Books : Notes from the Hyena's Belly: An Ethiopian Boyhood
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 963.2
EAN: 9780312289140
ISBN: 0312289146
Label: Picador
Manufacturer: Picador
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 368
Publication Date: January 05, 2002
Publisher: Picador
Sales Rank: 89979
Studio: Picador
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Editorial Review:
Product Description:
Winner of the Governor General's Award
A Library Journal Best Book of 2001
Part autobiography and part social history, Notes from the Hyena's Belly offers an unforgettable portrait of Ethiopia, and of Africa, during the 1970s and '80s, an era of civil war, widespread famine, and mass execution. "We children lived like the donkey," Mezlekia remembers, "careful not to wander off the beaten trail and end up in the hyena's belly." His memoir sheds light not only on the violence and disorder that beset his native country, but on the rich spiritual and cultural life of Ethiopia itself. Throughout, he portrays the careful divisions in dress, language, and culture between the Muslims and Christians of the Ethiopian landscape. Mezlekia also explores the struggle between western European interests and communist influences that caused the collapse of Ethiopia's social and political structure—and that forced him, at age 18, to join a guerrilla army. Through droughts, floods, imprisonment, and killing sprees at the hands of military juntas, Mezlekia survived, eventually emigrating to Canada. In Notes from the Hyena's Belly he bears witness to a time and place that few Westerners have understood.
Average Rating: 
Rating:  -
Nega Mezlekia was born the year after my family left Ethiopia. My African American father had heart problems that didn't do well in the high country of Addis Ababa. At seven years of age, I came to the US only to discover that my peers believed all Africans walked around naked in the jungle. Over the years I came to understand that the media portrayal of all of Africa was skewed to affirm the national US fantasy of white supremacy.
What I love most about this book is that it inadvertently sets the record straight. In telling his own story, Mezlekia tells the story of a nation, a culture, and even the micro-cultures within the culture. He's an extraordinary writer and the book is poetic prose at its very best. No wonder it won the Governor General's Award. Unfortunately the book ends in 1983 and so much has changed in Ethiopia's governance since then.
Rating:  -
Notes from the Hyena's Belly is a memoir that often reads like a novel. It depicts Nega's relatively calm childhood in sharp contrast to the growing unrest, civil strife and government corruption that dominated his adolescence and early adulthood. The book gives insight into a piece of Ethiopia's history, which is peppered with scenes from Nega's growing up years and folk tales that his mother told. Nega successfully speaks to the impact of civil war, government corruption and the too frequent global indifference to such issues in Africa, while at the same time maintaining a wry sense of humor that makes his story all the more human and real. This combination gives it a unique flavor and certainly makes it memorable.
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This book provides great insight into the older Ethiopia. It provides interesting cultural perspectives as well as many life experiences of the author. A great read and a recommendation for those preparing to experience Ethiopia first hand.
Rating: -
An enlightening story of a boy growing up in Ethiopia. A world that we Americans cannot relate to, however we certainly are sympathetic. Still, Mezlekia spares us by sprinkling a little humor here and there, and we see that young boys do find time to be a little mischievous even in the worst of situations, like straying too far and being eaten by hyenas. Visited Ethiopia with my wife in the late 80's and witnessed some of the famine and suffering, but also found the people gracious and hospitable to Westerners. Thoroughly enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it.
James Hart Isley
Author of The Bear Hunter
Rating: -
Why I enjoyed Notes from the Hyena's Belly? The writing, the wisdom, the history, the survival. If you enjoy having a narrarator walk you through a book showing you the real people, places and happenings that were "Once Upon A Time," then you may just find this book to be a treasure. I myself enjoyed the way this author held my inner voice's attention. It was almost as if I were sitting at his home while he spoke of the life experiences that make him the person now sitting before me. Because I'm such an avid reader, I did put this book down a few times to indulge in other reads. I did this knowing that when I'd pick it back up I'd have a great companion to spend time with. I almost hated to see the book conclude. The fact that I'm writing only my second or third amazon review says how much I enjoyed this read. Hope you decide to visit the Hyena's Belly. You won't be disappointed.
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