To
Monique Lortie,
Axmed Sr., and
Abdulqadir, my eldest brother, and his family
and in memory of
My mother, and
Angela Carter
With warmest love.
In writing this novel I have incurred many debts, the most important of which is owed to Marcel Mauss, author of The Gift, translated into English by I. Cunison. I am also indebted to many friends, including Paul Doornbos, Professor Mohamed Omar Beshir of Khartoum University, and Dr. Mechthild Reh: to whom my thanks.