The remarkable life journey of an African boy from the region made famous by the movie "BLOOD DIAMOND," starring Leonardo DiCaprio, which was nominated for five Academy Awards.
That movie brought attention to a rebel war in West Africa in which "blood" diamonds, also known as "conflict" diamonds, were used to finance warlords and their activities.
Two decades before the rebel war Thomas Johnson, a pilot from Minnesota, was employed to fly boxes of gems and alluvial diamonds in Sierra Leone from Yengema to Freetown, where a British Airways jet would fly the gemstones to London. This pilot met and befriended young Francis Mandewah, an impoverished Sierra Leonean boy, and gave him generous support that opened a new life of opportunity, which would eventually take Francis to America.
Along the way Francis had many harrowing experiences, including crossing the Sahara Desert, which almost cost him his life. His challenges continued in Italy, Greece, and finally in America. In the end, Francis became aware that his real voice that has emerged through all his trials and tribulations is one of deep faith, and gratitude.
· "The Story of Francis Mandewah Is One of Those Few Stories that Will Stay with Me Forever"-Newspaper Editor/Amazon Review
· "Out of Africa: A Memoir that Reads Like An Adventure Story"-Janet Kirk, Faith Counts Blog
That movie brought attention to a rebel war in West Africa in which "blood" diamonds, also known as "conflict" diamonds, were used to finance warlords and their activities.
Two decades before the rebel war Thomas Johnson, a pilot from Minnesota, was employed to fly boxes of gems and alluvial diamonds in Sierra Leone from Yengema to Freetown, where a British Airways jet would fly the gemstones to London. This pilot met and befriended young Francis Mandewah, an impoverished Sierra Leonean boy, and gave him generous support that opened a new life of opportunity, which would eventually take Francis to America.
Along the way Francis had many harrowing experiences, including crossing the Sahara Desert, which almost cost him his life. His challenges continued in Italy, Greece, and finally in America. In the end, Francis became aware that his real voice that has emerged through all his trials and tribulations is one of deep faith, and gratitude.
· "The Story of Francis Mandewah Is One of Those Few Stories that Will Stay with Me Forever"-Newspaper Editor/Amazon Review
· "Out of Africa: A Memoir that Reads Like An Adventure Story"-Janet Kirk, Faith Counts Blog
