Although the !Kung San of southern Africa differ greatly from the people of the West African nation of Mali, the two regions share similar problems. Both suffer from disease, malnutrition and must adapt to the ever-changing and advancing cultures around them. What I found to be the most important problem common to both regions was that people suffered from a lack of education. In the book Dancing Skeletons: Life and Death in West Africa by Katherine A. Dettwyler, there is a lack of education on good nutritional practices, care of children and newborns, and knowledge and practices basic medical. The Dobe Ju/'hoansi have recently begun establishing schools to help children receive an education to help them become more successful with the surrounding people and culture, but there is a lack of attendance at these schools. There are also many issues with education about good sexual practices that could help stop the spread of HIV and AIDS, in a region of the world where these diseases are reaching surprisingly high levels. The first part of this article will discuss education issues in the Dobe region. Ju/'hoansi with their school systems. There are also many divergent opinions on public education about sexual health practices and the use of protection in general. This section will also cover the problem of education in Mali linked to the lack of nutritional and medical knowledge. The second part of the article will cover the divergent viewpoints between Western society and the indigenous viewpoint of the Dobe Ju/'hoansi and the Malian people. The final part of the document discusses some recommendations geared towards solutions to education problems and some of the steps that have already begun to be implemented to help improve conditions...... middle of document.. .... not enough. “If you are dedicating all these resources to keeping children alive, without monitoring their long-term health through larger gardening projects and nutrition education programs, then you are simply wasting the time, the everyone's money and energy (Dettwyler 1994: 145). » In conclusion, the suffering linked to malnutrition as well as the lack of education in rural areas of Africa are highlighted in the books of Dettwyler and Lee. Both anthropologists provide insight into the true nature of the many problems people face and how they face life and death in completely alien ways. Although both regions suffer from similar problems, steps in the right direction to help educate the population by implementing programs and improving schools are slowing down. Although the societies and their problems differ greatly, they are both moving toward similar solutions..