Two Dutch journalists, Arnold Karskens and Henk Willem Smits, focus in this book on the Dutch businessman Guus Kouwenhoven (or mr. Gus). What is so special about this man that two journalist have followed this man over a period of many years, have delved into archives, have talked with the man himself and many others? … Continue reading Review OPERATIE LAAT NIETS IN LEVEN
Turning the ‘Curse of Ham’ into a blessing
What is your origin? Where do we come from and how does this origin define us? One of the books with a story of origin is the bible. Due to poor exegesis the idea emerged that Africans were cursed, due to their ancestor Ham. How do writers with African roots, from different parts of the … Continue reading Turning the ‘Curse of Ham’ into a blessing
On the same page: interview & discussion with Vamba Sherif
The small village of Wageningen in The Netherlands is a world famous village for it houses the famous University of Wageningen. In the field of agriculture and life sciences it has a name in the academic field. Students from all over the world move to Wageningen to study. At the campus a new initiative has … Continue reading On the same page: interview & discussion with Vamba Sherif
DE LANGE WEG
My secondhand copy of this book (The Long Road) has been signed by the writer Bruce Cerew in 2010, in the Dutch town of Ede. He travelled a long way to get to The Netherlands. I assume that this book is an autobiography, in which Bruce writes about his life in Nigeria (where he was … Continue reading DE LANGE WEG
How to “Madame President”
Madame President is not referring to the madame who did not become president of the United States of America. Hillary Clinton did not make it. The title, however, refers to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, a lady from Liberia, who has achieved political experience over many years. At her pinnacle she became president of the West African … Continue reading How to “Madame President”
THE LAND OF THE FATHERS
The Liberia-born (1973) writer Vamba Sherif lives in The Netherlands. He is a man with a knack for languages. This book was written in Eglish and translated into Dutch and published in Dutch. I do not know if this book has been published in English as well. In this book Sherif returns to his country … Continue reading THE LAND OF THE FATHERS
books touched by Africa 