Memoirs of a Frontier Man


Mervyn Maciel


This is a photograph of Mervyn Maciel as a young civil servant at the start of his career in the British administration.

He now lives in Britain after having had distinguished career in the Kenya civil service spanning some 20 years. His experiences are recounted in his UK-published memoirs Bwana Karani (Merlin Books, Braunton Devon, 1985). His heart is still in Africa, especially among the peoples of the old Northern Frontier District with whom he still keeps in touch and tries to assist from time to time.

His writing interests continue from his Surrey manyatta. In their retirement, he and his wife Elsie rent a plot from their local council growing organic produce, and are now well and truly watu wa shamba. In 2014 he authored From Mtoto to Mzee.


Turkana Photos More Turkana Photos
Marsabit Photos
More Marsabit Photos Lake Baringo


Memoirs of a Frontier Man | Wanderings Among Nomads | With The Pastoralists Of Kenya’s Northern Desert Once More | To Lodwar I'm posted | Escape from Zanzibar | The Life And Times Of An Indomitable Goan Lady Mrs. Mascarenhas Of Kisii | "Uncle" Gerald Reece of Kenya's N.F.D. | My Brother Wilfred | The Unforgettable Dubas of Kenya's Northern Frontier | Two Elephant Feet | Memories of life in Turkana in the 1940s | The Unforgettable Bwana Sasa Hivi of Marsabit | David Dabasso Wabera | The Nomad in Me


Armed Forces | Art and Culture | Articles | Biographies | Colonies | Discussion | Glossary | Home | Library | Links | Map Room | Sources and Media | Science and Technology | Search | Student Zone | Timelines | TV and Film


by Stephen
Luscombe