Author Ryan Butta and the cover of his book.
When young Afghan entrepreneur Abdul Wade first brought his camel trains to the outback in the 1890s, he was hailed as a hero by local communities.
The British colonies relied on horses, which couldn’t access many remote settlements – especially those stricken by flood or drought – so camel trains rode to the rescue time and time again. But with success came fierce opposition fuelled by prejudice, and in a climate of colonial misinformation, hyperbole and fear, Wade – along with other Afghans involved in the camel business – found himself with a target firmly on his back when his business threatened the livelihoods of the European horse drivers.
Author Ryan Butta reveals a gritty alternative history in The Ballad of Abdul Wade, exposing the untold debt that Australia owes to the humble camel – and the Afghans who brought them here and drove them through the outback.
He stumbled on this fascinating forgotten history when visiting his father’s hometown of Brewarrina in 2018.
Ryan will be speaking at the Forbes Library on Wednesday, 26th October at 2pm. Reserve your spot online via the Central West Libraries website event page or call the library on 6852 1463.