I bought this book for the title. I had never heard of the author even though he has won several literally awards. The book is very well written but quite sad. It speaks of the war in Sierra Leone & Liberia from the eyes of a child soldier. Today a friend remarked that the reason Africans get awarded the Nobel Peace price is because we are good at creating wars. Reading this book made me understand why Ellen Sirleaf-Johnson was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The situation in Liberia & Sierra Leone was at the verge of bringing down the entire West African coast. Birahima is from neither two countries but he fought wars in Sierra Leone & Liberia as a child soldier.
Two themes are repeated severally in the book. On the one hand "Allah is not obliged to be fair about all the things he does here on earth..." & on the other "Allah never leaves empty a mouth he has created". The latter reminds me of a song by Sauti Sol losely translated "When God brings a child, he brings plus his plate (provision)".
Often times I ask - with regard to my circumstances - "Why Lord?" & I am reminded that Allah is not obliged to explain himself. He is not even obliged to accept my sacrifices, offerings & complicated prayers. My best song is "My God is Awesome, He can move mountains, My God is mighty save". He can move mountains but He may chose not to. So that is the situation Birahima the child soldier found himself in. He isn't bitter, he doesn't ask many questions...He understands that it isn't worth it to second guess the will of Allah. Just live & let live.
I have completed this book and added to the arsenal of books I have read on the war...I still do not understand the reason the tribes rose up one upon another. Really it cannot be because of the blood diamonds...or because of politics or even the difference between the American African returnees and the Indigenous populations. I have Liberian & Sierra Leone friends - I need to ask them. Or perhaps like Kenyans they have accepted and moved on.
Maybe the best thing is to recall that "Now we know in part but one day we shall know fully"....
