Overview

As a survivor of the devastating civil wars in Sierra Leone and Liberia, Joseph Kaifala recounts the harrowing details of an early life punctuated by unimaginable violence and his journey to survival that eventually led him to the United States. Told with humility and grace,Adamaluiis the true story of one man's unshakable faith, thirst for knowledge, and indomitable will. Kaifala's experiences as a child prisoner and refugee are told through a series of flashbacks as he endeavors to attain a visa to attend college in America. His memories of the death and destruction that he and his family witnessed while attempting to avoid the violence rampant in impoverished West Africa are written with amazing clarity by a man on a mission to chart a way forward for himself and the others who would follow in his steps.

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9781681626833

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Reviews

""The reflections in this eloquent and moving account bring important insights for anyone interested in childhood experiences of armed conflict, survival in prison and refugee camps, the strength of family, myriad aspects of cross-cultural adjustment—and the profound power of education.”—Stephanie Farrior, Professor of Law and Director, Center for Applied Human Rights, Vermont Law School ""Joseph Kaifala's ADAMALUI is a stunning spiritual memoir about one man's journey, not just through the harrowing terrain of civil war, but into the depths of his soul. An inspiring achievement.""—Flor Edwards, author of Apocalypse Child: A Life in End Times ""ADAMALUI by Joseph Kaifala is perhaps the best book to capture the essence of Sierra Leone's history between 1990 and 2004. This exemplary work of art written from Joseph's life takes us through an experience of living in a prison as a child in war torn Liberia, making the best of life in a refugee camp as a youth in Guinea and enduring a brutal rebel war in Sierra Leone. Joseph brings us into his life, and consequently most Sierra Leonean youth, with careful detail and purposeful sense of humor used excellently to lighten often heavy topics. I could relate to many parts of the story because like Joseph, I went to RCNUWC and then the US after taking my WASSCE in Freetown. However, the combination of particular experiences which make this memoir a spectacular work could only be Joseph's. This book leaves me hopeful for Sierra Leone because even though its stories are based in the past, it features many young people, including Joseph and his brother Francis, who are already impacting society in education and civic life. What a blessing that Joseph chose to share his story!!! It's the best account of our generation out there.""—David Sengeh, PhD, 2018 TED Senior Fellow Praise for Joseph Kaifala's Free Slaves, Freetown, and the Sierra Leonean Civil War “It is no easy feat to write a country’s history in one book, especially when the nation involved has been through as much hope and as much suffering as Sierra Leone. But Joseph Kaifala has managed the job knowledgeably and skillfully, by focusing on key periods of his country’s evolution. This is a first-rate guide to understanding the deep historical underpinnings of the challenges facing Sierra Leone today.”—Adam Hochschild, author of King Leopold’s Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror and Heroism in Colonial Africa.

Joseph Kaifala's ADAMALUI is a stunning spiritual memoir about one man's journey, not just through the harrowing terrain of civil war, but into the depths of his soul. An inspiring achievement. --Flor Edwards, author of Apocalypse Child: A Life in End Times ADAMALUI by Joseph Kaifala is perhaps the best book to capture the essence of Sierra Leone's history between 1990 and 2004. This exemplary work of art written from Joseph's life takes us through an experience of living in a prison as a child in war torn Liberia, making the best of life in a refugee camp as a youth in Guinea and enduring a brutal rebel war in Sierra Leone. Joseph brings us into his life, and consequently most Sierra Leonean youth, with careful detail and purposeful sense of humor used excellently to lighten often heavy topics. I could relate to many parts of the story because like Joseph, I went to RCNUWC and then the US after taking my WASSCE in Freetown. However, the combination of particular experiences which make this memoir a spectacular work could only be Joseph's. This book leaves me hopeful for Sierra Leone because even though its stories are based in the past, it features many young people, including Joseph and his brother Francis, who are already impacting society in education and civic life. What a blessing that Joseph chose to share his story!!! Pre-order this book. It's the best account of our generation out there. --David Sengeh, PhD, 2018 TED Senior FellowPraise for Joseph Kaifala's Free Slaves, Freetown, and the Sierra Leonean Civil War It is no easy feat to write a country's history in one book, especially when the nation involved has been through as much hope and as much suffering as Sierra Leone. But Joseph Kaifala has managed the job knowledgeably and skillfully, by focusing on key periods of his country's evolution. This is a first-rate guide to understanding the deep historical underpinnings of the challenges facing Sierra Leone today. --Adam Hochschild, author of King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror and Heroism in Colonial Africa. Praise for Joseph Kaifala's Free Slaves, Freetown, and the Sierra Leonean Civil War It is no easy feat to write a country's history in one book, especially when the nation involved has been through as much hope and as much suffering as Sierra Leone. But Joseph Kaifala has managed the job knowledgeably and skillfully, by focusing on key periods of his country's evolution. This is a first-rate guide to understanding the deep historical underpinnings of the challenges facing Sierra Leone today. --Adam Hochschild, author of King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror and Heroism in Colonial Africa. Praise for Joseph Kaifala It is no easy feat to write a country's history in one book, especially when the nation involved has been through as much hope and as much suffering as Sierra Leone. But Joseph Kaifala has managed the job knowledgeably and skillfully, by focusing on key periods of his country's evolution. This is a first-rate guide to understanding the deep historical underpinnings of the challenges facing Sierra Leone today. --Adam Hochschild, author of King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror and Heroism in Colonial Africa.

Praise for Joseph Kaifala's Free Slaves, Freetown, and the Sierra Leonean Civil War It is no easy feat to write a country's history in one book, especially when the nation involved has been through as much hope and as much suffering as Sierra Leone. But Joseph Kaifala has managed the job knowledgeably and skillfully, by focusing on key periods of his country's evolution. This is a first-rate guide to understanding the deep historical underpinnings of the challenges facing Sierra Leone today. --Adam Hochschild, author of King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror and Heroism in Colonial Africa. Praise for Joseph Kaifala It is no easy feat to write a country's history in one book, especially when the nation involved has been through as much hope and as much suffering as Sierra Leone. But Joseph Kaifala has managed the job knowledgeably and skillfully, by focusing on key periods of his country's evolution. This is a first-rate guide to understanding the deep historical underpinnings of the challenges facing Sierra Leone today. --Adam Hochschild, author of King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror and Heroism in Colonial Africa.

Author Information

Joseph Ben Kaifala, ESQ. is founder of the JENEBA PROJECT INC. and co-founder of the SIERRA LEONE MEMORY PROJECT. He was born in Sierra Leone and spent his early childhood in Liberia and Guinea. He later moved to Norway where he studied for the International Baccalaureate (IB) at the Red Cross Nordic United World College before enrolling at Skidmore College in upstate New York. Joseph was an International Affairs & French Major, with a minor in Law & Society. Joseph is also a Human Rights activist, a Rastafarian, and a votary of ahimsa. He speaks six languages.

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