Transient Anchors by Libère J. Ndacayisaba

A timely and powerfully told memoir about seeking a fresh future without losing your past, Transient Anchors: From Refugee Tents to Research Towers by Libère J. Ndacayisaba is a compelling tale of survival, support, and unwavering resilience.

As the author arrives in America for the first time, uncertain but eager to begin his studies in engineering, he recounts the fifteen years of harrowing journeys that had brought him to the other side of the world, far from his Fatherland of Burundi. The author’s non-linear storytelling carries readers across oceans and war zones, through refugee camps, college classrooms, and the mental sanctuary of a seminary. Every emotionally charged anecdote sharpens the reader’s view of Ndacayisaba’s indomitable spirit, from the shocking traumas that shaped his childhood and the chosen family who propelled his dreams to the academic subjects that sparked his passion, as well as his casually profound musings on death, love, and faith.

The writing demonstrates Ndacayisaba’s observant and inquisitive mind from the very first page, with nuanced descriptions of his first-time American experiences and a constant flow of cross-cultural analysis between his past and present. His prose is exacting and vivid, bringing memories to dramatic life, particularly those from his childhood, as the political divide of Hutu and Tutsi destroyed communities, families, and the fabric of society all around him.

Capturing the excitement and difficulty of expanding one’s world, and the remarkable human ability to adapt, this memoir shines with inspiration and insight for those who dream of changing their story and transcending the past.