieza cada relato de forma abrupta, sin introducción. El lector se encuentre en medio de una acción que transcurre, de un escenario nuevo, y hace falta un rato para ubicarse y aclimatarse al nuevo entorno y contexto social. Relato tras relato, obtienes otro pedazo de historia junto a un buen puñado de anécdotas. Unas pocas páginas son suficientes para llevarse una imagen general del clima político y social, así como de la cultura de los habitantes de la región. El estilo de escritura da ganas de leer más (tanto del libro como del país y momento del que trata el capítulo que acabas de terminar), y es chocante la cantidad de información contenida en el libro al compararlo con lo amena que es su lectura.

I diari africani del grande Kapuściński, come sempre in grado di calarsi in qualsiasi situazione e andare al fondo delle persone e dei fatti con estrema umiltà.
Non giudica mai, non c'è mai superiorità nelle sue descrizioni, ma un continuo chiedersi la ragione delle cose, quella vera, e una naturale e incredibile capacità di guardare dietro le apparenze e trovare l'origine delle colpe.
Nonostante sia datato, credo che Ebano sia tutt'oggi uno dei migliori libri per conoscere le radici del disastro Africa.

The book offers an introduction to the underlying politics of a vast continent that was constantly in turmoil in the post colonial period with a confused hierarchy, a mass famine and endless war. However, Kapuściński does a brilliant job in maintaining a balance in his writing speckled with his own introspection, the facts and the reality of people surviving against all the odds with their belief systems aimed to carry on an ancestral legacy. Kapuściński not only visits the well known cities and sites but also obscure places that highlight African traditions. For that reason, it will resonate with anyone who has observed a hut in the middle of nowhere while travelling in a train and wondered about the people living in the hut.

n  

There is nothing here to temper the relations between man and nature—no compromises, no in-between stages, no gradations. Only ceaseless struggle, battle, a fight to the finish. From birth until death, the African is on the front line, sparring with his continent’s exceptionally hostile nature, and the mere fact that he is alive and knows how to endure is his greatest triumph.

n

Labākais,ko sanācis lasīt par Āfriku. Spilgti apraksti par to postu, ko Āfrikai nodarījis ilgstošais koloniālisms, sākot jau ar vergu laikiem, aparteīdu, valsts izlaupīšanu utt. Āfrikāņi ir pateicīgi par progresu,jo tagad, kad bērni mēro kilometrus garu ceļu pēc ūdens, viņiem ir plastikāta konteineri,kas nešanu padara ērtāku! Jācer,ka situācija mūsdienās ir kaut nedaudz uzlabojusies. Lai gan pilsoņu kari,bēgļi,slimības joprojām ir Āfrikas realitāte. Bet autors piemin arī pozitīvas lietas- Āfrikas daudzveidīgo dabu, vietējo cilvēku vienkāršību un nesteidzību. Noteikti iesaku lasīt!

I can't get enough of travelogues, and Kapuściński provides one during formative events of postcolonialism on the African continent, which is quite a treat for me.

On the other hand he has some rather backwards and idiotic beliefs which periodically show their head throughout the book through simplistic anecdotes about 'life in Africa'

Quả thực ra rất xấu hổ khi đến giờ mới đọc cuốn sách tuyệt vời này. Có rất nhiều điều để mà xấu hổ: mình biết style của dịch giả (không thể nào yêu thích và dịch 1 tác phẩm bình thường được, chứ đừng nói đến dở), mình biết "trình độ" của dịch giả, nên nếu đọc thì sẽ không cần có chút băn khoăn vướng mắc nào về lỗi tác giả hay dịch giả, mình biết sự cẩn thận cẩn trọng và nghiêm túc khi làm việc của dịch giả; mình đã đọc rất nhiều review về tác phẩm này mà vẫn không chịu đọc.
Đúng là gu đọc của mình chỉ tập trung ở mảng Fiction, nên rất ngại đọc non fiction, mà mình lại thích đọc những thứ sáng sủa đẹp đẽ (nhắc đến Châu Phi là thấy không dễ vào rồi), rất định kiến. Để rồi đọc xong lại càng chín người về những nhận định thiển cẩn của mình, vốn hiểu biết hạn hẹp của mình.

Tác phẩm này có thể coi như một cuốn cẩm nang rút gọn về Châu Phi từ lịch sử, địa lý, văn hóa, tập tục, con người. Một Châu Phi bí ẩn, tối tăm dù hứng trọn ánh nắng mặt trời, một Châu Phi sống động thân tình, sôi nổi, cũng rất ngây thơ nhiều khi đến ngơ ngác, Châu Phi h��n độn lộn xộn nhưng lại rất quy tắc, thật thà. Toàn cuốn sách là những mảng đối lập châu Phi giàu có trù phú, nhưng cũng kiệt quệ; thuộc dạng "cùng đinh rồi" mà vẫn cứ bị vắt kiệt; một lục địa đói khổ nhưng sao vũ khí đẻ ở đâu mà lắm thế; ở nơi nước là thứ quý giá nhất nhưng vẫn thấy hàng km chai nhựa xếp hàng đợi nước trong trật tự v..v..

