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Chasing Freedom: Coming of Age at the End of Empire
Not yet published
Expected 24 Mar 26In my home country, they call me a 'bornfree'.
Simukai Chigudu was born in Zimbabwe, two years after the end of its bitter war of liberation - a war in which his father had fought. This is the story of his childhood journey through the chaos of that new country's birth to Britain, where he arrived alone, a teenager, burning with ambition but utterly lost in ways he had yet even to discover.
Told with astonishing insight, his memoir describes the drama of his quest to belong and to succeed, and how his worldview was both shaped and shattered by Britain, ultimately setting him on a quest to uncover the truth of his parents' past.
In excavating their story alongside his own, he brings us closer than ever before to understanding one of the greatest upheavals in modern times - the freeing of a continent from colonial rule - not as history or politics but as a psychological and emotional force, one that divides families from within, even while those same divisions bind them fiercely together across time.
Simukai Chigudu was born in Zimbabwe, two years after the end of its bitter war of liberation - a war in which his father had fought. This is the story of his childhood journey through the chaos of that new country's birth to Britain, where he arrived alone, a teenager, burning with ambition but utterly lost in ways he had yet even to discover.
Told with astonishing insight, his memoir describes the drama of his quest to belong and to succeed, and how his worldview was both shaped and shattered by Britain, ultimately setting him on a quest to uncover the truth of his parents' past.
In excavating their story alongside his own, he brings us closer than ever before to understanding one of the greatest upheavals in modern times - the freeing of a continent from colonial rule - not as history or politics but as a psychological and emotional force, one that divides families from within, even while those same divisions bind them fiercely together across time.
352 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication March 24, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 12, 2026
Brilliant
February 9, 2026
I received an ARC of this book and have been looking forward to it (took me a bit to get started since I have a huge TBR pile lol).
First off… this book is PACKED with information I never knew or forgot over time. I loved the way the author incorporates his knowledge of events with what he has been told by his parents and then the evolution as he learns the REAL history. This part is universal, I think, to some degree. Especially as children, we want to believe what our parents tell us about themselves and the world. It’s a real experience to find out that they are flawed and have misconceptions and cracks just like everyone else.
Chigudu’s relationship with his parents is both heartbreaking and curious. Even as an adult, they are very secretive about the truth of the status and depth of their relationship and as a child who saw a lot of strife at home, I could empathize with wanting, really NEEDING to know… why they were still (if not why they EVER) together.
Still with the memoir side…. I very strongly relate to the need to be perfect and exceed at everything. My parents’ sacrifices for me weren’t the same kind as the author’s… but between those and my desire to make them proud, good was never quite good enough. I hope he learns to accept his flaws and truly slow his pace. It’s very disheartening to always have to outdo yourself… it’s just not sustainable.
If the author reads this review… I SEE YOU. I may not be Zimbabwean but the struggles of expectations and identity are not unique to you… and your descriptions are vivid and so relatable.
I gave this book 5* knowing, as an ARC, there may be some changes. If this was finished it would be about a 4.9. Having some maps (especially with markings of the various refugee camps and the travels between countries) would be so helpful to better understand the length of travels and the overall geography. I plan on grabbing my Atlas diving back in (once I’ve had some time to think more on this book) for that purpose.
First off… this book is PACKED with information I never knew or forgot over time. I loved the way the author incorporates his knowledge of events with what he has been told by his parents and then the evolution as he learns the REAL history. This part is universal, I think, to some degree. Especially as children, we want to believe what our parents tell us about themselves and the world. It’s a real experience to find out that they are flawed and have misconceptions and cracks just like everyone else.
Chigudu’s relationship with his parents is both heartbreaking and curious. Even as an adult, they are very secretive about the truth of the status and depth of their relationship and as a child who saw a lot of strife at home, I could empathize with wanting, really NEEDING to know… why they were still (if not why they EVER) together.
Still with the memoir side…. I very strongly relate to the need to be perfect and exceed at everything. My parents’ sacrifices for me weren’t the same kind as the author’s… but between those and my desire to make them proud, good was never quite good enough. I hope he learns to accept his flaws and truly slow his pace. It’s very disheartening to always have to outdo yourself… it’s just not sustainable.
If the author reads this review… I SEE YOU. I may not be Zimbabwean but the struggles of expectations and identity are not unique to you… and your descriptions are vivid and so relatable.
I gave this book 5* knowing, as an ARC, there may be some changes. If this was finished it would be about a 4.9. Having some maps (especially with markings of the various refugee camps and the travels between countries) would be so helpful to better understand the length of travels and the overall geography. I plan on grabbing my Atlas diving back in (once I’ve had some time to think more on this book) for that purpose.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
An incredible memoir and analysis of the turmoil within Zimbabwe during the fight for freedom and the legacy of colonialism that Chigudu was faced with at every corner.
Coming into this with virtually no knowledge of Zimbabwe I was fearful I would get lost in names, regimes, and geography - but Chigudu was able to craft a immensely personal but yet sweeping narrative of Zimbabwe during the years of his and his parents youth & young adulthood. I learned so much while also remaining centered in Chigudu' journey, mostly surrounding his education, but also his struggles with mental health, religion, and relationships.
Excellently paced & deeply moving - don't miss this memoir.
Coming into this with virtually no knowledge of Zimbabwe I was fearful I would get lost in names, regimes, and geography - but Chigudu was able to craft a immensely personal but yet sweeping narrative of Zimbabwe during the years of his and his parents youth & young adulthood. I learned so much while also remaining centered in Chigudu' journey, mostly surrounding his education, but also his struggles with mental health, religion, and relationships.
Excellently paced & deeply moving - don't miss this memoir.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a captivating memoir. Knowing little about Rhodesia or Zimbabwe, I read with a ferocity trying to gather as much information as possible in this brilliant book. What I learned about growing up in Africa is the powerful effects of colonialism that still linger today.
Simukai Chigudu traces his journey from Zimbabwe to Oxford with simple language but in a powerful voice. His mother left Uganda and met Simukai’s father in Zimbabwe. She is a force in this book. I loved her strength. His father is a cloaked figure in a way because he suppressed so much emotion - though as the author notes both his parents did which is what makes his stay in Ireland with a friend of his mother fascinating - here he learned a whole other way of living.
I liked how this memoir fleshes out the hypocrisy of colonialism. Simukai becomes a first, an only black among whites in many situations. And the irony of going to Oxford and seeing the Cecil Rhodes stature on campus illustrates this. As Simukai seeks to trace the impact of decolonization on him and his country, I think he finds that the trauma endures (PS: he is working to get the statute removed).
This was an excellent read. Highly recommend.
I’d like to thank NetGalley and Crown Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC.
Simukai Chigudu traces his journey from Zimbabwe to Oxford with simple language but in a powerful voice. His mother left Uganda and met Simukai’s father in Zimbabwe. She is a force in this book. I loved her strength. His father is a cloaked figure in a way because he suppressed so much emotion - though as the author notes both his parents did which is what makes his stay in Ireland with a friend of his mother fascinating - here he learned a whole other way of living.
I liked how this memoir fleshes out the hypocrisy of colonialism. Simukai becomes a first, an only black among whites in many situations. And the irony of going to Oxford and seeing the Cecil Rhodes stature on campus illustrates this. As Simukai seeks to trace the impact of decolonization on him and his country, I think he finds that the trauma endures (PS: he is working to get the statute removed).
This was an excellent read. Highly recommend.
I’d like to thank NetGalley and Crown Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews