I grew up in a tiny, rural village in northern Germany where lofty ambitions didn’t exist and all my dreams were about getting away. I ended up spending a year in Tanzania where I witnessed the end of President Julius Nyerere’s African socialism rule and then came to London to study for a BA Hons in Swahili and African Studies at SOAS. I kept returning to Tanzania for many years and also spent two lengthy stints in Nairobi, Kenya, working for the United Nations Security Council as an expert consultant investigating breaches of the arms embargo on Somalia.
I am bi-lingual English / German, with a solid working knowledge of French.
My Swahili is rusty and my Spanish basic.
When I don’t work, I live my passion for Cuban, Brazilian, and African dancing, singing,
and drumming.