Mình thích cái tên Gỗ mun này, có cái gì đó vừa quý giá, vừa bền bỉ, vừa dẻo dai, vừa đẹp đẽ, tôn quý. Tên tiếng Anh "The shadow of the Sun" cảm tưởng lại rất định kiến. Và đọc xong mới hiểu rõ tại sao Ryszard Kapuściński lại được ngưỡng mộ và tôn vinh đến như vậy (chỉ cần tưởng tượng 1 phần nhỏ của hành trình ông đã trải qua để viết Gỗ mun)

Một việc xấu hổ nữa là mình đọc cuốn này trên vnthuquan, lỗi typo khá nhiều. Mình vẫn có bản hard đâu đó ở nhà, nhưng phải nhờ có bản soft này mình mới quyết tâm đọc. Hy vọng giờ đã có can đảm để tiếp tục với Giữa lòng tăm tối :D

Este es el segundo libro que leo del autor, y no digo que escriba mal. Lo que puedo afirmar con rotundidad es que su escritura no es para mi, no la sé disfrutar, se me hizo muy denso en algunas descripciones. Creo que por ahora voy a dejar la lectura de este autor parada, aunque me han recomendado leer otros libros de él.

mega ciekawe, szkoda że fikcja

This book takes you on an a whirlwind tour of Africa over the span of many years, many countries, and many different types of situations. The essays span the continent and quickly zoom the reader in and then back out of small incidents, large coups, nomadic wanderings, war lords, and everything (and everyone) in between.

I've never been able to get my mind around Africa. Its complexity both geographically and politically make it difficult to understand and internalize. In one respect the book doesn't help resolve this. As a reader, I was never able linger anywhere long enough to overcome my ignorance. However, this technique also works in my favor as it allowed me to learn, absorb and move on without apology. Its now up to me to choose where to focus as I strive to learn more about Africa.

Kapuscinski said it best in the preface:

"This is therefore not a book about Africa, but rather about some people from there - about encounters with them, and time spent together. The continent is too large to describe. It is a veritable ocean, a separate planet, a varied, immensely rich cosmos. Only with the greatest simplification, for the sake of convenience, can we say 'Africa.' In reality, except as a geographical appellation, Africa does not exist."

3/5 vysvetlím.

začínam na 5/5. Táto kniha je super úvod do postkoloniálnej subsaharskej Afriky. Eden, nenáročným spôsobom rozpráva o prvej vlne získavania formálnej nezávislosti, o kmeňovej histórií jednotlivých štátoch, o ich politických vodcoch, rozvratoch, výhrach a stratách. Noemi sa ma pýtala, prečo by to mala čítať keď tomu dávam (len) 3/5, a pravda je taká že by som ju odporučila všetkým ktorí si chcú dať do tejto témy všeobecný úvod.

mínus 1* 4/5. Už asi v druhej kapitole Kapuściński spomína, že prívlastok “africká/ý/é” je nepresný. Napokon, Afrika je jeden z najrozmanitejších kontinentov sveta - zovšeobecňovať je chybné. A hneď v tretej kapitole na to Kapuściński zabudne a zrazu píše o “africkom/afrických/africkej” alebo ešte lepšie o “afričanoch a afričankách”. Toto zvláštne zovšeobecňovanie je ešte umocnené tým že Kapuściński, aj keď to nikde v knihe explicitne nespomenie, v skutočnosti precestoval len tretinu Afrických štátov. Nečudujem sa mu, precestovať Afriku od Káhiry po Kapské Mesto (a naozaj jednotlivé štáty spoznať) je takmer nemožné, ale používať termín subsaharská Afrika namiesto Afrika je to najmenej čo sa dalo spraviť. Pre niektorých možno detail ale knihu to robí nespresnou, a pri používaní vyššie spomenutých prívlastkov, aj značne vágnou.

mínus 1* 3/5. Táto kniha bola v niečom predurčená k tomu byť problematická. Napokon, biely európan píše o Afrike. Áno, konanie imperialistov a kolonizátorov často odsudzuje, následky ich konania na spoločnosť však zriedkakedy. V knihe často píše o tom Kde? a Ako? ale málokedy, Prečo?.
Kapuściński napríklad píše: “Keď černoch stretne belocha musí tuto situáciu využiť, musí niečo chcieť, nemôže prepásť túto jedinečnú šancu. Keď Afričan stretne černocha, je to akoby mu sliepka poradila zlaté vajce”(289). Za prvé, čo znamená Afričan? Za druhé, každý Afričan ktorý stretne belocha ho chce využiť? A za tretie, aj keby to tak naozaj bolo, prečo to tak je? Z čoho to pramení? Kapuściński miestami ponúka reflexiu, ale zďaleka jej tam nie je toľko, koľko si jeho kniha (a výroky) pýta. [podobne problematických výrokov je v knihe požehnane, je to len príklad].

