Pedzisa mutsara unotevera: Gration, anozivikanwa nezita rake repakati rokuti Scott, akaberekerwa muSt. Charles, Illinois, mwanakomana waDorothy E. (akazvarwa Harpel) naJohn Alexander Gration. Vanasekuru navanambuya vake vaiva vokuBritain. Akapedza makore ake okutanga ari muduku mune yava kunzi Democratic Republic of Congo (yaimbova Belgian Congo, gare gare Zaire) neKenya, apo vabereki vake vaishanda sevadzidzisi vemamishinari. Mutsara wokutanga waakataura waiva muchiKiswahili, uye ave achitaura chiKiswahili kwoupenyu hwake hwose. Mukati
Dambudziko reCongo mukutanga kwema1960, mhuri yake yakabviswa katatu, uye vakava vapoteri, vakatamira kuKenya mushure mekubviswa kwechitatu muna 1964.