Dave Eggers & Valentino Achak Deng

Dave Eggers has recorded in novel form the story of Valentino Achak Deng in his book Wat is de Wat. Valentino Achak Deng belongs to the so-called Lost Boys, a collective name (borrowed from the orphans in Peter Pan) for groups of nearly 20,000 children who, at the outbreak of the civil war in Sudan in 1987, undertook an inhuman 1,500-kilometre journey on foot to safety. Initially, they sought refuge in a camp in Ethiopia; after a change of regime there, they moved to Kenya. Around 4,000 of them were flown to America in 2000 and 2001 (almost fifteen years later!) to begin a completely new life — Deng was one of the very last before 9/11 brought an end to America’s hospitality.

Wat is de Wat is the result of the friendship between Deng and Eggers, based on three years of research: endless conversations, countless emails, numerous cassette tapes recorded by Deng, and a joint month-long visit to South Sudan in December 2003.

Dave Eggers has recorded in novel form the story of Valentino Achak Deng in his book Wat is de Wat. Valentino Achak Deng belongs to the so-called Lost Boys, a collective name (borrowed from the orphans in Peter Pan) for groups of nearly 20,000 children who, at the outbreak of the civil war in Sudan in 1987, undertook an inhuman 1,500-kilometre journey on foot to safety. Initially, they sought refuge in a camp in Ethiopia; after a change of regime there, they moved to Kenya. Around 4,000 of them were flown to America in 2000 and 2001 (almost fifteen years later!) to begin a completely new life — Deng was one of the very last before 9/11 brought an end to America’s hospitality.

Wat is de Wat is the result of the friendship between Deng and Eggers, based on three years of research: endless conversations, countless emails, numerous cassette tapes recorded by Deng, and a joint month-long visit to South Sudan in December 2003.