Untold story of an unsung hero; Eclipsed no more!

 

 

‘Behind the Eclipse’ is the intriguing story of a Liberian man battling his life as a young tribal boy named ‘Tamba’ (later known as ‘George’) who ultimately survives the deadly Ebola crisis in West Africa. It is a gripping tale of love, passion, courage and sacrifice as he narrates the stigmatisation and the phycological trauma of the deadly Ebola epidemic on the lives of the health workers, volunteers, victims and their families. The author brilliantly captures the life of the tribal community in Liberia as he unravels in his own inimitable style, the age-old rituals, polygamy, beliefs in witch craft, indigenous knowledge and cultural traditions. Making use of the author’s first-hand experience of living and working amongst these communities across Africa, he paints a vivid picture in the minds of the reader exposing the stark realities of the tribal community. The natural flow of this epic story spiced with interesting comparisons drawn from real life, and attractive phrases keep the reader spell-bound and in awe from the start to the end. To me, ‘Tamba’ s story is the ‘untold’ story of many an ‘unsung’ hero in the humanitarian world whose selfless sacrifice and boundless courage often fails to grab headlines. Epidemics, crises and emergencies like Ebola did happen in the past, happens today and will happen in the future. However, ‘Behind the Eclipse’ reminds us of the spirit of ‘humanitarianism’ which epitomises the very essence of humanity that exists within us even today in the form of extraordinary people like Tamba!

 

 

Surein J S Peiris (LLB, MAIR- Colombo)

Attorney at law

Regional Coordinator: National Society Development – Africa

International Federation of Red Cross and Crescent Societies
Kenya