My African Dream

Just want to give a massive shout-out to my friend Henri, who has just published his biography. Growing up as a Rwandan refugee in Burundi, he moved to Stone Mountain, Atlanta to attend college, then started a life in America. This is the heartfelt story of living with two cultures, and what ultimately drew him back to Africa. He's a fascinating guy and this book is a real page-turner.

Henri wrote this book to share his personal experience of the life he lived in the West, specifically in the United States. This book is about the misconceptions he had, the challenges he faced, and finally the rediscovery he experienced once back at home. If you are part of the African Diaspora living abroad or contemplating moving to the West, this book is for you. If you want to come home to Africa and need some inspiration, this book is for you. After seventeen years abroad and now five years back in East Africa, the road has not been easy, but what Henri found is peace of mind, a better quality of life, his true self and where he truly belongs. Over the course of Henri’s journey, you are going to hear anecdotes about failure, resilience, hope, and purpose. This is not a book comparing two worlds, but a personal journey of self-discovery and of the realization that we, as Africans, can build our own dreams at home.

My review from Amazon:

This is a really interesting book. Living in Africa and working with refugee organisations, it's inescapable that many young people in economically developing countries believe that all of their problems could be fixed if they just made it to Europe or America. This is an incredibly honest, and at times very humorous, book written by a man who grew up as a refugee in Burundi and then spent around 18 years in America. It busts the myth that life in the West is easy, and it looks at the complex issues of social isolation and self-identity that come with a move of that magnitude. It also looks at the author's decision to return to Africa, and highlights the opportunities that are emerging in business and social enterprise on the continent. It's a really thought-provoking, heartfelt read.

Honestly worth delving into. It's available in paperback and e-book from Amazon (US/UK) and Smashwords, and in hard copy in Rwanda directly from Henri: gs01han@gmail.com