Benson Deng and Benjamin Ajak were driven from their homes in southern Sudan in the ethnic and religious conflicts that have left 2 million dead, and on Oct. 14 and 15, these refugees will be in La Jolla to tell their story. Africa and Beyond, a gallery located at 1250 Prospect St. that specializes in African art, will host a two-day dual book signing and fundraising event that will feature Deng and Ajak’s book “They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky: The Story of Three Lost Boys From Sudan.” The gallery will also host photographers Angela Fisher and Carol Beck, who will be presenting their book “Dinka: Legendary Cattle Keepers of Sudan.” These world-renowned authors will sign copies of their books, for sale at Africa and Beyond, on Oct. 14 at 7 p.m., and they will engage in a lecture on Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. The events are free, but a donation or book purchase is suggested. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the California Sudanese Lost Boys and Girls Foundation, a group of local Sudanese refugees. Africa and Beyond owner Ian Allen said the foundation supports the more than 100 Sudanese refugees living locally — the “lost boys and girls of San Diego” — just like Ajak and Deng, who co-authored their book with Deng’s brother Alephonsion. In 2001, more than 3,000 refugees came to the United States from Sudan seeking peace, freedom and education. These refugees, Allen said, are mainly young adults in the workforce “making a life for themselves in a strange world.” “I don’t know how any of us could survive through what all they have been through,” Allen said. “We are trying to save money for them so they can feel more at home here in San Diego.” In addition to its noble cause, Allen said the upcoming event is “very exclusive,” as special guests Fisher and Beck are only making a handful of stops in the United States to present their book. The two have dedicated their life to photographing the rapidly vanishing way of life of the indigenous people of Africa, and they’ve been featured in National Geographic, Time and Life Magazines. On Oct. 1, the Explorer’s Club in New York City honored the two photographers with the Lowell Thomas award, putting them in an elite category with astronaut Buzz Aldrin and journalist Dan Rather. The gallery event will feature authentic Dinka food, and members of the California Sudanese Lost Boys and Girls Foundation will perform traditional Dinka dances. Allen said he looks forward to the public getting to meet some of the “lost boys and girls” in person. “They call them the ‘lost boys and girls’ because they really are lost,” Allen said. “Their whole culture has been ripped away from them.” Photographic prints from the Dinka book will be for sale. To RSVP, call (858) 454-9983.
