Idi Amin: Lion of Africa

The writer of this worthwhile book is an Uganda Indian. I found the book informative and valuable, but parts of the book were not believable. I don't believe that he ever humiliated his former British commander. I have watched interviews with this English officer and he has never said anything about that.The writer does come to a conclusion that I do find quite plausible: That Africans will always respect Idi Amin for doing what the average African has always really dreamed about doing: Expelling all Indians from Sub-Saharan Africa.

Given there are few biographies of Idi Amin, my expectations were pretty high for this biography. For the most part, Lion of Africa did not disappoint. Good coverage of certain historical events such as the Asian expulsion. I would have liked to have learned more about Idi's relationship with Libya. Perhaps more about his personal life, although obscure. Strangely, the book lacked any detail/account of some of the tactics used to eliminate adversaries; political or idealogical. A good start as far as learning more about a very important figure in history.

Great read !

Idi amin was african. He kicked the jews and indians out of his country (uganda).This book is published by a jewish publishing house.Its was edited by a jewish editor.The writer of this book is Indian.Now, how is it possible to believe to have an honest account of this African leader here on account.The jews were kicked out by idi amin and the indians.Who writes the book? An indian.Who publishes this same book? A Jewish publisher.Who edits it? A Jew.I read the book and it was not informing me about idi amin. Its an account much more of the indian issue and a bit about the african political groups. Its not about idi amin to understand who this person was. It didnt even mentioned that idi amin was put in power by the jews ( israelis ).He was trained as a field officer in israel.As he kicked the jews out of uganda they got angry.As he kicked the indians out they got angry too. And these people who idi amin kicked out of "his" country write and publish a book about him. Thats why this book is like a Spider-Man comic.There are the bad guys. And there are the good guys=Spider-Man.Israel kicks africans out of its country.Idi amin didnt physical attack jews.Israel race attacks africans in israel (to be seen on YouTube).How hypocritical it is to publish a book about a man that the same people put in power who later got angry as this same dictator dictated a time lime to leave the country. These same jews have race laws that allow africans/palastinians/Lebanese and even americans to be attacked/killed/interogated and injured in israel. The only race law state that is an american ally in the world.This book is a joke. Nice try.

This fascinating and well written book is by an insider who knew and worked with Amin. I would have liked a bit more biographical detail about the younger Amin, but the author wisely sticks to material of which he has first hand knowledge. An excellent introduction to Amin and the politics of that period of time in Africa.

A very welcome fresh addition to the works on Idi Amin. Engagingly written, the author relates the history of Amin from his early beginnings to his final downfall from his own personal experiences and meetings with this legendary African dictator and his intimate knowledge of the key figures who were a part of the story. There is also a very interesting and insightful ending when the author tells of a final meeting with Amin in Saudi Arabia who was still dreaming and planning of a return to power. Definitely a must read for anyone interested in Amin or African history and affairs, but I'd say equally a good read for anyone who enjoys biographies and histories.

This is a history written by someone who lived and contributed to the history of Uganda. It is about events linked intimately to the people. It is that link that makes this book so readable. The personal experiences are unique, adding to the wider political narrative. The post script where the author meets Idi Amin is a fascinating insight into a mind of a former dictator. A history book that students of history will enjoy.

I have read the Book, I am Ugandan who has extensively researched on African political problems, and have researched much what people have written on Amin and other African leaders. It is unfortunate that the author of tthe "IDI AMIN: Lion of Africa" is writing with personal emotions but he does not provide more critically what made Amin expel the Asians.Many Ugandans and the world have been shadowed from the truth about the Political successes of Amin in Uganda.Amin, like any other President, as shown in his memorundum to expel the Asians, wanted a Peaceful and just co-existence between the Asians, Europeans and the native Africans. But because of the pride of the British who used the Asians to rule Africans, the Asians were the first to face the consequences of the political dissatisfaction. It is very sad to call a president of a country an animal just because he asked the foreigners who did not want to be loyal to their new country's constitution.I think the Book has made a lot of money but has most of the information untrue or biased.It is also true that Amin reacted extremely, but most of it was propaganda for fame. The book is not exciting to me as a Uganda, but am very sure it is for those who like to hear bad things about African leaders and Africa. In short, the book lacks autheticity of some information it claims as facts however, he did what he could.

I get the sentiments posted by the unhappy readers stating a lack of balance. Interesting perspectives appreciating history is rarely balanced in its writing. British colonial history is yet to be be fully acknowledged by a people that benefited monumentally and left a rampage that is still being played out today. Was Uganda Britain's moment of glory - far from it. How many people get a moment to meet some of the most dangerous of leaders and survive to tell the tale? This is an interesting personal reflection by the author. Amin remained in power not by accident but by brutal cunning. He fooled much of the world. He lived a long life. Isn't that worth understanding? There will always be more to learn. This adds to that learning.

Great capture of the mad devil himself

Garbage. I was expecting a biography on the infamous Idi Amin, but got a major sob-story on the plight of the Ugandan Asians in general, and on the plight of the author in particular. While I appreciate the perspective of the persecuted through their own eyes, it's not what I expected to be reading about. And I especially didn't enjoy the megalomaniacal view points of the author (I did this, I did that, I was here, I was there). Indeed, Mr. Moghal has provided us with eight pictures in this book: he is in all eight; Amin is in only three. So who's the book about? The oppression of the Asians began in 1962, nine years before Amin. Yet neither Milton Abote or Idi Amin are blamed for the racism and subsequent expulsion the Asian community experienced. The author blames the British for the tightening of the screws, and for the expulsion itself. He then goes on to blame the British for not assisting the refugee Asians (they took in 24,000 of 40,000), and for not compensating them for their lost property and assets. The book is bizarre. Amin, the subject of the book's title, appears only sparsely in the first three quarters of the book, and then more heavily in the last quarter. And through it all, one gets an ironic sense of the author's reverence, bordering on hero-worship, of Idi Amin. Weird. But the wildest statement of all is the author's description of the current Ugandan leader, Yuweri Museveni: "Mercifully...under President Yuweri, Museveni, who seized power in 1986...and still rules today the absolute model of power (of the gun) has been manifested largely in its benign form and has in fact served Uganda well". Pardon me. Museveni waged a twenty year civil war with Joseph Koni and his Lord's Resistance Army. Yes, Koni is a nut bar, but Museveni blocked every attempt by the LRA to seek a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Furthermore, to ensure the peoples of northern Uganda wouldn't offer any assistance to the LRA, he rounded them all up (1.5 to 2 million, or 90 to 95% of the population), and herded them into Internally Displaced Persons camps. For twenty years! It destroyed the fabric of the Acholi culture. To conclude, the book is garbage, the author is only here to show his face to the world, and there are much better sources of information on Idi Amin.