THE DRUMS SPEAK: The Story of Kofi, a Boy of West Africa

by Marc & Evelyne Bernheim ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 16, 1972

Bright full-color photographs are the animating factor here. Kofi, whose West African village is unfortunately not geographically identified, hopes to win a scholarship to a city secondary school and strives to overcome his fear of heights so that he can pass his clan's initiation test (climbing a coconut palm); succeeding in both, he is unexpectedly chosen as the chiefs successor. More important than Kofi's triumphs, however, are the emphatically depicted incidentals -- the cocoa harvest, Kofi learning to play the drums, and his pet monkey playing with a mirror. They add up to a slick but nonetheless striking piece of photo-journalism.

Pub Date: Feb. 16, 1972

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1972

Categories: NONFICTION