Author Ishmael Junuorgh has launched his third book, Ladimeh: Abandoned African Slave, a gripping historical novel that delves into the largely untold stories of the slave trade’s impact on communities in Northern Ghana. The launch brought together family, friends, and literary enthusiasts who came to support Junuorgh’s passion for bringing African stories to life.
In his speech at the event held at the Accra Tourist Information Centre on Saturday, October 26, 2024, Junuorgh opened up about the deeply personal journey behind the book, which took over two years to complete.
“The book is a historical fiction filling in the gaps of history. It explores a seventeenth-century story of a baby whose small community called Buulu came under attack by raiders for slaves. Now, across a stream, the nursing mother trying to escape with her two-year-old baby was captured. Barely three days on the slave caravan, a cry of a baby was heard and out of anger, the leader of the raider army plucked the baby from the mother’s breast and threw it into a thicket of thorns while the brave mother looked on helplessly in agony with breast milk gushing out from her long huge breast and falling on patches of the earth like rain.”
He shared how writing the story of Ladimeh—a young child abandoned during a brutal slave raid—was both a labour of love and a tribute to his Northern heritage.
“When I began writing, my goal was to inspire the Northern youth and the African youth at large to know that their ancestors were not just weak and foolish and they did not simply submit easily to their enslavers but that like Ladimeh, some of them fought hard against it and at times even killed some of their enslavers. In the case of Ladimeh, he had taken over the Elimina castle for some forty-eight hours and freed himself and other slaves in one horrific afternoon.”
“I wanted to create a narrative that not only entertains but also resonates with readers on a deeper level and inspires the reader to know that he or she is the best architect of the life he wants to live or have,” Junuorgh said.
He acknowledged his family’s support and paid tribute to mentors and friends who helped him navigate his path as an author, especially in times of hardship.
Ladimeh: Abandoned African Slave tells the story of Ladimeh, a two-year-old who is separated from his mother in a raid and abandoned by slave traders in the dense wilderness. Drawing on historical and anthropological research, the novel traces Ladimeh’s harrowing journey from Northern Ghana through the infamous slave routes to the Manhyia Palace, the Elmina Castle, and ultimately to the Caribbean. The narrative explores themes of resilience, survival, and the enduring human spirit amidst overwhelming adversity.
The novel offers an unflinching portrayal of the different slave trades that ravaged Northern Ghana: the Trans-Saharan Slave Trade conducted by Arab traders, the Transatlantic Slave Trade orchestrated by Europeans, and the less-discussed internal slave trade within the Asante Kingdom. These harrowing events, Junuorgh argues, have left lasting scars on Northern communities, which continue to face socioeconomic challenges. He drew connections between historical oppression and contemporary struggles, such as the kayaye (head porter) phenomenon, which he described as a “modern form of slavery.”
The book also highlights notorious historical figures like Samori Toure and Babatu, who raided communities in the North, capturing people who were forced into labour to support the Asante Empire’s expansion. Through the protagonist Ladimeh, Junuorgh portrays the strength and resistance of Northern people, dispelling any misconceptions of passive submission. At one point in the novel, Ladimeh stages a rebellion in the Elmina Castle, fighting for his freedom and that of fellow captives.
Junuorgh hopes that LADIMEH will inspire young Africans to explore their history with pride and use it as motivation for self-empowerment.
“This journey has taught me so much about myself as a Northerner, a Ghanaian, and, more importantly, as an African youth,” he said. “We only need to believe in ourselves and understand that we hold the power to transform our communities.”
The novel’s foreword, written by Professor Damasus Tourosong, lauds Junuorgh’s work as a “heart-wrenching narrative” that reveals the painful histories of the North with compassion and grit. Professor Tourosong described the book as one that “bruises your soul and drenches you in a sea of tears,” vividly bringing to life the battles and sacrifices of Northern communities against enslavement.
By: Ekow Annan/newsalertgh.com
