Kiperman      Moshinski

Hillel Gilboa

 

Hillel Gilboa is the author of the book Wahala NaWow, a book everyone must read. It's a collection of short stories from Nigeria enriched with deep insights.

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The English version of the book is at Amazon.com  https://www.amazon.com/Wahala-NaWow-Hilarious-Africa-Insights-ebook/dp/B0FJYKS7VV/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.U2faNkVlubi4VKfGrKM9Hrd69AzCMaSlPvtyzLTiO50.K5GQ2Jac_5mbVVd2nbL2mJrVC9ullUfgXxLSTJYx12M&dib_tag=se&keywords=wahala+nawow&qid=1754365702&sr=8-1

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The Hebrew version is at Evrit web site of Yediot Ahronot  - https://www.e-vrit.co.il/Product/36761/Wahala_NaWow

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Wahala NaWow is the most interesting book ever written on the culture and mentality of the fantastic people in Africa. Wahala NaWow book is a hilarious, astonishing, enlightening, eye-opening collection of tales from Nigeria—told with sharp wit, deep affection, and biting insight. Author Hillel Gilboa, spent over twenty years navigating the vibrant chaos of Nigerian life, invites readers into a world where logic takes unexpected forms, justice wears surprising faces, and survival depends as much on intelligence and wisdom as on luck. From instant justice in Mokola Market to the bureaucratic theater of the Kainji Dam, these stories will make you laugh, gasp, and rethink what you thought you knew about culture, corruption, and common sense. Wahala NaWow is a celebration of Nigeria in all its wild, confounding, and unforgettable glory.

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The book reflects his tireless efforts to understand the mental and cultural gap between two very different worlds: on one hand, wonderful people living in a survivalist world, close to nature, where death is a natural part of life — and on the other, Oyinbo ("peeled") people living in the developed world, where death is often distant, abstract, and rarely part of daily experience.

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In developed countries, people generally make decisions to improve their quality of life — in other words, to live better. In contrast, in less developed countries like Nigeria, decisions are often driven by the need to increase one’s chances of survival — simply, to live. This difference between “living” and “living better” represents a profound gap between two worlds that operate according to very different sets of values — often opposing ones.

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Hillel Gilboa has had the opportunity and privilege of living in various parts of the world throughout his life. He was born in Kibbutz Mishmar HaEmek. After his basketball career he worked some years in Nigeria. Then, he was seven years in Florida, graduated with B. Sc. in Computer Science at USF, Tampa. Next he was the Subcontracts Manager at Intel's FAB 18 in Kiryat Gat. Then he returned to Nigeria for twelve more years.

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Following his retirement, and after extensive research, Hillel Gilboa produced two one-hour films documenting the roots of his family — preserving a legacy for future generations.