Title: The Man Who Transformed Africa: The Rebirth of a Continent
Author: Peter D. Cimini
Publisher: Halo Publishing International
ISBN/ASIN: 978-1612448305
Pages: 562
Genre: Fiction /General Africa / General History of Religion
Reviewed by: Tony Espinoza

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Of all of lives great struggles and tragic circumstances, none may be as relevant and truly heartbreaking as poverty. The struggle for people never given a chance to thrive and grow as a person, let alone as a family or collective, has plagued our world for centuries, and continues to persist to this day; from the wealthiest nations on Earth to the most hidden towns no one has ever heard of. The need to conquer and beat this is something people have been searching for their entire lives. As Nelson Mandela once said, “As long as poverty, injustice and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest.”

In author Peter D. Cimini’s The Man Who Transformed Africa: The Rebirth of a Continent, the author explores the means by which the people of Africa can find their way out of poverty and put an end to the endless misuse the world has shown the nation over the centuries by building up a strong middle class for the continent. When a younger, newly converted priest from Indonesia is elected to be the next Pope, instead of allowing himself to be used for other’s purposes, he takes his new status and uses it to help the people of Africa. Selling off major portions of the Papal State’s wealth to fund a major project to build roads, improve agriculture and help build up a democratic political system, the new Pope, along with a former US President and an African National, must face off against opposition both within the continent and the Papal Offices themselves in an effort to improve and build up a strong middle class in Africa.

Although this is a fictional tale, the author does a fantastic job of calling out those in power who could use their wealth to contribute to the betterment of mankind. From the overabundance of wealth collected by the Vatican during the centuries, to those in positions of power who use their influence to delay or axe projects that could help the African continent flourish, the novel highlights the centuries of wrongs committed against Africa, from enslavement of their people to tearing apart the land of its natural resources, and shows how those with the means to do so can find a way to repair some of that damage. The balance the author found with the fictional characters and their realistic depictions with the real-world impact and influence events like this could have on the continent is both entertaining and enlightening to read.

This is the perfect read for those who enjoy fictional international dramas with a global and religious historical context and political and religious intrigue and suspense. The character development and detailed storytelling was enrapturing to say the least, and the way the author lays out the means by which help can be provided for the African Continent was thought-provoking to think about.

A memorable, engaging, and thoughtful read, author Peter D. Cimini’s The Man Who Transformed Africa: The Rebirth of a Continent is a must-read world and fictional tale. The lengthy read is gripping, and challenges the reader to examine the world and the institutions with the most power and wealth critically, exploring the way real-world actions and consequences have impacted an entire people, and the means by which we can be a force for change. Intriguing and eye-opening, the author does a brilliant job of engaging the reader and teaching them while still crafting an entertaining story that continues to draw the reader in more and more as the narrative plays out.