Review of A Dream For Peace

[Jane Ogwang]

[Following is a volunteer review of "A Dream For Peace" by Dr. Ghoulem Berrah.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Dr. Ghoulem Berrah is a perfectionist. He turned down invitations to write an autobiography about his life for quite some time. He said it was because of the standards that authors had set before him. While he was right to have that fear, I believe this book, A Dream for Peace, places a meticulous record too. It is a well-written and presented diplomatic memoir.

Dr. Berrah starts by detailing his background; he introduces us to his silversmith father and supportive mother. His excellent upbringing and many difficulties he faced set the ground for a largely successful and life-changing educational journey. He participates in aggressive campaigns to defeat the colonial systems in Algeria as a student. He then travels to France on a scholarship for further studies. Here, his desire for a better future for Algeria gets stirred. He joins and leads the Overseas Students Organization that champions these beliefs. Later in the years, he was recognized by President Houphouet, who offered him Ivorian citizenship and gave him a diplomatic role in the country. He goes on to have a stellar career in this field.

Dr. Berrah's story had to be publicized at some point, and no one could have told it better than himself. It is a personal story that relays a whole continent's aspirations and journey. I realized the stories of the African struggle for independence might vary from country to country, but the people's beliefs, spirit, and resolve for autonomy were the same. This book gives in-depth and behind-the-scenes conversations, actions, and events during the days of struggle. I was happy to see legends of the continent such as Kwame Nkrumah and Jomo Kenyatta mentioned in this book. I feel like I got a rare chance to understand their characters and experiences.

I have not seen such a stoic and magnificent approach to religion as this author had. Dr. Berrah, while a staunch Muslim, worked round the clock to ensure religious inclusivity and the development of other faiths. He documents his work with the Catholic Church and the support and resistance he got. His ability to sail through these blocks left me in awe. The book's writing was quite interesting and captivating. The language is simple and relatively easy to comprehend. The pictures in the book gave it some authenticity. They also made my reading experience better.

I, however, did not enjoy how the author held the west with much more esteem than Africa. I know that's a huge statement to make, but hear me out. I could argue that after his success, the only thing that kept his connection with Africa was his cordial relationship with the Ivorian President. His decision to return to the US when Ivory Coast faced a leadership crisis was not entirely inspiring. However, this was a personal decision he was at liberty to make and did not affect my rating.

On that note, I gladly give this book a perfect rating of four out of four stars. It is well-written and professionally edited. The stories are superb and very vital, especially for Africans. I'd recommend it to all lovers of African history and anyone interested in diplomatic engagements.

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A Dream For Peace
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[Oluwapelumi Rachael]

I can't really blame the author for deserting his country during rough times. The author seems like Such an inspiring personality and I'll like to read more about his activities.

[Precious Oba]

The author's approach to religion is definitely something to learn from. It makes me think about how people think about religion and how much is needed to be learnt. This is a sincere review and I appreciate it.

[Kelvin Modilim]

Through its meticulous documentation and thought-provoking analysis, this book offers an important contribution to understanding the complexities of decolonization.