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Somalia’s Mother Teresa chose love over fear.
Bronze Medal, 2020 Independent Publisher Book Awards
Amid a volatile mix of disease, war, and religious fundamentalism in the Horn of Africa, what difference could one woman make? Annalena Tonelli left behind career, family, and homeland anyway, moving to a remote Muslim village in northern Kenya to live among its outcasts – desert nomads dying of tuberculosis, history’s deadliest disease.
“I am nobody,” she always insisted. Yet by the time she was killed for her work three decades later she had not only developed an effective cure for tuberculosis among nomadic peoples but also exposed a massacre, established homes and schools for the deaf, advocated against female genital mutilation, and secured treatment for ostracized AIDS patients.
Months after winning the Nansen Refugee Award from the UN in 2003, Annalena Tonelli was assassinated at one of the tuberculosis hospitals she founded. Rachel Pieh Jones, an American writer, was living a few doors down, having moved to Somaliland with her husband and two children just months before. Annalena’s death would alter the course of her life.
No one who encounters Annalena in these pages will leave unchanged. Her confounding, larger-than-life example challenges our assumptions about aid and development, Christian–Muslim relations, and what it means to put one’s faith into practice. Brought vividly back to life through Jones’s meticulous reporting and her own letters, Annalena presents us with a new measure of success and commitment. But she also leaves us a gift: the secret to overcoming the fear that pervades our society and our hearts – fear of disease and death, fear of terrorism and war, fear of others, and fear of failure.
Discussion guide for Stronger Than Death
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At the earliest stages this book was something deeply special. Rachel’s diligent and observant research reminded me of the likes of Laura Hillenbrand. She crafts a beautiful story of a largely unknown hero, of a life mostly hidden except to the people she served. Above all, this book will make you feel. You will cry, you will get angry, you will feel conflicted, and you will be grateful to know more about a woman who served extravagantly, and about the author who brought her back to life.
I think everyone should know what it looks like to really love your neighbor as yourself, which is what Annalena Tonelli did and in the greatest humility. The story of her time in Africa is beautifully written and gives a glimpse into the life of what I would call a saint, but which Annalena would not. Her work in making a difference in the lives of those suffering and dying from TB is amazing.
Stronger than Death is Annalena Tonelli’s story of living and working along with the sick, hungry, and destitute of Kenya and Somalia. She was a courageous, down-to-earth, and humble Italian woman who left her homeland and family to spend her life assisting the poor and eradicating TB. Annalena’s story is a powerful look at how the love, faith, and humanity of one person can overcome prejudices, fears, and violence in some of the most difficult areas of the world.
I feel privileged that I was able to read such a well-written account of this extraordinary figure. Tonelli's work and sacrifices will no doubt go on to inspire many more. Her undying love and faith in humanity is a testament to her strength and character.
Tells the story of what real missionary work should be. There was more than just religion, there was action, their care, and love of the poor. Annalena faced down violence every day but never stopped caring for those in need. Unlike many of the biggest “missionary/pastors,” Annalena didn't live in opulence. She lived in poverty, pouring all her money into the saving of those with TB. If I say more, I'll tell you the whole story.
