African Dream?
"Lydia and Wilfred Ngwa have edited a vivid portrait of recent African
immigrants in North America and Europe. Unlike other books that simply
reduce immigrant experiences to historical types and generalizations,
this eye-opening volume painstakingly details the rich and varied stories of
Africans living abroad. The accounts provide fascinating insights into
the immigrants lives, their fears, anxieties and hopes as well as the
attitudes of people of their host countries. From Dust to Snow, is also
different from other works on diaspora Africans because it avoids the
technical jargon that tends to obscure the lively and powerful
experiences of immigrants. The book uses the firsthand accounts of diasporic
African voices as the prism to express the encounter between people's
individual and collective dreams and the dreams that are traditionally associated
with their host societies. This groundbreaking book further comments on
the financial, social and poltical decisions that these Africans make
and the impact of such decisions on both their host countries and their
natal countries. In sum, From Dust to Snow: The African Dreams? will appeal
to both scholars interested in Africa and diaspora studies and the general
readers who are interested in migration, identity formation and
globalization. This is a must-read book."
- Pashington Obeng (Professor, Wellesley College and Harvard University)
“Travel and see” is not only a popular saying; it is a wise saying. But since not
everyone gets to travel (literally From Dust to Snow), the metaphorical and
intellectual component of the journey is encapsulated and portrayed to the reader
in these compelling stories. We learn some good lessons by reading what
others have seen through their travels. In and through the eyes of those who have
traveled, readers of this book get to see the west, and most importantly they get to
see Africa anew.
There are books you can read at your own pace. There are other books that
inspire you to read more and seem to create the pace for you. From Dust to
Snow: The African Dream? is in the latter category. It is a captivating piece of
work, but more importantly it is a much needed resource for Africans who are
thinking of their future, and are considering overseas travel as one of the good
options. It is also a resource for Africans who have traveled abroad and are
thinking of the return home as a critical factor in their search for the African
lifestyle. The cross-cultural elements in the stories make the book useful for
those seeking to live and/or work across cultures. Ultimately, it is useful for all
people, not only Africans and Westerners.
- Dela Adadevoh (President African Leadership Foundation)
immigrants in North America and Europe. Unlike other books that simply
reduce immigrant experiences to historical types and generalizations,
this eye-opening volume painstakingly details the rich and varied stories of
Africans living abroad. The accounts provide fascinating insights into
the immigrants lives, their fears, anxieties and hopes as well as the
attitudes of people of their host countries. From Dust to Snow, is also
different from other works on diaspora Africans because it avoids the
technical jargon that tends to obscure the lively and powerful
experiences of immigrants. The book uses the firsthand accounts of diasporic
African voices as the prism to express the encounter between people's
individual and collective dreams and the dreams that are traditionally associated
with their host societies. This groundbreaking book further comments on
the financial, social and poltical decisions that these Africans make
and the impact of such decisions on both their host countries and their
natal countries. In sum, From Dust to Snow: The African Dreams? will appeal
to both scholars interested in Africa and diaspora studies and the general
readers who are interested in migration, identity formation and
globalization. This is a must-read book."
- Pashington Obeng (Professor, Wellesley College and Harvard University)
“Travel and see” is not only a popular saying; it is a wise saying. But since not
everyone gets to travel (literally From Dust to Snow), the metaphorical and
intellectual component of the journey is encapsulated and portrayed to the reader
in these compelling stories. We learn some good lessons by reading what
others have seen through their travels. In and through the eyes of those who have
traveled, readers of this book get to see the west, and most importantly they get to
see Africa anew.
There are books you can read at your own pace. There are other books that
inspire you to read more and seem to create the pace for you. From Dust to
Snow: The African Dream? is in the latter category. It is a captivating piece of
work, but more importantly it is a much needed resource for Africans who are
thinking of their future, and are considering overseas travel as one of the good
options. It is also a resource for Africans who have traveled abroad and are
thinking of the return home as a critical factor in their search for the African
lifestyle. The cross-cultural elements in the stories make the book useful for
those seeking to live and/or work across cultures. Ultimately, it is useful for all
people, not only Africans and Westerners.
