When the Second World War forces his family to move from Egypt back to their Sudanese homeland, Raphael stays to manage their leather workshop. He realises that he has a gift for business and a gift for the art of love. Growing hostility toward the Jews in Egypt disrupts the budding entrepreneur's business. Raphael joins the resistance, helping settlers to reach Israel. When Raphael leaves Egypt, he makes his way to Nigeria, where he quickly establishes a business involving hunting crocodiles and exporting the skins to France. Here, he will face some of the greatest challenges of his young life.