Bread and Henna: My time with the women of a Yemeni mountain town

Bread and Henna is a memoir by social anthropologist Ianthe Maclagan that chronicles her eighteen-month experience living among the women of a small mountain town in Yemen during the early 1980s. The book provides a window into a world that has gone, offering a detailed portrait of a different approach to life and cuisine. It will appeal to lovers of travel writing, people interested in the workings of different societies, and those who have traveled to Yemen or have yearned to do so.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 07 April 2023
Publisher: Bradt Travel Guides

Bread and Henna is a captivating and authentic travel narrative that delves into the experiences of social anthropologist Ianthe Maclagan, who spent eighteen months living among the women of a small mountain town in Yemen during the early 1980s. After a grueling road journey, Maclagan is initially taken in by a family who offer her support and hospitality, but unfortunately, they also charge her exorbitant rent. Undeterred, Maclagan decides to venture out on her own, facing the challenges of isolation and practicalities such as obtaining water and cooking.

One day, female neighbors initiate contact by offering cuttings for her rooftop garden. Encouraged by this gesture, they then start throwing pebbles from their roof down Maclagan's stairwell, inviting her to run errands for them. Gradually, Maclagan becomes deeply immersed in the life of the town, and in turn, she incorporates it into her own existence. The women she meets have difficult lives with limited choices, yet they prove to be friendly, warm, welcoming, and curious.

After initially attending community feasts as an honorary man, Maclagan witnesses the hard work of women that goes into preparing delicious food for guests. As she learns the local Arabic dialect, she joins local women in long, enjoyable, and sociable afternoons chewing qat. She is invited to attend weddings and other celebrations, joins visits to the sick, and participates in mourning.

As Maclagan integrates into the community, she listens attentively to the women's stories about their lives, marriages, pregnancies, and families. Women often include the children who have passed away in their count, reflecting the deep impact of loss on their lives. Maclagan also learns about the struggle for girls' education in the town, which is a critical issue for the women and their families.

Through her extended encounter with the women of a remote community, Maclagan provides detailed descriptions of a different approach to life and cuisine. Bread and Henna offers a profound insight into the lives of these women, showcasing their resilience, strength, and determination in the face of adversity. It is a testament to the power of human connection and the ability to bridge cultural divides, and it leaves readers with a deeper appreciation for the complexities and richness of the human experience.

Dimension: 198 x 130 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781784779757