The boy who never gave up: A refugee’s epic journey to triumph by Emmanuel Taban – reader impression

  • 0

This reader impression was written and sent to LitNet on the writer's own initiative.

The boy who never gave up: A refugee’s epic journey to triumph
Emmanuel Taban and Andrew Crofts
Jonathan Ball Publishers
ISBN: 9781776191260

........

If there ever was a book that deserved the description of epic as part of its title, then this book is the one. And the best part of it is that this story is all based on real events.

..........

If there ever was a book that deserved the description of epic as part of its title, then this book is the one. And the best part of it is that this story is all based on real events.

Emmanuel Taban was born in Sudan, in what is today South Sudan. He grew up in a loving home, but in an environment of abject poverty, the family living in a mud house with very little resources. In an attempt to secure some money, Taban’s mother often resorted to selling alcohol in the community. His father being absent, the responsibility to raise the children fell on his mother. Like many other countries in Africa, Sudan is a country rich in natural resources, but there are no leaders with the moral backbone to lead the country. The politicians are only interested in their own welfare, leaving the country in a state of despair. It is in these circumstances that Taban grew up; often in the midst of civil war, he was no stranger to the corpses of human beings. However, from a very early age, Taban was an eager student, and despite limited opportunities, he excelled academically. Due to financial woes, his education was cut short, but the desire to complete his education never ceased. The story of his life is basically the story of his attempts to secure an education.

........

However, from a very early age, Taban was an eager student, and despite limited opportunities, he excelled academically. Due to financial woes, his education was cut short, but the desire to complete his education never ceased. The story of his life is basically the story of his attempts to secure an education.

..........

During his teenage years, Taban was captured and jailed after being accused of providing information to enemy forces. After being tortured for weeks, he converted to Islam, but eventually fled, at first attempting to return to Sudan. The book then follows the journey that Taban took on his way to South Africa. On this journey, he would live through many adventures, living on the streets. He would often travel on foot, other times by bus, often getting into trouble with local people and the authorities. He also had to endure a lot of rejection from extended family, and he completely lost contact with his beloved mother. Time and again, Taban would resort to the churches whenever he was in a new city and had nowhere to go; most of the time, these would be Catholic churches. The churches would often provide him with food, temporary shelter and money, and there were also many acts of kindness from strangers along the way. It was during 1994 that Taban journeyed through Africa, travelling, among other places, via Kenya, Tanzania and Zimbabwe, and eventually all the way to Johannesburg, where he arrived in 1995.

........

“There seemed to be nothing good going on anywhere. Everybody was praying to God for divine intervention, and the churches were full of people expecting miracles. Even the president and his ministers were praying, without realising they needed to make decisions” (170).

..........

Again, in South Africa, Taban went to the Catholic church to escape a life on the streets. He subsequently found employment, ended up completing secondary school and started to study medicine, graduating in 2004. In chapter 11, under the heading of “A sad reunion”, Taban relates his first visit to Sudan after graduating. He bemoans the state of the country and is also critical of the leaders: “There seemed to be nothing good going on anywhere. Everybody was praying to God for divine intervention, and the churches were full of people expecting miracles. Even the president and his ministers were praying, without realising they needed to make decisions” (170). Sudan would eventually be split into two, with South Sudan being established in 2011. The book also documents Taban’s ongoing struggle to establish a bottling plant, which would provide bottled water and create employment opportunities, but which is yet to materialise.

........

The boy who never gave up is a book that I could not put down. Apart from being the story of a teenager’s epic journey through Africa, it is also an inspiring book, a book of hope. I would not at all be surprised to see the story of this famous doctor one day being turned into a film.

.........

The boy who never gave up is a book that I could not put down. Apart from being the story of a teenager’s epic journey through Africa, it is also an inspiring book, a book of hope. I would not at all be surprised to see the story of this famous doctor one day being turned into a film. Taban continued his studies and eventually specialised in pulmonology. The book also documents much information about his personal life, such as his relationships and eventual marriage, as well as other engagements with his family, among these the passing of his mother. With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Taban would go on to play a central role in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, with his story gaining media interest along the way.

  • 0

Reageer

Jou e-posadres sal nie gepubliseer word nie. Kommentaar is onderhewig aan moderering.


 

Top