The Story Behind This Book

When Tineke Van der Eecken first arrives in Africa as part of an international aid programme, she brings with her a mix of childhood dreams and Western preconceived ideas. ‘I came to Africa in high heels,’ she writes. But when she moves to Zambia, Tineke falls in love — in a completely new way — with the country and its culture. Now she dreams of setting up a 'cultural restaurant’ where locals and tourists alike can sample authentic Zambian cuisine, music and dance. Her dream comes true, but can it last? In the attempt to meet the expected challenges, Tineke must come through some unexpected tests and trials that take her not only beyond borders, but also past boundaries. She wonders if what matters may not be the success of her venture so much as the person she is becoming ...

Set against a shifting backdrop of social, political and cultural life in Zambia, this part-memoir, part-travelogue, part-coming-of-age story is a celebration of friendship, not just with people, but with a country. The new edition of the book includes The Music of Café d’Afrique, a compilation CD with recordings of original by Brian Zanji, Maureen Lilanda and Chilu Lemba.