Dust from our eyes

Finalist for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize

Joan Baxter draws on more than two decades of living in and reporting from Africa to reveal that there is more to the continent than poverty and suffering, and far more to Western involvement than benevolent charity. Alternately funny, chilling, moving and disturbing, Dust from our Eyes is a fast-paced, passionate narrative told with journalistic accuracy and anthropological acumen.

AUTHOR

Joan Baxter

Joan Baxter (b. 1955) grew up in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, and now makes her home in Bamako, Mali, West Africa, where she is a correspondent for the BBC. In 2001, she received the Evelyn Richardson Award for her non-fiction book about Africa, A Serious Pair of Shoes (Pottersfield, 2000). “Act of God” is from her collection Strangers Are Like Children (Pottersfield, 1998).

Reviews

“Even while tackling so many politically charged issues, Dust from our Eyes remains a deeply human book, with a narrative and a set of interviews running through every chapter. This is a compelling work that could change your perspective on Africa and the West’s impact there.” – The Chronicle Herald

“Dust from our Eyes is one Canadian’s attempt to understand why Africa continues to experience injustice and exploitation in what some call the age of neo-colonialism … [Joan Baxter’s] deep respect for and keen interest in all things African makes this book both a labour of love and a lament for lost hopes.” – The Winnipeg Free Press

“Before we blame Africans for the corruption, chaos, and anarchy that are rampant across their continent, we should determine who are the corrupters, how they corrupt, and why they are permitted to continue. A course in Exploitation 101 might well prescribe Dust from Our Eyes as its text.” – The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Monitor