Malidoma Patrice Some

Malidoma Patrice Somé (born 1956) is a West African writer. He was born in Dano, Burkina Faso, among the Dagara.

He was napped at the age of four by Jesuit missionaries, raised in their boarding school, and given a education. The missionaries were attempting train black Africans who might go to Christianity. He did not escape the missionary school until he was twenty, by which time he had forgotten his native language. In order to be able to communicate with his people, he underwent an arduous process of "relearning". He took part in a month-long Dagara initiation process.cite book
last = Somé
first = Malidoma Patrice
authorlink = Malidoma Patrice Some
title = Of Water and Spirit: Ritual, Magic and Initiation in the Life of an African Shaman
publisher = Tarcher/Putnam
date = 1994
location = New York
url =
isbn = 978-0874777628] cite book
last = Somé
first = Malidoma Patrice
authorlink = Malidoma Patrice Some
title = Ritual: Power, Healing and Community
publisher = Swan and Raven
date = 1993
location = Portland, OR
url =
isbn = 978-0140195583 ] cite book
last = Somé
first = Malidoma Patrice
authorlink = Malidoma Patrice Some
title = The Healing Wisdom of Africa: Finding Life Purpose Through Nature, Ritual, and Community
publisher = Tarcher/Putnam
date = 1998
location = New York
url =
isbn = 978-0874779912]

The Dagara believe that each person is born with a destiny, and he or she is given a name that reflects that destiny. The name Malidoma means "become friends with the stranger/enemy". Malidoma Patrice Somé believes it is his destiny to come to a western audience in friendship and tell them about his experience of being torn away from his people by westerners. His book, "Of Water and the Spirit", is his attempt to describe his experiences. His life in the Jesuit school was unpleasant at best. He describes it as a jail. He was repeatedly sexually abused by the priests there. Why would anyone go through the process.

Somé holds three Master's degrees and two doctorates from the Sorbonne and Brandeis University. He has taught at the University of Michigan.

Somé conducts seminars and retreats in Oregon and throughout the world.cite web
last = Somé
first = Malidoma Patrice
authorlink = Malidoma Patrice Some
title = Malidoma.com
date = 2007
url = http://malidoma.com/]

References

External links

* [http://dickinsg.intrasun.tcnj.edu/diaspora/water.html Bio]
* [http://www.malidoma.com/ Home page]
* [http://www.banyen.com/INFOCUS/Malidoma.htm An interview]