Awarded author and survivor of the Sierra Leonean and Liberian civil wars, Joseph Kaifala recounts his journey to America with literary finesse and sincere recollection.
"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.
