Literature provides us with a wonderful and fascinating means of learning about nations and their cultures.  Given my great interest in African culture and development, and without the immediate possibility to personally experience what many report about Africa nowadays, I very keenly increase my knowledge by reading what novel African authors may offer -- an exercise which became one of my favourites since the time I accidentally got in touch with Sierra Leone in Germany.

Unknown Destination is an account of a phase in the life of Abdul B. Kamara, the phase in the search for higher academic realisations outside the African continent. In his book, the author corroborates facts, perceptions and opinions taken from real life-experiences in Sierra Leone, China and Germany. A good number of similar experiences have been presented in an earlier book by Sierra Leonean author Osman A. Sankoh, Hybrid Eyes - An African in Europe and a forthcoming one by another Sierra Leonean author Mohamed C. Kamanda, The Visa.

The narration in Unknown Destination, introduced as a fictional conversation between two Sierra Leoneans -- an educated one (Abdul B. Kamara) eager to transmit his experience, and a younger non-educated one (Ishmael Mansaray) avid to hear and live new experiences abroad, constitutes an informative and instructive piece of work for all. 

For those non-Africans aiming to gain knowledge about the African culture and conditions, the book leads them to these topics and stimulates further reading. Indeed, the reader is left with the wish to research more since many aspects might appear shortly discussed in the book. For instance, when talking about the traditional African practices and way of thinking, the interest of the non-Sierra Leonean reader may be placed on the possible changes (positive or negative) gradually brought about in the country by its own moving population - and this time not directly by the Westerners themselves - due to their increasing contact with other cultures.  But that is perhaps another story.

Considering that one of the aims of the SLWS organization is to publish books for Sierra Leonean scholars and students, the book sets out a platform for discussion in the classroom which could give rise to significant political and economic analysis when comparing the two socio-political systems - capitalism and communism - with each other, to establish a connection to the dynamics of the author’s own country.

Throughout the book, the concern of the author's integration in the different societies is uttered.  It is a matter of survival, a continuous struggle to be accepted and feel comfortable in the new strange world, with the ever-present objective in mind: the pursuit of further education.  Assistance comes in first place from Africans, and secondly and perhaps inexplicably for him, from the non-African female side.  The author finds no explanation for the acceptance shown by Chinese or German women of African students.