My African Childhood: Growing Up in Guinea is a story of love, happiness, hope, faith and resilience. It is a testimony to the important role that the community-driven African society plays in the life of a child.
In this autobiography, Zenab Barry shares her childhood memories created with her parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, friends, schoolmates, and neighbours.
She invites you on this journey because she believes that the more we share our stories, the more we learn from each other; and the more we learn from each other the better this world will become.
Zenab also demonstrates how the early years that she spent in her maternal village allowed her to connect with nature and develop an understanding of emotional intelligence – a soft skill that was further-developed within her paternal grandparents’ compound.
This book is also about resilience-building. The challenges that Zenab and her family faced (including prison, internal displacement, stress, and bereavements) allowed them to develop the skills to bounce back after every test that they encountered. And they are grateful to God for everything.
If her parents put a great emphasis on education, they also practically taught and instilled values. Zenab views them as strong figures who have always had high expectations of their children.
My African Childhood: Growing Up in Guinea, is the story of a Fulani Muslim girl, growing up in the “water tower of West Africa”, with an immense love for the simplicity of life in the highlands of Fūta Jallon / Fouta Djallon.
It highlights Guinea’s potential and paints her country of origin through the eyes of an innocent child, who is full of hope.
The book beautifully presents the Fulani culture and its attachment to green grass, cows, education, and the Islamic faith.
It debunks myths, offers different perspectives, promotes cultural and ethnic diversity, and advocates peace and social cohesion.
Read this book if you want to gain new and authentic perspectives on what it was like growing up in Guinea (West Africa).
BUY: https://www.amazon.co.uk/MY-AFRICAN-CHILDHOOD-Growing-Guinea/dp/1068729228