Child of Dandelions

By: Shenaaz Nanji

Narrated by: Vaishali Sharma

Length: 5 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

The river of jubilant people alarmed Sabine as they bobbed along Allidina Visram Street in Kampala....The dark faces drew closer. Women in bright gomesi and headscarves danced, and bare-chested men punched their fists into the air, chanting, "Muhindi, nenda nyumbani! Indian go home."

Sabine felt she was drowning in their cries. In August 1972, President Idi Amin declares that a message from God has come to him in a dream: all foreign Indians must be "weeded out" of Uganda in the next 90 days. Fifteen-year-old Sabine and her father, a successful businessman, are confident that their family will not be affected, since they are Ugandan citizens, but Sabine's fearful mother is certain that they will have to leave.

As the 90 days tick by, the President's message - the "countdown monster," as Sabine calls it - is broadcast every day on the radio, and life becomes more difficult for her family and other Indians in Uganda. Sabine tries to hold on to her optimism, counting on her best friend, Zena, and her grandfather, Bapa, to keep her spirits up, but after her beloved uncle Zulfiqar disappears and Zena turns against her, Sabine begins to share her mother's fears. When a new law is declared on the radio - all Indians must leave - Sabine and her family have a hard decision to make. Should they stay and defend their rights, or should they go? And how will they begin a new life in a different land?

©2008 Shenaaz Nanji (P)2008 Brilliance Audio, Inc.