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Ishmael Beah, memoirs of war in Sierra Leone

- A Long Way From The Truth

By Muctaru Wurie

It may be well known in the Western world for a book that described the war in Sierra Leone without a thank you to the sight of a child soldier, Ishmael Beah, but author of A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, we know very little here at home.

Before writing this piece I did a random check of academics and students of literature and journalists around the country, only two people have admitted to reading his book. Many said they had read about it in the comments in Western media, but have not actually seen the book, let alone read it. Although a handful said they have not even heard of Ishmael or his work at all.

When looking at the impact of this book, which has not only received rave reviews from the New York Times, Washington Post, Guardian UK and many other major Western media, but also had plus million dollars and has an opinion much. It is ironic that Sierra Leone, a country with a highly dynamic and universities that have a predisposition for the literature on this lack.

The book has also propelled to the forefront Ishmael and he spoke to the UN and according to Wikipedia, he met the leaders, including Bill Clinton and Nelson Mandela.

Beah now works for the Committee of Human Rights Watch Children's Division Advisory, he was the keynote speaker at several events, including the Global Young Leaders Conference 2007 (15-26 July meeting), the ceremony of the Oberlin Convocation College 175th.

Review

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, provides a tragic reminder of what happened in a relatively orderly and peaceful society in Sierra Leone was.

The story began with what was worrying the case, then, refugees flee a danger to their safety and pass through towns and villages, they come with harrowing stories, some of which many at the time found it difficult to believe.

But as the majority of Sierra Leone, the truth of the brutal war was never far from the door. And for many, the madness and brutality of war reached their towns and villages with little or no notice. This is exactly the case for Ishmael, his brother and a friend who left their villages to Mattru Jong to attend a talent show. They are gone never to return that their village was attacked and their entire region plunged into chaos by backing rebels who did not know the language but the pandemonium and destruction.

Ismail and co made a vain attempt to return to their families, it was clear they would not reach their village as many were already running away, with an account and horrible at the end they were forced to turn back.

Since then, groups of Ishmael and other boys were desperate wandering in search of safety, many were afraid of them when they move from village to village, they have been prevented, arrested and intimidated by people who thought they were rebels.

Every aspect of life upside down, children were warmly welcomed by the war has become an object of fear and mistrust that many have been used to cause havoc and do horrible things. A society that loves both children suddenly turn into a fear that any child unknown.

The book is written in a free movement commander, heartbreaking and even charming way contains not only the horrors of war in the land of Ishmael, he also showed another facet of Sierra Leone, the Mende tell the story Culture and Ishmael, and even many other children in Sierra Leone at the time love of hip hop music and Jamaican reggae.

But Ishmael, and many others it was the reality.