On the evening of 18 July 2025, the University of the Western Cape hosted the launch of From Georgia with Love – Dr Lyndon Bouah’s eleventh chess publication in the Reflections on Chess in the Rainbow Nation series, a powerful retrospective of his role as captain of the South African Chess Team at the 2018 FIDE Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia.

Timed precisely to run for 67 minutes, the event paid tribute to Nelson Mandela Day and the broader ideals of service, transformation, and social upliftment – themes that deeply reflect both Mandela’s legacy and Dr Bouah’s own contributions to chess and society.

The launch was not only a celebration of the book, but a powerful moment for South African chess. It brought together academics, sports leaders, students, and members of the chess community, just two days before International Chess Day, to reflect on the enduring importance of storytelling, history, and Olympism.

UNESCO Chair for Sport, Development, Peace and Olympic Education Professor and Director Olympic Studies Research Action Group South Africa (OSC)

Prof. Keim set the tone by quoting Nelson Mandela:

“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”

She praised Dr Bouah for his life-long service to the game and positioned the book as a milestone – the first book publication under UWC’s newly established Olympic Studies Research Action Group (OSC).

Drawing from the book’s rich philosophical underpinnings, she highlighted Bouah’s chapter “A Case for Olympism and Olympic Values in Chess over the last seven decades”, which links chess to values such as:

• Excellence
• Friendship
• Fair Play
• Joy of Effort
• Respect

• Harmony of body, will, and mind

Prof.Keim reminded the audience that chess, much like the Olympics, is about more than medals – it is about meaning, legacy, and human development.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Student Development and Support, UWC

Prof. Madiba commended Dr Bouah’s mastery of time, law, and leadership, describing him as an “encyclopaedia of South African chess” and many other things. She asked the pressing question many in academia wrestle with:

“How does he get it right? Writing is hard, yet he continues to publish at this level.”

Prof. Madiba credited Bouah’s ability to weave together administrative excellence with a deep passion for heritage and transformation. His relational approach to leadership and storytelling has made him a pillar of both UWC and the broader sporting community.

Acting President, Cape Town Chess Federation

Llewelyn offered a personal, moving tribute to Dr Bouah, reflecting on a shared journey that spans decades. He recalled a time when chess in South Africa was not accessible to all, and how Dr Bouah helped shift that reality.

“History would be nothing if it doesn’t get captured.”

He praised the book for documenting forgotten tournaments, results, and players, preserving a heritage that is often overlooked, despite chess being the 7th most participated sport in the country.

This eleventh volume is more than a chess diary. It captures:

• The full set of games played by South Africa’s Open and Women’s teams at the 2018 Olympiad

• Lessons from those games

• Cultural and historical reflections on Georgia – the host country and a land rich in chess tradition

• Anecdotes on the origins of chess and Olympism.

The event’s date, 18 July, held multiple layers of meaning:

• Nelson Mandela Day (honoured with 67 minutes of reflection)

• Anniversary of Barack Obama’s book launch – Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance, who like Bouah, stands for values of leadership and legacy

• Multiple historic chess events, including early roots of the Chess Olympiads in Paris, 1924 with an 18 July tournament held alongside the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris. Although chess was not officially recognised as an Olympic sport, this effort led directly to the founding of FIDE (Fédération Internationale des Échecs) on 20 July 1924, just two days after 18 July. 20 July also represents International Chess Day!

As Prof. Keim noted, it was only fitting that a book exploring Olympism in chess was launched on the eve of International Chess Day and in a year marking 120 years of Africa’s participation in the Olympic movement.

Dr Lyndon Bouah is a Candidate Master, seasoned chess player, and longstanding leader in South African chess, having represented and captained the national team at numerous Chess Olympiads from 2002 to 2018. A published author, legal scholar, and passionate historian of the game, he has dedicated over 37 years to chess as a player, administrator, coach, journalist, and advocate. His leadership includes interprovincial titles, national titles at schools and club level, and advancing chess through youth and elite competitions alike. He holds law degrees from UWC and UCT and earned his PhD in 2016.

Dr Lyndon Bouah is also a long-time member of Steinitz Chess Club – the most successful chess club in South Africa. He held office as President of Chess Western Province (Now Cape Town Chess Federation) from 2000 to 2010 and supported the advancement of chess in Cape Town since his early days at UWC in the 1990s. Dr Bouah is was also president of Chess South Africa from 2003 to 2005.

The Cape Town Chess Federation congratulates Dr Bouah on this significant literary and historical contribution, and thanks him for his enduring service to the chess community.

From Georgia with Love is not only a record of games – it’s a testament to resilience, transformation, and the power of memory. Through this work, Dr Lyndon Bouah honours the giants who came before him, amplifies the voices of those often forgotten, and inspires future generations to not only play the game – but to write it, live it, and share it