Ancestor Stones

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Many women from among my family and friends spent hours sharing their memories with me of how it was to live as a woman in our country’s past. They know who they are. I promised not to reveal their names. Instead I offer them my wholehearted thanks.

My stepmother Yabome Kanu devoted an entire summer to teaching me to speak Temne. She has patiently answered a myriad of enquiries and attended to many details of the novel on my behalf. Mother, muse, unpaid researcher. I am indebted to her.

In addition I owe my thanks to:

My cousin Morlai Forna for his assistance in researching in the village of Rogbonko and surroundings. My friend and agent David Godwin, for believing in me, for listening to my dreams and helping to make them real. At Bloomsbury, my editor Michael Fishwick for his passion for these stories, thoughtful editing and commitment to this book over three years. Alexandra Pringle for her advice on the manuscript and remarkable energy. Rosalind Hanson-Alp for lunch, laughter and advice relating to the fauna of Sierra Leone.

Above all to my husband, Simon Westcott, to whom I owe so much happiness.