A LONG WALK TO PURPOSE

Kyubwa recounts his journey from central Africa to the United States in this memoir.

“I didn’t choose to be a refugee,” the author writes, adding, with his characteristic optimism, “but I did choose what came next.” Raised in a rural village in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) as the sixth of 10 children, Kyubwa emphasizes the fact that, despite his family’s poverty, their home was full of “laughter and storytelling.” His parents instilled in him a lifelong love of education—it seemed as if the author had achieved the family’s dream when he was admitted to the University of Lubumbashi, but in May of 1990, the military forces of dictator Mobutu Sese Seko massacred peaceful student protestors, prompting Kyubwa to flee the country as a refugee. After years of uncertain status in various refugee camps, the author would eventually receive admittance into the United States, where he refocused on education. With a doctorate degree in information technology management, Kyubwa implemented several IT reforms that streamlined the online platforms of various government agencies. While not avoiding the harsh political realities of life in the DRC or his experiences in refugee camps, the author offers an inspirational story of rags to riches that affirms the importance of education (and divine providence) when it comes to obtaining one’s dreams. Kyubwa emphasizes his “gratitude” and “deep commitment to the values of freedom, opportunity, and equality” and acknowledges the contributions that refugees like himself play in making America a better nation. With fewer than 150 total pages, this is an accessible book that balances a realistic assessment of geopolitics with Kyubwa’s relentless positivity. The engaging text includes full-color photographs, maps, and AI-generated images.

The powerful story of an African refugee’s path from political repression to the American dream.