In her latest book, Lieve Joris takes readers on her journey through a number of West African countries troubled by drought, rebel uprisings, and ethnic conflict. Out of this uncertainty, she meets strong and engaging individuals who present new ways of living that lie between tradition and modernity. With her undisputed gift for drawing stories from people, Joris reveals an intimate portrait of a Malinese blues singer and in doing so manages to penetrate the very heart of a region.