Kanga in the Breeze

Book excerpt: ‘Kanga in the Breeze’ is based on the true story of an unlikely sisterhood between a young expatriate mother seeking to immerse herself in the rich ethnic diversity of Kenya and a local Kikuyu mother who by chance becomes a childminder to the white family. As their lives become ever more entwined, there are unforeseen consequences to crossing the racial divide in post-colonial Africa. Building a holiday home on the tropical island of Lamu is a dream come true, but with the rise of Islamic militancy after the fall of the twin towers in America, local communities in East Africa become polarised along religious lines and nowhere is safe. Reminiscent of similar stories of the solidarity between women, such as ‘The Secret Life of Bees’ and ‘The Help’ both set in the American South, this is a heart-warming story from Africa of mutual support between two women whose friendship lasts a lifetime.