Africa Memoir

It’s the early seventies in rural Zimbabwe. Three-year-old Mercy lives with her beloved grandma, helping tend the chickens and goats, learning the importance of growing the crops that will feed them throughout the year, and many other skills.

Recent research has revealed that the richest person of all time lived in the 14th century in West Africa and went by many names, including Kankan Musa Keita, Emir of Melle, Lord of the Mines of Wangara, Conqueror of Ghanata, and the Lion of Mali II, but today he is usually referred to as Mansa Musa. Adjusting his wealth to modern values, he was worth about an estimated $400 billion as the Sultan of ancient Mali, which controlled the trade routes across the Sahara Desert.

The Lord's Resistance Army appeared on the conflict landscape of Central Africa at the dawn of perhaps one of the bleakest period of post-independence African history: the 1980s and 1990s. This was the era of Afro-pessimism, during which the proliferation of war and crisis in Africa appeared simply overwhelming.

Have you ever wondered what PhD studies looked like? Have you ever had the desire to pursue PhD studies, or do you know any friends, relatives or loved ones who would like to engage in the adventure? Do you want to set your/their expectations straight? Do you want to test and feel the PhD waters without lifting a finger? Then you are in for a treat. PhD studies can be fascinating and fulfilling as much as they are challenging. Most people however can only resort to uninformed guesses as to what a PhD journey really looks like.