ABOUT THE BOOK Born in the quiet farming village of Weima in eastern Sierra Leone, the Weima family's story is one of courage, sacrifice, migration, faith, and the enduring power of education. In this deeply moving memoir, Andrew James Weima retraces the remarkable journey of his father, Sahr Weima, from an orphaned village boy struggling to survive, to a determined family man whose greatest ambition was to give his children the opportunities he never had.Spanning Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea, Triumphs and Tragedies - The James Weima Family captures the rhythms of rural African life in the mid-to-late twentieth century: communal farming, traditional customs, migration across borders, childhood adventures, family struggles, and the relentless pursuit of dignity amidst hardship. Through moments of joy, heartbreak, humour, and resilience, the memoir paints an intimate portrait of a family navigating change while remaining firmly rooted in culture and faith.Rich in historical memory and human warmth, this book is more than a family story. It is a tribute to African parents whose sacrifices built futures for generations yet to come, and a reminder that even in the face of tragedy, hope can endure and triumph. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Andrew Fayia James Weima (a.k.a Fayia), born on May 10, 1962, to a Guinean mother and a Sierra Leoneanfather, represents a life shaped by cross-border heritage, intellectual pursuit, and steadfast perseverance.Raised in Dia, Kissi Kama Chiefdom, in the Kailahun District of Sierra Leone, his early years weregrounded in the cultural richness and communal values of the Kissi region.He began his formal education at Roman Catholic primary schools in Dia and Koindu. He later attendedthe Kissi Bendu Secondary School in Koindu, Kissi Teng Chiefdom, graduating in 1981. Demonstratingan early commitment to scholarship and service, Andrew briefly taught Mathematics at Kissi BenduSecondary School and later at Kissi Tongi High School in Buedu, Kissi Tongi Chiefdom.His journey then took him northward to Port Loko, where he taught Mathematics at Schlenker SecondarySchool. In 1983, he was admitted to Njala University College, University of Sierra Leone to studyPhysics and Mathematics. His university years were marked by diligence and academic distinction. Upongraduation, he was appointed Research and Teaching Assistant in the Department of Physics, servingfrom 1987 to 1990 and contributing meaningfully to both instruction and research.In 1990, Andrew was awarded a prestigious DAAD scholarship to pursue postgraduate studies in theFederal Republic of Germany. He first studied at the University of Saarland and later at the TechnicalUniversity of Dortmund, further strengthening his foundation in the physical sciences and engineeringprinciples. His academic journey culminated at the University of Hagen, where he completed his doctoralresearch and was awarded a doctorate degree in Electrical Engineering in June 2002 - a milestonereflecting years of intellectual rigor, discipline, and perseverance.In October 2002, Andrew migrated to the United States and began employment at Mount VernonNazarene University in Mount Vernon, Ohio. He later transitioned into corporate America, where heserved in various professional capacities, applying his analytical expertise and scientific training acrossindustries.In February 2024, health challenges brought his professional career to a pause, leading to hisincapacitation and exemption from work. Nevertheless, his life story remains one of determination, scholarship, and resilience - a journey spanning rural Sierra Leone, European academia, andprofessional life in the United States.He currently resides in Westerville, Ohio, with his wife and their three daughters, remaining deeply rootedin family, heritage, and faith.