plus 1*, 4/5
áno Kapucinskeho (ne)reflexia je často problematická. áno, Kapuściński často používa zastarané/nepresné výrazy: (Prívlastok “primitívny” v kontexte domorodých národov, alebo termín rasizmus v medzi-klanových sporoch atď). Kapuścińskeho texty SÚ problematické. Ale ak vezmeme do úvahy že táto kniha vznikala v 60tych a 70tych rokoch, kedy 99% belochov chýbala akákoľvek sebareflexia ako aj slovník na opisovanie vlastných zlyhaní, tak Kapucinski je (jednoducho-povedané) na tom oveľa lepšie ako na tom mohol byť. Jeho texty sú problematické teraz, v svojej dobe bol ale jeden z mála, ktorý reflexiu (aj keď problematickú) vôbec ponúkal, bol zhovievavý-empatický a jeho postoj bol považovaný za vysoko progresívny.

mínus 1* 3/5
bohužiaľ všetko čo Kapuściński v knihe píše ani nesedí s reálnymi historickými udalosťami. Stačí si prečítať článok od Johna Ryla (2001) . Nesedia viaceré mená a miestne reálie daného obdobia (nie, bookstore na univerzite v Addis Abbeba nebol v 70tych rokoch jediný). Tieto nepresnosti by ani neboli problém, keby ich Kapuściński často nefetišizoval (nerobil z nich senzáciu).

a inak, tretia tretina knihy už ani veľmi historicko-informatívna nie je. Sú to už len Kapuścińskeho biele cestovateľské pozorovania a dojmy, také meh.

na záver: vôbec neľutujem že som si knihu prečítala, je dobrá, ale v roku 2020 sme už ďalej. “Eben” v dnešnej dobe už nestačí. Som si istá že existujú kritickejšie a konkrétnejšie knihy o postkolonializme, od ľudí ktorí si ho ozajstne odžili. Eben je ľúbivý, ale neaktuálny.

A remarkable tour of the continent through the eyes of a European journalist who traveled well beyond the white areas of big cities, and also covered events such as coups and transitions to independence. His insights run deep and are told well. A hard read because of the content but I feel I got a good and important review of many areas and peoples.

"In those places where conflict has lasted decades (as in Angola or Sudan), the majority of older people were killed long ago, or perished from hunger and disease; children remain, and it is they who are doing the fighting. The bloody chaos in which various African countries are plunged has spawned tens of thousands of orphans, hungry and homeless. They look for anyone who might feed and shelter them, and it is easiest to find food where the troops are, because soldiers have the best chances of obtaining it: weapons in these countries are not only for waging war, but are means of survival--sometimes the only means." p.148

"Someone brought from London a Somali quarterly that had been published there in the summer of 1993...I counted: of the 17 authors represented-preeminent Somali intellectuals. scientists, and writers0 15 reside abroad. Here is one of Africa's problems: an intelligentsia lives for the most part outside its borders, in the U.S., in London, Paris, Rome. Remaining in their native countries are, at the bottom, masses of illiterate, downtrodden, utterly exploited peasants; at the top, the corrupt bureaucracy or arrogant, coarse soldiers.... How is Africa to develop, participate in the great transformation of the world, without an intelligentsia? Without its own educated middle class? Furthermore, if an African scholar or writer is persecuted in his own country, most frequently he will not seek shelter in another country on his continent, but in Boston, Los Angeles, Stockholm, or Geneva." pp.223-4

"...the strength of Europe and of its culture, in contrast to other cultures, lies in its bent for criticism, above all, for self-criticism--in its art of analysis and inquiry, in its endless seeking, in its restlessness.... Other cultures do not have this critical spirit. More--they are inclined to pride, to thinking that all that belongs to them is perfect; they are, in short, uncritical in relation to themselves. They lay the blame for all that is evil on others, on other forces (conspiracies, agents, foreign domination of one sort or another). They consider all criticism to be a malevolent attack, a sign of discrimination, racism, etc. ... Instead of being self-critical, they are full of countless grudges, complexes, envies, peeves, manias. The effect of all this is they are culturally, permanently, structurally incapable of progress, incapable of engendering within themselves the will to transform and evolve." (Not the author's opinion but his telling of what a longtime elderly English resident imparted to him) pp. 227-8

"During precolonial times, and hence not so long ago, more than 10,000 little states, kingdoms, ethnic unions, and federations existed in Africa. Roland Oliver, a historian at the University of London, draws attention to the general paradox in his book, The African Experience (1991): it has become common parlance to say that European colonialists partitioned Africa. Partitioned? Oliver marvels. Colonialism was a brutal unification, brought about by fire and sword. Ten thousand entities reduced to fifty." p. 323