A Son of Two Countries

A Son of Two Countries is a story of struggle for education. Born in 1946 in Rwanda under Belgian colonial rule, the author recounts his early education in Rwanda and later as a refugee in Tanzania. He was naturalized as a Tanzanian citizen in 1980 while doing his undergraduate studies at the University of Dar es Salaam. As he struggled to get education, the author was also grappling with his refugee status, with all the challenges that it entailed.

The book gives insights into the contradictions of colonial and post-colonial education, as well as the author’s reflections on education in Tanzania, given his long experience in the education sector in that country. Finally, we get some glimpses into the dual identity of the author as a Tanzanian citizen of Rwandan origin and how this shaped his relationship with the two countries he calls home. As he aptly puts it, “Rwanda gave me my heart; Tanzania gave me my brain. I find it difficult to choose between my heart and my brain”.