The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind, 2009, WIlliam Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer ****

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is one fine book that I strongly recommend. It is the story of William Kamkwamba, born into a rural family that depends absolutely on farming to remain alive. They survived the most devastating Malawian food crisis ever. However, he had to drop out from school, primarily due to lack of food and lack of resources too. In the throes of dearth, William, at the very tender age of fourteen longing to be educated, frequented the village library. From a photograph and a text book he built an electricity producing windmill with recyclable materials and spare parts, most of which he collected from the pile of garbage in his village. Few years later, as luck would have it, through the Malawian Newspaper he was featured in the blogosphere through which he caught the attention of TEDGlobal. And, hence, he gained international fame.

This is one book everyone should read, it is encouraging and inspiring, it should be in the library of very school and should be translated into as many languages as possible. Nothing is impossible, you just have to try. Kudos to Bryan Mealer for doing a wonderful job in reference to the writing of the book. 

I have to admit that I am late in the reading of this non-fiction since its publishing in 2009. It was a phenomenon of a book. A lot has been published about William Kamkwamba, below are some official links.

• The blog where he was first published Hactivate by Mike McKay
• He was featured on the Daily Times: School dropout with a streak genius
• His first appearance on TED: How I built a windmill
• A documentary was made: William and the Windmill
• William's blog: William Kamkwamba

This book won the German Corine Literature Prize. As I have already said, I highly recommend. Thank you to the MS/HS Library for lending me this book, now I can kindly take it back after having it for so long.

Another inspirational non-fiction from Malawi is I Will Try by Legson Kariya

I Will Try, 1965, Legson Kayira ****

"I Will Try" is a non-fiction autobiography of Legson Kayira. Who in the late fifties, after secondary school, suddenly decided to forward his education in the United States of America. He embarked on his journey by foot all the way from Malawi, neither with money nor documents. As far as he was concerned, success was his determination.
Legson was born in the forties into an impoverished rural primitive and savage background, in Nyasaland, today's Malawi. He lived in huts (if it was up to that), took care of cows, went hunting and slept in barns. When at last he was registered to a school, he walked long distances to attend classes.

"Yet, despite facing the constraints common to most children in Africa, Kayira went on to defy all odds ultimately turning himself into the epitome of resilience and courage".

Incidents on his way to America were rather interesting. The places he stayed and spent the night in, the people and animals he met, the food he ate and the jobs he took on were explicitly narrated on.

Eventually, he made his way to the USA where he was granted a scholarship by Skagit Valley College in Washington State, and later on went to Cambridge University in England. "I Will Try" was an inspiring and easy read with the moral message; with courage and determination nothing is impossible. Legson's life story is quite extraordinary. In fact, "The Adventures of Legson Kariya" would have perfectly fitted as a title.

Furthermore, I learnt a lot about the political state of Malawi. The fact that Dr. Hasting Banda (first president of Malawi), who studied abroad and was against colonialism, went into power and immediately turned into a tyrannical ruler completely baffles me. He was in office from 1966 to 1994. Legson, actually attended one of his campaign and was strongly rooting for him. Sadly, after many years of living and studying overseas he was considered a threat by Banda, who denied him entrance to Malawi. 

Legson Kariya is known today as a Malawian novelist, he lived in England and died in London in 2012. I would love to say a big thank you to RMG (Rivona Media Group) for sending me a copy for review. It goes without saying that this is a must read. I highly recommend.

This novel was first published in 1965. This edition is Published January 2013 by Rivonia Media Group. contains the original text, photographs, as well as a memoir by Legson’s widow, Julie Kayira, written after his sudden death in England in October 2012.

Young Legson Kariya