Timbuktu Unbound: Islamic Texts, Textual by Rachel Ama Asaa Engmann HARDBACK

Springer International Publishing AG

Explore the dynamic world of Islamic texts and heritage in West Africa with 'Timbuktu Unbound'. This cutting-edge collection reconsiders manuscripts, revealing how textuality operates through technological innovations, ongoing practices, and the workings of power within communities. Discover the social value of texts as objects, personal libraries as investments, and the complex social practices surrounding the exchange and movement of manuscripts. Moving beyond the dominant narrative of preservation, this book examines the nuanced activities of diverse actors involved in the study, preservation, acquisition, movement, and even destruction of textual heritage. Key themes include: - The social value of texts as objects - Personal libraries as forms of investment and legacy - Social practices in the exchange, movement, and gifting of manuscripts - Hierarchies and evaluative treatments of manuscripts - Quasi-market forces influencing textual materials This essential volume offers a fresh perspective on the rich textual heritage of Muslim West Africa, highlighting its complexities and the diverse human interactions that shape it.