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In this informative and well-detailed book, the author shares his experiences of living in and escaping some of Africa's most war-torn regions. The author details life in a large family, and he documents growing up without his father after his father is killed in a car accident. He also shares interesting details about how life continued after his father's death, which gives insight into a culture many do not know about or understand. Eventually, village life gives way to city life, and then city life—and war—return the author to his village. From there, the book unfolds into a refugee's story, with the harsh realities of refugee camps and a life vastly reshaped by separation and destruction at its center.
This book dives into the cultural complexities of nations like Nigeria. For example, at one point, the author states, "Nigeria has three main tribes. The Hausa tribe resides in the North; Yorubas live in the West, and Igbos dwell in the East." The discussions center on the similarities, differences, and how these influence the area's tensions. These insights provide cultural context for the region's socio-political situation. They also help the book develop historical context.
As the text's conversation about the refugee camps opens, it introduces the book's audience to the severity of displacement. This topic is relevant, especially as the number of displaced people continues to increase around the globe due to new and ongoing wars and conflicts. Within the discussion of displacement, the author also introduces ideas about the importance of family. For example, in one chapter, he shares how his one aunt, Christiana, became a central figure in his growth. He reflects, "Christiana presented me the opportunity to get involved in trade missions because she was a businesswoman." He asserts that Christiana was not involved in the trade of illegal contraband, but rather in the sale of farm products, such as yams. The business connections help both the author and Christiana connect with people who can assist them in finding suitable accommodations. Thus, resourcefulness—and the extent to which refugees must develop and possess it—also becomes a key theme throughout the book.
One of the book's most poignant discussions happens in the chapter "Return Home after the War." In this chapter, the author relays an account of the war's extensive damage. He writes, "The effect of the war could be seen all over the place. It was hard to make out places. The sight could be equated to a hurricane passing through. The small house in our compound was demolished, while the big house survived, but it had bullet holes all over the walls." These images are stark, and audiences will not quickly forget them.
This memoir provides unique insights and perspectives on historical events that have shaped a region, yet remain relatively underdiscussed in both literature and society. Nonetheless, the author also offers hopeful anecdotes about how, despite the destruction and devastation, he emerged from the war's ashes, immigrated to the United States, received an education, and worked to create a better life for himself and his family in a new part of the world. In the ever-growing realm of immigrant memoirs, this book makes a significant contribution.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review