Aleya Kassam shares her thoughts on non-fiction work by Pheroze Nowrojee titled A Kenyan Journey.
In 1896 Pheroze’s grandfather’s left India to travel to Kenya to work on the railway. This is the story of the journey of a family, the journey of three generations, the journey of Kenya.
I’m not used to seeing my world in the pages of our books. So it was simply dizzying to see it in each page of this captivating book, and to learn about the story of Kenya through the eyes of this Asian Kenyan family who are etched into our history.
I forget that Pheroze is a poet. I did not expect this book to be so beautiful. The storytelling language in this family history is simply sublime. Whilst Pheroze is fortunate to have so many family artefacts from his history, he has done them great service in the way he has written this most beautiful story. I’m surprised that this treasure chest of a book is still under the radar for many Kenyans.
Our reviewer Aleya is a Desi Kenyan. Distracted by trees & birds. Obsessed with octopuses. Reader. Writer. Storyteller. Performer. Feminist.