This volume contains seven life histories of African women from different geographical areas and from varying cultural backgrounds. Many of these women's lives were affected by the European colonial presence in Africa, yet others reflect the influence of Islam. By reading them together, one gains insight into the changing ways of traditional society as they affect women. Each life history is introduced by a contributing editor, who brings to bear his or her particular scholarly expertise, as a historian, folklorist, anthropologist or linguist, on the subject each chooses to relate.