The author of the book, Sahana Das had spent her childhood in Africa. She resided in Kenya and Southern parts of Africa where her father had taught in various universities. Her childhood was spent visiting several places in the interior of these regions where she came across indigenous people whose ways of life were different from their brethren in the cities. Their lifestyle, cultures, folktales and stories of bravery left a lasting impression in the mind of the author. Many of these stories are not just some local lores, they carry deep meaning and social messages. Author wanted to portray the rich culture that existed in Africa long before the colonization and the heritage that is now almost forgotten due to the influence of Westernization. The author decided to collect some of them from the treasure trove and present in the form of the book "Mama Njeri's Kitanga - Tales From the Heart of Africa."
She currently holds the post of Assistant Professorin an Engineering college in Kolkata. She spends her free time writing short stories and poems.