African Voices, African Lives explores the world of Mohammed, a Swahili peasant living on Mafia Island, Tanzania. Through his own words and those of his relatives, the reader sees the world through his eyes, including the invisible world of spirits which plays a significant role in his life.

This information was gathered by anthropologist Pat Caplan over almost three decades of talking and writing with Mohammed. She acts not only as translator and editor, but also as interpreter, bringing in her own knowledge gathered from field data as well as comparative material from other anthropological work. This study will make an important contribution to current debates in anthropology by grappling with issues raised by "personal narratives", authorial authority, and with reflexivity.