The request was for a "black blues opera" that would that put contemporary conflicts in mythic contexts.

Keen is a theorist of contemporary conflict, notably in African society.

He applies his expertise in the study of tribal societies to contemporary conflicts.

He explores the region's history and cultures in attempt to make sense of the contemporary conflict.

As a military historian Barnett has often written on various contemporary conflicts involving Britain.

"They said they wanted it to deal with contemporary conflicts in a mythological context," he said recently.

"I took contemporary conflicts to be those between men and women."

WARM is an international foundation working on the world's contemporary conflicts, based in Sarajevo.

The novel takes its inspiration from South Africa's contemporary social and political conflict, and offers a bleak look at a country in transition.

His work references violence and tragedy of colonialism juxtaposed with contemporary global conflicts.