- Dela Adadevoh (President African Leadership Foundation)
‘ Eye-opening… Groundbreaking”
- Pashington Obeng (Professor, Wellesley College and Harvard University)
“…will help non-Africans to understand better the Africans in their midst.
These stories also raise the pertinent question – what happens to African
societies if their educated sons and daughters do not come home?”
– Bruce Janz (Professor, University of Central Florida)
“..immensely important… fascinating!”
– Christopher Clapham (Professor, Centre of African Studies – University of Cambridge)
“The cross-cultural elements in the stories make the book useful for those
seeking to live and/or work across cultures. Ultimately, it is useful for all
people, not only Africans and Westerners.”
–Delanyo and Elizabeth Adadevoh (President and Mrs., International Leadership
Foundation)
“A must read for anyone involved with immigration...teaches us all about the
‘African Dream’. Amazing stories..."
– Nataly Chandia (Director, International Services Center, University of central Florida)
"...Provides an opportunity for host readers to become aware of the
perceptions that help nourish or hinder the development of good
relationships in an increasingly global society.
– Kenneth Numfor N (Professor, Drew University)
- Pashington Obeng (Professor, Wellesley College and Harvard University)
“…will help non-Africans to understand better the Africans in their midst.
These stories also raise the pertinent question – what happens to African
societies if their educated sons and daughters do not come home?”
– Bruce Janz (Professor, University of Central Florida)
“..immensely important… fascinating!”
– Christopher Clapham (Professor, Centre of African Studies – University of Cambridge)
“The cross-cultural elements in the stories make the book useful for those
seeking to live and/or work across cultures. Ultimately, it is useful for all
people, not only Africans and Westerners.”
–Delanyo and Elizabeth Adadevoh (President and Mrs., International Leadership
Foundation)
“A must read for anyone involved with immigration...teaches us all about the
‘African Dream’. Amazing stories..."
– Nataly Chandia (Director, International Services Center, University of central Florida)
"...Provides an opportunity for host readers to become aware of the
perceptions that help nourish or hinder the development of good
relationships in an increasingly global society.
– Kenneth Numfor N (Professor, Drew University)
Detail review
The latter half of the twentieth century saw the emergence of a new trend: the
desire to escape the perils of Africa by traveling to the West. It seems many Africans
had come to the conclusion that if only they could land in a Western country, all their
problems would be solved. You could call this the “African Dream Hypothesis.” In this
work, this hypothesis is put to the test. The book recounts over 40 testimonies from
brave individuals, willing to lay bare the intimate details of their quest for a ‘’better’
life in the Western world. These true life experiences reveal astounding degrees of
motivation, apprehension, courage, fear, determination, and ultimately different
levels of frustration and fulfillment. Initial expectations are mirrored against the
realities of the travel process, arrival, transition, worst moments, best moments and
longer term results. In the end, and irrespective of what might have been their
original expectations prior to traveling, many of the experiences suggest a profound
transformation in the travelers (students, asylum seekers, DV-lottery winners), as
they review their presuppositions and assumptions regarding the countries they
traveled to, and, thankfully, their own home countries.
desire to escape the perils of Africa by traveling to the West. It seems many Africans
had come to the conclusion that if only they could land in a Western country, all their
problems would be solved. You could call this the “African Dream Hypothesis.” In this
work, this hypothesis is put to the test. The book recounts over 40 testimonies from
brave individuals, willing to lay bare the intimate details of their quest for a ‘’better’
life in the Western world. These true life experiences reveal astounding degrees of
motivation, apprehension, courage, fear, determination, and ultimately different
levels of frustration and fulfillment. Initial expectations are mirrored against the
realities of the travel process, arrival, transition, worst moments, best moments and
longer term results. In the end, and irrespective of what might have been their
original expectations prior to traveling, many of the experiences suggest a profound
transformation in the travelers (students, asylum seekers, DV-lottery winners), as
they review their presuppositions and assumptions regarding the countries they
traveled to, and, thankfully, their own home countries.
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African Renaissance
Ambassador
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