The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
New African Magazine profiles the life of John Akii Bua in this article run 10/02/2012
HISTORY FEATURE | NEW AFRICAN MAGAZINE | In a gripping tale about his life and sporting achievements, Uganda’s greatest athlete, John Akii-Bua recalls in his unpublished memoirs a sleepless night before his historic 1972 Munich Olympics triumph in the 400m hurdles, haunted by visions of the then defending Olympic champion and record holder, Britain’s David Hemery, winning.
Akii-Bua reveals in his handwritten notes upon which a 90-minute documentary film entitled, “The John Akii-Bua Story: An African Tragedy” is based, that on the night before his Olympic victory, he drank a whole bottle of champagne, provided by his British coach, Malcolm Arnold, to help him sleep.
The feature-length film, directed by Daniel Gordon, was shot in 2007, in Uganda, England and Germany. Samuel Ibanda plays the part of Akii-Bua, and John Bosco appears as Idi Amin.
It describes memories of Akii-Bua from his family and colleagues and the journey that he took from his humble beginnings training in bare feet on grass tracks, to the excitement of the Olympic Games. It also covers his later years in exile from his home country. It is the story of one man, and of Africa itself – its glory, potential and tragedy.
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SOURCE: NEW AFRICAN MAGAZINE
