Trials Elsewhere: Stories of Life and Development in West Africa

by R. Matthias

In Trials Elsewhere, R. Matthias vividly describes his experiences as a 21st century traveler. Moving from Canada to Washington D.C. to take on the inner city, Matthias then finds himself invited to apply his skills and idealism in The Republic of the Gambia. Working first for a human rights NGO and then for a Gambian owned Internet service provider, he begins to question his conceptions of how the world works -- is the Western way of doing things viable in other parts of the world? Is the Western way of work even a good idea? Is there any real value in idealism as Westerners understand it? As he ponders these questions Matthias is cursed at a wedding, survives a coup d'état, avoids the state's secret police, wanders for a year stateless without a passport or way home, and is sentenced by a tribal court. Matthias's experience in West Africa increasingly becomes an unpredictable adventure.

Genres: Africa

338 pages, Paperback

Published July 1, 2015

About the author

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Note!

I have dispensed with the pen name, R. Matthias. My new stuff can found under my real name Robin Isard.

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I started my library career working in the IT department of the Washington DC public library. Following that, I lived many years overseas, primarily in West Africa building IT infrastructure in The Republic of the Gambia, Sierra Leone, Guinea Bissau and Guinea Conakry. I have also worked in Ethiopia and Uganda on a telehealth project on behalf of The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada.

Currently, I work as an academic librarian working in Ontario's North.

Reviews

[Anthony Stancomb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book for anyone who has ever worked in Africa – or who is thinking of working there. The colour, the frenetic activity, the laughter, the squalor, the friendships, the frustrations, the corruption – they are all there, as we follow the author on his volunteer job as an IT man for NGO’s in Gambia.
Along the way, he discovers a lot about the people he is working with – both his fellow co-workers and the local populace. He writes well and clearly, and the best thing about his style is that there is always a quiet humour in his commentary. The book begins slowly with his life in Canada and the US, but as soon as we arrive in Gambia, it hots up , and we are immediately drawn into his entanglements with his bosses and his work-mates, as he tries to fit in with his new community and make sense of it all. And try as he might, being the Gambia, his attempts to do his job for the greatest benefit of the people involve him in endless run-ins with the local authorities and the police.
Cleverly, he avoids tourist-to-Africa descriptions and concentrates on his own life and that of his community, although when he does describe the surroundings, his descriptions of tropical storms, markets and the teeming life of Banjul are highly evocative. The only criticism is that he devotes too much time to the technical intricacies of his work and the details of his many journeys (examples of frustration, though they may well be). The services of a fierce editor might have somewhat shortened the book.
His observations on the characters of his work-mates are very astute, as are his reflections on the Gambia mentality, and written with a lightness of touch and humour, his tips on how to get on in an alien society will always remain with me. My favourite one being: ’a goofy smile on your face’ is the most useful weapon when confronted by cultural hostilities!

[Amy Reade · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is very late--I finished the book a while ago. I enjoyed the author's stories of the time he spent in The Gambia. The ways in which he found solutions to problems that he faced working in a country that was foreign to him, from transportation issues to language barriers, were interesting and in some cases, funny. I learned a lot reading the book, especially about the sameness of people all over the world.

[Lise Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a white English Canadian woman who has spent time in The Gambia and Senegal almost every year since 2005, I read this memoir with great interest. So many memories were evoked, places like Ali Baba’s restaurant which is sadly now closed down, the Senegambia strip, trips to Dakar and Casamance by local transportation, car and a dry goods smuggler boat! It’s a book that also provides a very different perspective than my own especially in terms of the technical challenges and successes in the Gambia, and the NGO and private business experience. I met and married a Gambian man and brought him and his son to Canada four years ago. My joys and sorrows, harrowing experiences and blissful moments therefore have resulted from perhaps more intimate relationships, and my deep interest in radio and Gambian music, and primary education. Deep connections with family and friends have mostly provided me with a feeling of being protected and welcomed, just as they do in my own country and interestingly the only place I’ve ever had money stolen and my passport lost have been in Toronto, the London Underground and a Bloomsbury Hotel! Matthias is an engaging and thoughtful writer and I found it hard to put the book down. His thoughts on management styles and definitions of leadership are interesting. The British colonial legacy in Gambia cannot be overstated, and the expectations of employees and the supervision to which they are accustomed that Matthias describes are an excellent example of this phenomenon. Anyone who has observed the public school system in The Gambia may also be surprised at the British old school practices that remain to this day. Abaraka bake, (thank you) Robin for a very good read! I’m glad you took a chance on us being interested in reading about your adventures and insights! I have two of my own books in the works based on my own Gambian experiences which I hope to publish in 2021, inshallah.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an immersive memoir of the author's years in Gambia, first with an NGO and later as employee of a local IT company. I can't say I understood all the technical problems the author encountered in his efforts to bring internet connectivity to that part of Africa, but he did make me feel the frustrations, difficulties, and outright terrors--technical, political and cultural--and the successes and friendships as well.

[Ken · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Trials Elsewhere, Matthias skillfully interweaves his reflections on growing up in Canada and being educated for work the 'real world' with what he finds works and doesn't work in a developing country. The author treats the reader with a highly entertaining and yet substantial travelogue taking him from Canada to the United States to the Republic of The Gambia in West Africa. As he discovers truths about his travails abroad, the author also realizes facts about himself.

Trials Elsewhere is a tremendously enjoyable read and I have found myself repeatedly returning to sections to revisit the author’s nuggets of wisdom. The author has a real talent for evoking his experiences -- banal, humorous, and terrifying -- through his writing. Highly recommended.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderfully descriptive! It really takes you to West Africa. I was surprised by the ground it covers, it was part adventure story (he has to hide from the secret police at one point), part cultural exploration and part essay on the complexities of working in that part of the world. It is a bit dense, and I have to warn anyone who thinks (like I did) that it would be like another 'Eat, Pray, Love'. This book is nothing like that one, there is not one drop of sentimentality to be found in this book! But the humour and pacing make it a fun and entertaining read.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book will transport you! Intelligent and thoughtful prose gives you clear, vibrant pictures of life and work in a country trying to find it's future. The mishaps and frustrations of the author ring true and there is something to be learned from these experiences. I recommend this book without hesitation. It's great to read a book that offers a Canadian perspective. Worthwhile, try it out!