"A Touch of Africa"
Author: Bert D'Amico
To order email damicob@sympatico.ca

About the Author
After many years in the classroom and thousands of miles of travel, it seemed to me that I had at least one good story to tell. My underlying interest had always been the study of primitive or non-technical peoples and how they saw the world we live in. I observed their ways in Africa and in the Amazon rainforest. This fascination led me to write about their myths and folklore and about the wild animals with which they shared the land.

While at university, I discovered cultural anthropology and over the years my readings became real as I roamed the plains of East Africa with the elegant Samburu and the fearless Turkana warriors and later with the diminutive Yanomana Indians who lived in the remote Amazon rainforest. My writings include a thesis in the Pan African Journal, which deals with land tenure and mythology. Several other articles appeared in the O.E.C.T.A. Reporter and Echo from Africa. E. Singano and A.A. Roscoe cite my work in, "Tales of Old Malawi", as does Adrian Roscoe in "Uhurhu's Fire". My adventures on two continents have been recorded in, "A Touch of Africa" and Part II "Onto the Amazon", a work which began twenty-five years ago.

I have recently had published my book entitled, "A Touch of Africa" with Part II "Onto the Amazon". I lived in Africa and did research with hunting nomads, taught in a bush school, gave big game safaris, encountered characters who trod an unchartered path, come across man-eating lion, was given a blind Turkana orphan wandering in the bush who was sure to die and with the help of Canadian students, sent him to an orphanage outside of Nairobi, and years later his success became phenomenal. The book contains humor, adventure, and stories of the dreadful toll venomous creatures dealt the local population.

Part II, "Onto the Amazon", deals with the "invisible people" the Yanomama who live deep in the jungle, still practice female infanticide, count only to two, and are completely unaware of the outside world. The story of Yana, saved as an infant is ushered off to Italy only to return to the jungle years later, to meet her biological parents, who naked, greet her with reservation. A hunting foray with the Yanomama, is a true adventure, as we pushed our way through the jungle only to realize they reverted back to speech of the animals we were hunting.

Upon my return to Canada, my students at a local high school over a period of 25 years, raised over $200,000 which was used for dispensaries, education, famine relief, purchasing a truck to deliver food from Mombassa to the forbidden interior, water mills, and even sponsored fellow graduates who served in Africa. The projects were many and always done at the small local level where each and every dollar was utilized.

Touch of Africa Testimonials

An Awesome Story

This is a true adventure of a time when Africa was still the 'dark continent.' A great read and informative, especially the parts dealing with the misconceptions of the so called, 'dark continent.' A learning experience.

Linda, February 14, 2006

Awesome

I have just finished this book and highly recommend it. It is a wonderful true to life story about the amazing adventures of a young couple’s experiences in the jungle. You really appreciate their love of adventure and their incredible respect for the native people and the environment for which they live. You can feel the passion of their experiences which has never faded over the past 25 years. The style of writing by the author is excellent. You will find it hard to put down. Thank you Bert D'Amico for sharing and reflecting your journey through East Africa.

Lynn Barca, September 2, 2005

Superb blend of memoir and myth....

Through a series of short, engaging chapters, A Touch of Africa chronicles Bert D'Amico's adventures, first in Africa, then in the Amazon Jungle. But the book is more than simply an interesting memoir, as D'Amico blends in discussions of mythology, anthropology and even theories of animal behaviour into his storytelling. A truly enjoyable read.

Erin Robinson, August 31, 2005

The Discovery Channel and National Geographic all in one

This book starts off innocently enough and deals with life in a bush school with hilarious consequences. It then proceeds to the remote and forbidding Northern Frontier where the author takes you back into another Africa. The last portion of the book takes place in the Amazon jungle where the 'invisible people' are encountered. A trip into the jungle is amazing as these people revert back to sounds of the animals they are hunting. If you enjoy the DISCOVERY channel or NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, the book is a must.

Katharine, August 17, 2005

A Fascinating Journey into the Heart of Africa

This is a book filled with real life adventures into Kenya's forbidden N.F.D. Life among towering nomads are told along with the big game stories which roam the savannahs. A personal look into the habits of Kenya's wildlife are doused with humorous stories which take place in a bush school. Part it takes us to the dark continent...the Amazon jungle where the author encounters the invisible people who take him back in time. A humourous read and lots of adventurous stories while out on safari.

Bert D’Amico (Author), July 28, 2005

Dear Mr. D’Amico,

On behalf of the St. Catharines Public Library, I would like to thank you for your interesting and entertaining program, “A Touch of Africa”. There are not many programs that appeal to all ages, but this one certainly did. It was apparent from the number of questions that the attendees were fascinated by your talk, your display and your slides. Congratulations on your book and on all the dedicated work that led to it.

We will be very pleased to have you come back in the fall to give a presentation on the Amazon. We will stay in touch.

Please accept our best wishes for your continued success in aid of Africans in need.

Yours truly,

Elizabeth Finnie
Library Assistant

Dr. Adrian Roscoe
Sultan Qaboos University, Oman

Many long for adventure and some of us experience it through the movies while others wish they could experience it first hand; not many actually take that chance. Bert D'Amico has seen a lion's share of adventure, as a teacher/researcher in and Africa and the Amazon jungle where life is lived on the very edge.

Julie Christiansen
Thrill Seekers, Flying Hi

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