Bongo, Bongo, Bongo, I Don't Wanna Leave the Congo: A Memoir

by Veronica Cecil

In the early 1960s, twenty five-year-old Veronica Cecil decided to move to the Congo with her husband when he was offered a good post at a large multi-national company. Filled with enthusiasm for their new life the couple and their eleven-month-old son set off for an African adventure . . .

But Veronica arrived to find a newly independent country in chaos after the murder of the democratically elected Patrice Lumumba and she was forced to face realities such as food shortages and the internal politics and tension between the locals and the colonials in the capital, Leopoldville. Six months after their arrival in the Congo, they were finally sent to Elizabetha, a remote palm oil plantation on the banks of the Congo River.

It’s during their stay in Elizabetha that brutal civil war broke out. The rebels had captured the neighbouring town of Stanleyville and taken all the whites hostage. Despite the fact that Veronica was on the verge of giving birth, the situation was so dangerous that she and her toddler were to be evacuated. Leaving her husband and all their possessions behind, she and her son began on a two-day journey through the jungle. But on the plane back to Leopoldville, the first labour pains began . . .

Genres: Africa, Nonfiction, Travel

256 pages, Paperback

Published June 2, 2009

Reviews

[Consacre Kapongo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Read!

[Tarmo Syvapuro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderfull story about life in Congo. Real page turner.

[David Highton · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting account of a young expat wife in war-torn Congo in 1963, written nearly 50 years later.

[Sue Corbett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Felt true.
Awful stuff going on so not an easy read.

[Catherine Jeffrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Captures a moment in time, as the white privileged Europeans become unwelcome in the Congo in the 60’s

[Ian Mathie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Veronica Cecil's true life account of life in the Congo during the mid 1960s is as gripping as a thriller. Taken there as a young wife with a small child she encountered shortages more familiat to wartime Britain than a national capital, Veronica found herself having to use her wits and develop new bartering skills just to get enough food for her family in the capital city. When her husband was posted up country to a commercial palm oil plantation on the northern arc of the Gongo River, Veronica willingly dived into a new life in a largely self contained company operated environment. There, Nicholas, her Congolese steward, became a trusted friend who willingly helped her escape when civil war erupted. Obliged to leave her husband behind, not knowing if he woud be put against a wall and shot, Veronica was evacuated across the jungle in a light aeroplane. With her legs tightly crossed as she went into labour and tried not to give birth to her second child, her son kicked and screamed between the cramped seats as they moved on from one plantation to another, edging slowly towards the capital and what they hoped was safety.
This is a remarkable tale of courage and survival, with keen observations about the politics of the region and the brutality of commercial interest as it exploited loyal employees and their families. It makes compelling reading which puts to shame the many young mothers today who can't cope with a child whilst surrounded by all the trappings of modern society. Every mother should read this book.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, what a long title! You'll probably be glad to know that this book is proportionatly nowhere near as long. Although, having said that, it was a good enough book to cope with being longer! This is a very interesting real story of life in the Congo and, particularly, the changing relationships between people of black and white skin-colours. I love the fact that Cecil talks about this very openly, as the issues can often be side-stepped in an attempt to be 'politically correct'. Her relationships between other people that she was supposed to get on with were also interesting. Ontop of this, I learnt a lot about a conflict that I knew had once existed, but which I didn't know that much really. Definatly worth a read in my opinion!

[Shovelmonkey1 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once I'd got over the awful title and the 1950s cinemascope style cover this book turned out to be a pretty interesting read. Veronica Cecil presents her experiences as an ex pat wife in a an open and very readable way. Personally I'd love to have the opportunity to visit the Congo and experience life at the edge of the world's greatest river but I'd do it alone as I don't think the Congo today is the best place to bring up kids. This book was a good insight into another perspective on African life, a subject which I continue to be very interested in. My next African read will be the fatal shore by Robert Hughes.

[Jim Stewart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting real life story of a couple living and working in the Congo during the 60's and then having to flee during a civil war that eventually brought Mobutu to power. Simply written and easy to read this book does have a sense of tension as the war gets nearer. The writer is also honest about her and others thoughts about racial attitudes and colonial mindsets during this time in the Congo.

[Ralf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Veronica Cecil is a very good observer und writes down her memories with some self-irony. From the perspective of a colonial housewife and mother she had experienced a dramatic phase of history in the Congo. Her perspective at the time and today is a progressive one. Everyone who was in Africa can relate some of her observations.

[Miko Mayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting account of the author's time as an expat wife in the Congo. It's structured like a novel and in ways it reads like one, but the tone reminds me more of a summary, making the story feel less gripping than it could have it was written in a more immediate style.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting read but not a page turner.

[Alison Fyfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh that was a good book! It shows some of our fellow Europeans, world powers, and Africa in quite a different light. Recommended.

[Ian Hefele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great old book

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting perspective on life in Africa.

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting read.