Review of A Dream For Peace
Posted: 02 Sep 2022, 09:54
[Following is a volunteer review of "A Dream For Peace" by Dr. Ghoulem Berrah.]
The book is a memoir on the life of His Excellency Dr. Ghoulem Berrah, starting from his childhood where he is raised by a proud, loving family through his education and finally his service in the search for peace and prosperity f his people. Berrah is born and raised in Algeria at a time where the French colonizers rule and abuse his countrymen. Through determination, hard work and support from his family, (especially his mother), Berrah defies all odds against a native Algerian at the time and earns a scholarship to study medicine in Bordeaux, France.
It is while studying that he and other like-minded North Africans form movements to oppose colonial rule in their respective countries. They collaborate with other students such as the Vietnamese. However, this action prompts the French to declare them rebels, detain them and some are killed brutally. Ghoulem however meets his first wife, Antoinette, in these circumstances. He is released from prison and participates in Morocco's liberation struggle. While here, he practices medicine even under extremely harsh conditions and lack of support from the health ministry. He also gets a scholarship to study microbiology at the Indiana University, where he makes significant discoveries in science field. Algeria also gets her independence when he is working in America.
The author responds to "the call of Africa" when he journeys to the city of Abidjan in Cote d'Ivoire. It is here that majority of his achievements in bringing peace and prosperity in the country and the continent are more pronounced. The president of Cote d'Ivoire at the time, His Excellency President Houphouet-Boigny, welcomes him into his administration. The challenges are numerous, such as corrupt officials, Arab-Palestine wars, insurrections, civic wars, interfaith conflicts, poverty among others. They are however able to manoeuver through these challenges, while maintaining genuine friendship and a deep love for each other. Ghoulem also meets the love of his life, Titi, during this period. They are from different backgrounds but persist in love and support for each other. He finishes the book by addressing problems facing third world countries and giving recommendations to overcome them.
A Dream for Peace embodies the African spirit, right from precolonial period, through colonial period and finally post-colonial period. It is therefore a very educative book that embraces the African culture while still giving an outlook of life outside Africa. It places emphasis on the importance of peace and concord in African countries so as to achieve progress, the vital role of leaders and the need to empower young people. Dr. Ghoulem Berrah highlights the history of the struggle for independence in Africa, giving the stories of young courageous youth, some who lose their lives in the mission. The book is very inspiring.
However, some of the events described by the author are gruesome, for example, young soldiers losing their lives, police brutality aimed at non-white people and general injustice towards Africans. Issues surrounding racism, religion and war are rampant in the book. Such events might be a trigger for some readers, or make them uncomfortable therefore they might not be able to enjoy the book.
I rate the book 3 out of 4 stars. This is because there is need have a trigger warning due to the violent nature of some events in the book. The book is recommended to those interested in history, especially on African countries pre, during and post colonial rule.
******
A Dream For Peace
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The book is a memoir on the life of His Excellency Dr. Ghoulem Berrah, starting from his childhood where he is raised by a proud, loving family through his education and finally his service in the search for peace and prosperity f his people. Berrah is born and raised in Algeria at a time where the French colonizers rule and abuse his countrymen. Through determination, hard work and support from his family, (especially his mother), Berrah defies all odds against a native Algerian at the time and earns a scholarship to study medicine in Bordeaux, France.
It is while studying that he and other like-minded North Africans form movements to oppose colonial rule in their respective countries. They collaborate with other students such as the Vietnamese. However, this action prompts the French to declare them rebels, detain them and some are killed brutally. Ghoulem however meets his first wife, Antoinette, in these circumstances. He is released from prison and participates in Morocco's liberation struggle. While here, he practices medicine even under extremely harsh conditions and lack of support from the health ministry. He also gets a scholarship to study microbiology at the Indiana University, where he makes significant discoveries in science field. Algeria also gets her independence when he is working in America.
The author responds to "the call of Africa" when he journeys to the city of Abidjan in Cote d'Ivoire. It is here that majority of his achievements in bringing peace and prosperity in the country and the continent are more pronounced. The president of Cote d'Ivoire at the time, His Excellency President Houphouet-Boigny, welcomes him into his administration. The challenges are numerous, such as corrupt officials, Arab-Palestine wars, insurrections, civic wars, interfaith conflicts, poverty among others. They are however able to manoeuver through these challenges, while maintaining genuine friendship and a deep love for each other. Ghoulem also meets the love of his life, Titi, during this period. They are from different backgrounds but persist in love and support for each other. He finishes the book by addressing problems facing third world countries and giving recommendations to overcome them.
A Dream for Peace embodies the African spirit, right from precolonial period, through colonial period and finally post-colonial period. It is therefore a very educative book that embraces the African culture while still giving an outlook of life outside Africa. It places emphasis on the importance of peace and concord in African countries so as to achieve progress, the vital role of leaders and the need to empower young people. Dr. Ghoulem Berrah highlights the history of the struggle for independence in Africa, giving the stories of young courageous youth, some who lose their lives in the mission. The book is very inspiring.
However, some of the events described by the author are gruesome, for example, young soldiers losing their lives, police brutality aimed at non-white people and general injustice towards Africans. Issues surrounding racism, religion and war are rampant in the book. Such events might be a trigger for some readers, or make them uncomfortable therefore they might not be able to enjoy the book.
I rate the book 3 out of 4 stars. This is because there is need have a trigger warning due to the violent nature of some events in the book. The book is recommended to those interested in history, especially on African countries pre, during and post colonial rule.
******
A Dream For Peace
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon