Call of the Zangbeto: Journeys as an Indian in West Africa

As each of us grows up individually in our own surroundings, culture, and landscape, it naturally shapes our thoughts, the way we perceive the world, the way we connect with other cultures, and how it influences our understanding as well as biases toward cultures very different from our own. When seeking to understand the culture, history, and values of so-called "off the beaten track" places, literature in English is often very sparse. The few books that do exist and delve deeply into the history, archaeology, and culture of those places are often authored by Western writers in English. This perspective, though important, is nevertheless the dominant voice describing the people, region, or country where the travel takes place. Other perspectives are rarely seen in English.

How does a Hungarian person view Rwanda? Or how does a Japanese person view Uruguay? These perspectives and paradigms are rarely accessible to readers in English. The author views West Africa as an Indian and a Bengali. West Africa is a fascinating region and, like India, has been home to humans for thousands of years. It is a place where history merges with myth and folklore; traditions are carried through generations, and people describe rituals as older than time itself. Through his travels, the author seamlessly connects his learning and experiences across continents, delving into the human history of millennia.