Heineken in Africa: The Dark Side of Heineken’s Beer Empire, an investigative book which reveals the inhumane practices and sexual violence perpetrated by the Dutch brewing company, is set to launch in Nigeria.
The book, written by award-winning Dutch investigative journalist, Olivier van Beemen, delved into unethical practices of Heineken in Africa which include tax avoidance, sexual abuse, links to genocide and other human rights violations, high-level corruption, crushing competition from indigenous brewers, and collaboration with dictators and merciless anti-government rebels.
In a press release to announce the book launch by the Publisher, Bookcraft, it was stated that the initially published version by Hurst in London had “caused a political and media furore on publication in the Netherlands and was debated in the Dutch and European Parliaments. Leading international media, such as The Guardian, Financial Times, BBC, Le Monde, NPR, the Huffington Post and El País reported on it.”
The press release also stated that “the revelations made the Global Fund, a multi-billion dollar organization that fights AIDS, TB and malaria with the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, decide to suspend its partnership with Heineken. It is an unmissable exposé of the havoc wreaked by a global giant seeking profit in the developing world.”
The book launch will hold in Lagos on Nov 22nd at Roving Heights, Victoria Island and in Abuja on Nov 23 at Roving Heights, Wuse 2.
Sharing a review of the book, the Prospect magazine shared that “Van Beemen, the author of this well-researched and provocative book, has uncovered an astounding counter-story to the corporate spin…. an almost perfect case study of what can go wrong when globalisation is unleashed in markets with huge financial potential but without the regulatory frameworks present in more stable parts of the world.”
Similarly, the Harvard Business History Review shared that “very readable work by an investigative journalist…his access to Heineken managers and archives at headquarters enabled him to relate many stories about Heineken’s experiences in Africa that provide tantalizing data for academics. Van Beemen’s focus on decisions that raised ethical issues makes the book especially valuable for those interested in corporate social responsibility.”
Olivier Beemen is the third Dutch author to be published in Nigeria, after Anne Frank and the children’s book writer Mylo Freeman.
The book was written after six years of research and travel to every African country where Heineken operates.