My mother is half-breed, half Tatar, Russian and
Malinke (West African ethnic group) and my father is the native of Africa, his tribe is called "Ibu".
As in his earlier novels, James extends his stories beyond mere narrative to capture the breadth of his world, which draws as much on the great African works of oral poetry, the Songhay Epic of Askia Muhammad and
Malinke Epic of Sundiata, and on African fantasy like D.
Mkulwe, Kinga; Nyaturu, Isanzu, Nilamba; Ganda, Nyoro, Haya; Masai; Chagga, Digo; Rwanda, Shi, Rundi; Sukuma, Gusii, Kumbi; Fang, Bube, Bulu, Tanga; Duala, Basa, Kwiri; Kru; Sakata; Akan, Ashanti, Akwapim, Tvi; Baule, Nzema, Agni; Dan, Guro, Mano, Sapa, Ngere; Igbo; Isoko; Tiv, Jukun, Bete,Wute; Ewe; Fon; Kpelle, Kono; Fulbe, Wolof, Serer; Biu-Mandara; Mbundu, Owambo; Kongo; Gogo, Zaramo, Kaguru; Yoruba, Nupe, Bini; Northern Gur (Oti-Volta); Manden, Bamana,
Malinke, Diula; Hausa; Stieng, Chrau, Sre;
(Antin 1912b, 257; 1912a, 216-17) Alongside a self-mocking remark about her vain reaction when a neighbor finds out from a library advertising about her authorship of "
Malinke's Atonement,"" Antin acknowledges, in a letter to Ellery Sedgwick, even if ironically, the propaganda aspects of her autobiographical-fictional productions: "A neighbor of mine saw '
Malinke' very attractively advertised in the public Library.
That gave me the opportunity to learn different Guinean languages and musical styles--from the Fulani [people] in the North, where I'm from, to the
Malinke and the Soussou in the South."