Imagine Hangberg, but with psychedelic toads
Kimon de Greef, who cut his teeth at GroundUp, follows the trail of a Mexican toad guru in his new book
South African journalist Kimon de Greef has penned another remarkable book, titled The Ego Trip: Psychedelic Toads, a Trail of Deaths, and the Guru Who Peddled Transcendence. Unlike his debut Poacher: Confessions from the Abalone Underworld, which delved into a deeply local South African tale, The Ego Trip showcases a stark lack of South African connections.
This might make it the most un-South African book by a South African journalist since Jonny Steinberg's Little Liberia: An African Odyssey in New York City. Despite this, it remains relatable, akin to Poacher, as it explores the phenomenon of a simple creature becoming highly sought-after by humans. Additionally, for those interested in the therapeutic use of psychedelic substances, de Greef's work provides a compelling ground report.
De Greef, originally from Observatory, Cape Town, honed his journalistic skills at GroundUp and Mail & Guardian before pursuing further studies in New York. In 2020, while researching a story about America's black market for white sage, he met a man who claimed that smoking the secretions of a Sonoran Desert toad could lead to a profound spiritual experience.
De Greef's investigation revealed that the claim was partially true; while smoking the toad does induce a strong psychedelic experience, it was not the first to discover this. Ken Nelson, a reclusive Texan, had published a pamphlet about his discovery in the 1980s, followed by Mexican doctor Octavio Rettig. Rettig introduced "toad medicine" to the Seri people, an indigenous Sonoran tribe, claiming it was an ancient healing practice.
The consequences of Rettig's actions are the primary focus of The Ego Trip. Punta Chueca, where Rettig resided, transformed into a gaudy boomtown, akin to Cape Town's Hangberg, filled with substance abuse and gang violence, but this time in the Sonoran Desert. The influx of "gringos" – white tourists dressed in traditional attire – led to accusations of cultural appropriation and irresponsible practice.
Rettig's infamous "Pied Piper" persona and the resulting chaos formed the crux of The Ego Trip. The writing, unapologetically raw, underscores the grim realities of the psychedelic world, with frequent references to vomiting, gland-related issues, and swollen lips. While some aspects felt repetitive, de Greef's commitment to fairness and honesty is evident throughout the book.
However, the sheer volume of information presented may have sacrificed some narrative flow. With a cast of characters as vast as Tolstoy's, readers might lose track of the main protagonist, Rettig, at times. Despite these shortcomings, The Ego Trip stands as a significant contribution to the burgeoning literature of the psychedelic renaissance and marks a considerable advancement in de Greef's longform journalism, placing him among the leading young writers in the field. The Ego Trip is published by Orion and distributed in South Africa by Jonathan Ball Publishers.
Written by urgent.news from GroundUp's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
