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Maranz, David. 2001. AFRICAN FRIENDS AND MONEY MATTERS. Dallas: SIL International. 224 pp. $19.00.
This book is a result of many observations anthropologist David Maranz made while living and working among Africans, in different parts of the continent over many years, starting in 1975. According to Maranz, he wrote the book to (1) contribute to an understanding of how African economic and social systems work on the individual level, and (2) to show Westerners that, contrary to commonly held impressions the African economic system is unique and accomplishes its purposes well.
Maranz divides his observations about African social and economic behaviors into six major categories: (1) the use of resources, (2) friendship, (3) the role of solidarity, (4) society and people of means, (5) loans and debts, and (6) business matters. These, plus the introduction and conclusion, make up the eight chapters of the book. The first three categories can be described broadly as dealing with how Africans interrelate among themselves with respect to material wealth; the last three focus on African attitudes toward business relationships. According to Maranz, communality, interdependence and solidarity suffuse African culture. Sharing serves as a distributive and social security mechanism. He finds Africans more personal and hospitable than impersonal and charitable. For instance, among Africans friendship necessarily includes sharing material goods. Hence, financial problems are usually solved through...