New Book: My African Anthology, by Robert Gribbin

My African Anthology

By Robert Gribbin (Kenya 1968-70))

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published (August 9, 2024)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 351 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8335491563
Available on Amazon.com ($17.00)

My African Anthology is a compendium of anecdotes, articles and stories that mirror years of living and working in Africa. Beginning in the sixties with my first sojourn on the continent, the items both factual and fictional paint a compelling portrait of the Africa I knew. From the Peace Corps Kenya era are snippets of Luo tribal consternation regarding America’s moon landing, competing in the Safari road rally, trouble with noisy bees, and a shape shifting terror. From Bokassa’s Central African Republic – stories of a man lost in the forest, the president’s mistress, a search for gold, plus an eye-witness account of the lavish coronation. A later return to that beleaguered nation, recounts ambassadorial maneuvering to foster a fair election.

A travelogue entry traces road trips across Africa – Kenya to England in 1970 via the Congo and the Sahara – mud, broken ferries, pygmies, breakdowns, suspicion of being mercenaries, the desert, Tuaregs, land mines, etc. Then in 1991, Uganda to South Africa with family in tow through a changing political landscape to the new South Africa.

Kenya returns with vignettes from Mombasa – employing a witch doctor to cleanse a septic system, prostitutes protecting their turf, plus a mystery about a missing trove of rubies. The scene shifts to Uganda in a novella entitled The Shriveled Hands, which is a tale of witchcraft, trafficking in girls, superstition about albinos and the impact of AIDS, plus a dash of terrorism. Other stories in the collection include Gacaca justice for genocidaires in Rwanda, escaping Ebola in Sierra Leone, trouble in a refugee camp in Chad and a hunt for mythical beasts in the jungles of the Congo.

Serious articles include the gift of a watermelon in Djibouti, an analysis of AFRICOM, the U.S. military command for Africa, its successes and failures, and an update of the situation in Rwanda, twenty-five years after the genocide.

In sum, this anthology focuses on different facets of life in Africa and pulls together a colorful portrait of a turbulent continent as seen by an astute outside observer.

One reader said, “Now, I understand Africa better.” Another, “I thought the trafficking story was great.” A third, “I’ve recommended Grogan’s Trove to friends.”

Robert Gribbin has lived, worked and traveled in Africa for the last 60 years. He was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kenya, and later a diplomat rising to be ambassador to the Central African Republic and to Rwanda. Subsequently he served as chargé d’affaires in six more nations. He is the author of a memoir In the Aftermath of Genocide – The U.S. Role in Rwanda and five novels. He reviews books about Africa on his blog www.rwandakenya.blogspot.com.