Media That Informs Us

A short list of books and movies that at least some of us found enlightening, inspiring, or at least thought-provoking:

Books:

Africa:

No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, by Alexander McCall Smith

What is the What? by Dave Eggers

A Distant Grief, by F. Kefa Sempangi

Strength in What Remains, by Tracy Kidder

Cry the Beloved Country, by Alan Paton

There is No Me Without You, by Melissa Fay Greene
Africa Friends and Money Matters, by David Maranz

Theology/Missions:

Eternity in Their Hearts, by Don Richardson

Peace Child, by Don Richardson

Let the Nations Be Glad, by John Piper

Don't Waste your Life, by John Piper

Miracle at Tenwek, by Gregg Lewis

Surprised by Hope, by N.T. Wright

Generous Justice, by Tim Keller

Medicine/Aid/Development:

The End of Poverty, by Jeffery Sachs

Mountains Beyond Mountains, by Tracy Kidder

The White Man's Burden, by William Easterly

Guns, Germs, and Steel, by Jared Diamond

When Helping Hurts, by Brian Fikkert and Steve Corbett

Better, by Atul Gawande

Miscellaneous:
The Wycliffe Cookbook
The More With Less Cookbook

Wit, by Margaret Edson

The Hiding Place, by Corrie ten Boom

Music by Ladysmith Black Mambazo, especially Paul Simon's "Graceland"
Article: "As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God" by Matthew Parris The Times, click here

Movies:
The Mission
Invisible Children
The Devil Came on Horseback
Amazing Grace
Yesterday
Blood Diamond
War Dance

The Ghost and the Darkness

The Constant Gardener

Hotel Rwanda

The Lion King (we'd be lying to say it didn't inform us)

Recommended but Minimal Relevancy to Africa:

Toto's "Africa"

The Gods Must Be Crazy (I and II)

David Wilcox's "Johnny's Camaro"

The Tawny, Scrawny Lion, by Tengreen

The awesome action sequence in Madagascar at the beginning of "Casino Royale"