Ilija Trojanow

Ilija Trojanow was born in 1965 in Sofia, grew up in Kenya, and lives now in South Africa.

In the mid-nineties, he studied law and ethnology in Munich, where he founded the Marino Publishing House for African Literature. His first book, In Afrika: Mythos und Alltag Ostafrikas, arose from his experience traveling through Africa and explores his relationship to Kenya.

In 1996, Trojanow wrote with author Chenjerai Hove Guardians of the Soil: Meeting Zimbabwe Elders. He also published his first novel, Die Welt ist groß und Rettung lauert überall.

In 1998, Trojanow moved to Bombay, where he wrote reportages and essays for Allgemeine Zeitung, the Süddeutsche Zeitung, and the Neue Zürcher Zeitung, as well as Along the Ganges: To the Inner Shores of India.

Trojanow’s latest novel, Der Weltensammler (The Collector of Words), is based on the life of the English adventurer Sir Richard Burton and was a


Articles by Ilija Trojanow

Thursday February 21

Bwana Burton’s Binoculars

“Tell me, Baba Sidi, I’ve never understood, what exactly did you do on that journey?” “Good question.” “You didn’t carry…” “True.” “You didn’t fight…” “True.” “You didn’t cook…” “True.” “You didn’t wash clothes…” “There were others to do that.” “So what did you do?” “I guided them.” “Say that again, my brother.” “I guided the