The Languages and People of Bornu : Volumes 1 & 2 : comprising Kanuri Readings, Primer of Kanuri Grammar, A Bornu Almanac by P A Benton - 1968

London England: Frank Cass and Co Limited, 1968. Philip Askell Benton was one of the outstanding junior scholar - administrators of his time. Posted to northern Nigeria in 1906, he saw most of his service in the vast Bornu province, the homeland of the Kanuri people centered on Lake Chad. Between 1911 and 1917, he wrote a number of books on various aspects of Kanuri culture. Republished in two volumes under the collective title of "The languages and peoples of Bornu" are four of Benton's works, which have long been inaccessible. Volume 1 contains the classic " Notes on some languages of the Western Sudan ", a remarkable piece of archival research. One of the most important features of the book is its first presentation of Heinrich Barth's manuscript of African vocabularies, and Part IV's copious extracts from the unpublished correspondence of certain aspects of the Barth -Richardson expedition of 1850. Volume 1, also contains a critical introduction by A. H. M. Kirk Green in which he evaluates Benton's work in its historical and contemporary context. Volume 2, comprises Benton's two pioneering works on the Kanuri language. The first major studies in English, since the publication of Koelle's standard grammar 60 years previously. Also included in this volume is " A Bornu Almanac" containing a wealth of information on Bornu Providence, and its personalities. Scholars and Africanist alike, will undoubtedly welcome the appearance of such valuable source and reference material now freely available for first-time. Three parts in one 110pp + Facsimiles +130pp + 119pp ( Cass Library of African studies, general studies, no.64) This book will be POSTED AT OUR STANDARD RATES FULLY INSURED (UK) ONLY . Please email for further details. Not Signed or Inscribed. New Impression Edition 1968. Red Cloth. Near Fine (NEAR NEW)/NEAR FINE (NEAR NEW). Illus. by Not Illustrated. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾". HARDBACK.