My East Africa Adventure

Hi Everyone,

Those who know me will need no further introductions -but let me introduce myself to those who don’t know me. My name is Mervyn Anthony Bernard Maciel.

I arrived on Planet Earth in Kenya’s Capital city, Nairobi, eighty-eight years ago, and lived there with my dear Mum (Josephine) and Dad(Mathias) and two brothers – Joseph (the eldest) and Wilfred (the youngest) – till I was 8 years old. 

Although I am a British Goan by my birth, my roots lie in our ancestral Village of Salvador-do-Mundo in what was once  sleepy North Goa.

My life in East Africa, especially in Kenya’s Northern Frontier District (N.F.D) has been one great adventure and rather than bore you all, can I refer you to my two memoirs – BWANA KARANI published in 1985 & FROM MTOTO TO MZEE Published in 2014. British Empire links to both books are given below.

Fast forward to my move to the United Kingdom with my family – dear wife (Elsie) and children – Clyde, Andrew, Josey and Pollyanna in 1966.(Sadly, we lost our dear Conrad and he lies buried in the Kisii soil.

Despite the weather, we’ve made the best of our lives here and fitted well in the host country.

 In between jobs, I was able to publish two of my memoirs and continue writing for various magazines – OLD AFRICA, KENYA PAST & PRESENT, GOA TODAY.

Being fond of singing, I was also able to join my late cousin Jock in producing a Tape of Konkani songs he’d composed, and years later thanks to my cousin Denzyl, and good friend Benny D’Souza, I was able to record a CD of a few of my Favourite songs.
(Click on the following link to listen to my music ...... to follow)

Singing and writing still play a big part in my life and I try to combine all this with some voluntary work too.

A detailed account of my working life in Kenya can be found in my published memoirs - BWANA KARANI – the British Empire 

Review of which can be found at this link:

www.britishempire.co.uk/library/bwanakarani.htm

and, ‘FROM MTOTO TO MZEE - see Review at link below:

www.britishempire.co.uk/library/mtototomzee.htm

Thanks to a devoted spouse (Elsie\), and the support of our children

mentioned above, and eight grandchildren Matthew, Elize, Jordan,

Aliya, Thomas, Yakira, Henry and April.

 I still (at times) feel young even though I’m a Mzee now at 88!