Local Indie Spotlight: Hans Giplaye

An interesting and sad tale is told by this Grand Rapids nurse as he remembers his life in Liberia in the 1990s. In the Shadow of Death: Growing up During the Liberian Civil War, Hans Giplaye tells of the horrors he witnessed at the hands of the rebels, such as civilians massacred because they are from a different tribe. He was 9 when the civil war began; when it was over he was 16. Hans and his siblings manage to survive thanks to his uncle, whose own family is killed. His uncle leads them all over Liberia searching for peace and safety but often the tranquility does not last long as the rebels or government forces advance and inflict horrific pain and suffering. Hans’s parents manage to escape to the U.S. early in the conflict but due to strict  immigration policies and lack of a stable government in Hans is not able to reunite with his family for many years. This book gives an interesting first-hand account of the Liberian civil war and tells a bit about the history of Liberia.

Hans Giplaye’s book is part of the Local Indie @ KDL collection, housed at the Cascade Township and Kentwood (Richard L. Root) branches. It was created to give independent authors, filmmakers and musicians the opportunity to be added to our shelves and to be featured by staff in order to increase viewers, readers and listeners.

Click here to browse our Local Indie @ KDL collection.