Ritual and ceremonial words -- Thirteenth century to 1916: the age of African empires -- Lullabies and songs of young women -- Work songs -- The 1970s and 1980s: negotiating new social identities -- Songs and tales of social negotiation -- The 1990s and the new century.

Ritual and ceremonial words -- Oya, or the wind behind the lightning / Praise poem for Osun / Maïéto, or the battle of the sexes / The plump woman's song / Marriage song cycles -- Dyula songs / Hausa songs / She who destroys her harp / Arrival of the new bride -- Xaxar, or satirical song / Welcoming the bride / Celebrating birth -- Where is it from / If not for childbirth / Kanyeleng, or childless / Lamentations -- Nyaako / We offer you condolences / Dry your tears, little orphan doe / Ntam, an oath / Thirteenth century to 1916: the age of African empires -- Two songs for Sunjata / Elegy for Inikpi / Letter of petition / Poems / Give us victory -- Be sure of God's truth -- Elegy for Zaharatu -- Makori, or the triumph of slaves / The warring hosts / Letter from a former slave / Letters of Queen Victoria's wards -- Letters of Sarah Forbes Bonetta -- Letters of Victoria Davies -- Letter from the women of Senehun / Two letters to the editor / Lullabies and songs of young women -- Lullabies -- Ayo, my baby / Lullaby / Hindatou / Who did my baby wrong / I'd like to stay / An old man / Carry on and have fun / Circle songs -- Even if you beat me / I will buy you a shirt / Maidens in a group

1916 to 1970: the rise of nationalism -- A mother's plea: two letters / Anit-colonial songs / The white man has come -- Bamko -- Poko -- A petition / The Aba women's war -- Satire from the "Women's corner" -- To Miss Bridget Thomas / Stupefied / What we women can do / Champion of twins / My little country / Nothing so sweet / The march on Grand Bassam -- That is how the women woke up / My name is Lucie Traoré / From the "Women's column" / The blackman's burden / An ode / I have tamed my wife / Mother and daughter -- Profile of Gladys / Africa schoolgirls' song / New life / The roadmakers -- Foriwa -- We women of the Upper Volta / On widowhood / We were with you, dedicated to Ethel Kennedy -- We shall overcome -- Christianity and widowhood rites -- Mayor of Freetown / Affirmations and remembrances / The status of women in Nigeria -- Autobiographical notes -- The causes for revolt remembered -- Work songs -- Greetings and Praise -- You of the house / One single measure / Invocation at milking / Praise song / Songs of migration -- The beauty of Kumasi / These west-coasters are liars / The non-migrant's song / Songs of insult -- Tabardé, or blanket making / The sisters-in-law Diedhiou / Seybata, or my backside, insult her

The 1970s and 1980s: negotiating new social identities -- Tanofia / The traveller / Two poems / The work of Senegalese women -- The year we looked up at the balloon -- Conversation with midwife Sokona Diaoune / Rural poems -- Tribute to Yaxa Ma Jam women / Emigration terrifies me / A necessary evil / Two songs / How the Daughters of Divine Love congregation started in the year 1969 -- We love you, Jesus -- Allah is the light in the darkness / Jesus of the deep forest / Listen to me, child of a Griot / Love poems for the Sultan / Incense -- Taka -- Nawa's lament / President Doe's prisoner / Songs and tales of social negotiation -- The man who dug up yams / Name poems / Hasan -- Sîta -- Eyidi, or naming / Recitatives for drum and dancers -- Play for me, drummer man / Taasu / The gazelle / Types of wives and husbands / Five types of wives -- Three types of husbands -- The poor orphan: a folktale / Bodies and babies: three songs -- The torments of labor / I have hope / Did you say I am old / I am not a cow

The 1990s and the new century -- Eclectic connections / Interview -- From Singuè Mura, or given that a woman -- A decent woman / Speaking as a woman / The African woman today -- A young woman's voice doesn't break, it gets firmer -- The ugliest girl in the kingdom / A trader caught in ethnic violence / Russians under Accra / Regrets for Rwanda -- From There is no suitable word / Where to find the proper word -- Silence came reluctantly -- Thousands of specks of dust we were -- From The shadow of Imana / The story of Cansolata -- Anastasio and Anastasia -- Kapro, the royal gift / The importance of work / Teaching the Qur'an / A Wassoulou singer / A perfect wife / Child soldiering / The hunger project award speech / En route to the twenty first century / Africa is not poor: an interview with Debra S. Boyd