From Banjul to Barcelona: Ingram Peters Jr’s Debut Chronicles a Gambian Life in Motion

Reviewed by: Seringe S.T. Touray

In a literary landscape where many first-time authors play it safe, Gambian writer Ingram Peters Jr has chosen a different route.

His debut book, Haddington Chronicles and Other Chronicles, is neither fiction nor a polished memoir designed to impress. Instead, it is a candid collection of personal experiences, observations and encounters gathered over decades, stretching from the streets of old Banjul to cities across Europe.

As Peters himself describes on the back cover, the book revisits a time when children in Banjul “grew up, played games, prepared for Tobaski, played in the rain, lost a fight, and made it to heaven.” It is a nostalgic reflection on a disappearing era, but it quickly expands into something much broader.

The stories move effortlessly between continents and experiences. Readers are taken through encounters with figures connected to reggae icon Bob Marley, moments of cultural discovery in London and Amsterdam, chance meetings in Paris and Barcelona, and the realities of Gambian life both at home and abroad. The result is a collection that feels less like a traditional autobiography and more like a series of snapshots from a life lived with curiosity and an eye for detail.

Perhaps the book’s greatest strength is its authenticity. Peters does not attempt to romanticise his experiences. As he notes in the book’s description, it is “an honest-as-the-day-is-long account of events in the author’s life and what he saw transpired around him.” That straightforward approach gives the work a credibility that many personal narratives struggle to achieve.

The title itself is fitting. These are chronicles in the truest sense of the word: observations recorded as they happened, preserving memories, people and places that might otherwise fade with time.

Yet what makes this project particularly noteworthy extends beyond the pages of the book.

Speaking to The Fatu Network, Peters revealed that he will not personally benefit from any sales.

“I’m not taking a penny from this project. Every sale from this book goes to kids’ education in The Gambia.”

At a time when authors naturally hope to earn from years of work and dedication, Peters’ decision adds another dimension to the project. Purchasing the book is not only an investment in Gambian literature, but also a contribution toward educational opportunities for children.

For a debut publication, Haddington Chronicles and Other Chronicles arrives with both literary and social value. It preserves memories of a bygone Gambia, offers readers a globe-spanning collection of personal stories, and channels its proceeds into a cause that reaches far beyond the author himself.

Whether one is interested in Gambian history, diaspora experiences, travel narratives or simply well-told human stories, Peters has produced a work that deserves attention—and, perhaps more importantly, support.