Onkere
An African Boy's Story of Struggle, Resilience, and Determination
by
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The book is set in three different geographic zones — Africa, Europe, and America. Each set with its own cultural realities the protagonist has to go through. The book is written in first and third narrating styles by an experienced multicultural and multi-lingual international scholar, turned diplomat. The book’s chronological order allows readers to straightforwardly follow the protagonist from childhood to adulthood. Each step of the protagonist’s development is narrated in a vivid way. The book tells a story that would in all likelihood have a strong appeal to readers who enjoy reading cross-cultural memoirs.
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About the Book
Onkere: An African Boy’s Story of Struggle, Resilience, and Determination discusses how a young French-speaking African boy from a low-income family named Onkere came to fall in love with the English language and American culture as a whole and how regardless of the incredible setbacks thrown at him to prevent him from realizing his objective, he never gave up on his dream. The book further explores the trouble he went through from Africa to get a scholarship and go to France to pursue his studies. Once in France, as an international student, he overcame special requirements to be allowed to be part of an exchange program to go to America and improve his knowledge of the English language. Once in America, he had to overcome cultural misunderstandings to survive. In the midst of all these twists and turns, the main character ends up holding a doctorate in the field of English and American studies, getting married, having children, becoming an important personality not only for his country but also for the entire world, and working at the United Nations.
About the Author
DR. BLANCHARD ONANGA NDJILA holds a doctorate in English and American civilization from Bordeaux University. He was conferred a master’s degree in English from Poitiers University. He holds a master’s degree in French and Francophone world studies from the University of Iowa. From 2003 to 2004, he tutored freshmen from the English department of Poitiers University. From 2005 to 2009, he taught French at the University of Iowa as a teaching assistant. From 2012 to 2013, he taught English and principles of communication at William Penn University, Oskaloosa, Iowa. He teaches English and American studies at Omar Bongo University of Gabon, as assistant professor. He currently works as an adviser to the United Nations, in New York City. He is married to Kiersten Klink Onanga, BSW. Together, they have four beautiful children, Aubree, Owen, Sylvie, and Ameliah Onanga.