Peter Penfold

African Anecdotes: Reminiscences of a British Diplomat in Africa Peter Penfold

African Anecdotes

Adventures in Africa from a bygone age. Wars, coups and revolutions in
Nigeria, Ethiopia, Uganda and Sierra Leone, this is a veritable potpourri of
stories, where hope comes from listening to a clandestine radio station and
happiness from watching a football match in the middle of a war. Attending Idi
Amin's wedding and meeting the most contented man in Nigeria. Driving off a
bridge in a Land Rover and nearly delivering a baby in one. Being carried in a
hammock through the streets of an African capital, 30 years after independence
with thousands of Africans cheering and waving Union Jacks.
Very rarely do today's diplomats experience such a collection of adventures and
meet such a cross section of personalities, and all this from the British diplomat
whom the British Government attempted to imprison for 7 years for the so-
called Arms to Africa Affair - but that's another story.