René Gardi

René Gardi (1 March 1909 – 9 March 2000) was a Swiss traveller and author. He wrote particularly on the handicrafts and architecture of West Africa.

Life Gardi was born 1909 in Bern, Switzerland. After studying mathematics, physics, and zoology at Bern University, he became secondary scholl teacher at Brügg BE near Biel from 1931 to 1945, and then worked as independent author and traveler (Vortragsreisender). He documented his travels to Africa in several books and in two films: Mandara (1959) and Die letzte Karawane (The Last Caravan) (1967).

Honors and awards He won many prizes for literature and in 1967 received an Honorary Doctorate at Bern University.

Death Gardi died 2000 in Bern.

Publications Schwarzwasser, Jugendbuch 1943 Bergvolk der Wüste, 1951 Blaue Schleier - rote Zelte, 1951 Mandara, 1953 Kirdi, 1955 Sepik, 1958 Sahara, 1967