ISBN: 978-1-4327-1403-1

Publisher: Outskirts Press

Eyes of Africa is a book that discusses the many issues Africa is facing today. For example African politics and poverty is explored with pictures to illustrate these topics.

Did you know each year hundreds of thousands of people die and are dying because of diseases caused by poor sanitation? The lack of unity continues to discourage Africans from doing the right thing, claims the author.

Garbage is an on-going threat in Africa where people often throw waste out onto the streets. Children often are likely to play with this rubbish and can easily pick up various illnesses. The streets are open sewers because there isn’t any proper sanitation. It is extremely unhealthy and polluted with nauseating odours and eventually the waste pollutes the rivers making people very sick.  Nobody seems to care; shopkeepers pay no attention and usually contribute to the waste by throwing away what they cannot sell in their shops.

If you look at the photos that accompany the chapter, you’ll really be able to get the full extent of what is the problem.

We then move onto the way in which dead animals are left to rot in the streets and contaminate the local rivers.

Seeing a dead carcass on the streets is a very common sight and unfortunately a lot of children pick up illnesses as they walk around bare-footed.

There is a touching photo of a dead dog abandoned in the street of Kinshasa - the locals mindlessly walking past. It touched me on many levels.

How wonderful it would be if this animal and many more were given a proper burial instead of being slung into the waters or abandoned in this awful state.

“We demand that the authorities alert the population to the proper way to manage these animals: by disposing of them before they have time to rot, burying them far from our neighbourhoods and above all keeping them out of our waters” says the author. Although this is the instruction that should be followed I couldn’t help but feel these animals are not loved enough. Why be so careless about them? If you are expecting people and local authorities to help, help the animals - make them feel loved. It shouldn’t just be about slinging them as far away from human habitation as possible but actually caring for them too.

When you think of a future Africa, what do you see? We imagine young Africans loaded with talent and courage - each with something unique to offer. But the future is uncertain; they must over-come many difficulties to share their gifts with the world.  Those who leave Africa to go abroad, have no intention of returning to their roots and this as Victorine adds “does not bode well for the future of Africa”.

In the end you have to ask: will we watch as a nation and do nothing as Africa turns to ruin?

Perhaps there are people out there who are willing to save this beautiful country from the numerous problems it faces but now is the time to act so what better way than to get educated about this country?  Get this book! It will certainly make you think and hopefully want things to change.

Click Here To Purchase From Amazon Eyes of Africa

The above review was contributed by: Jessica Roberts:  Jessica is a book reviewer for a local newspaper and has reviewed for a national women's magazine too. She has had various articles published in magazines and has now completed her novel. Jessica currently lives in West Yorkshire and enjoys walking in the dales and woodlands as part of her hobby as well as, of course, reviewing books. To read more of Jessica's reviews  CLICK HERE