The Book of Negroes

_

Ready?

I seem to have trouble dying.

By all accounts, I should not have lived this long.

I am Aminata Diallo,

daughter of Mamadu Diallo and Sira Kulibali.

I was born in a village called Bayo

in what you call Guinea.

I knew from a young age

I would be a djeli,

a storyteller.

I would see...

and I would remember.

- Push, mama, push! - Aaaaah!

Small hands are good,

- and you use them well, Aminata. - (Baby gurgling)

: The men stealers took a farmer.

That's his blood. (Insects buzzing)

Let's get home before dark.

: Have you seen the moon slide behind clouds?

People started slipping away like that.

But unlike the moon, they never came back.

The men stealers do not know this path to Bayo.

- (people talking) - (animal bleating)

: Fanta was the chief's youngest wife,

always bossing us around.

She didn't like me and I didn't like her.

My father made jewelry.

He was the only man in the village

who had a copy of the Qur'an. From him, I learned

Fulfulde and how to read and write in Arabic.

Islam was spreading across the land,

and in Bayo, my father was among a few converts.

Read what you wrote.

- "Allah akbar." - Good.

Very good.

Now, keep practicing.

No more. No more travelling so far to bring babies into the world.

Women in other villages have babies too,

and your daughter needs to learn the trade.

I will not allow it, it's not safe.

I have walked this country my whole life.

I will travel as freely as anyone.

I will go with you the next time.

- No, you will not. - I'm coming with you!

- Where are we? - Near the creek

where the 2 boys disappeared.

And which way home?

That way where the sun sets.

Which way to the Joliba river in Timbuktu?

That way,

but it takes many moons to walk to Timbuktu.

One day, you'll take me there to pray.

Now, show me the way home.

Remove the blindfold.

- Papa? - (Monkey screaming)

Find your way home, Aminata.

I heard you coming.

Ha! Ha! Ha!

- (people talking) - (rooster crowing)

Ha! Ha! Ha!

Let me tell you

about Mamadu Diallo, the gold jeweller

and Sira Kulibali,

- the catcher of babies. - (Aminata): Ber djeli

recited each person's history

going back many generations.

When a djeli died, knowledge of our village would disappear

unless it had been passed to someone else.

- (laughter) - It was not in my family line,

but becoming a djeli was what I always dreamed of.

Not a word, woman,

I'm coming with you to catch this baby.

Go on, lead the way.

If they give us a chicken for catching the baby,

we'll roast it over the fire.

- Can we have plantain too? - Fried or boiled?

Fried is better.

Mama, when you bring a baby into the world,

will she live a long life?

As long as babies are being caught,

the world will go on.

Will we be home before Monday?

Ah! Let me go! Let me go!

Mama!

Mama!

Aminata, run!

Argh! Papa! Mama!

- Aminata! - Papa!

Mama!

Papa! Papa!

- Papa! - (Moaning)

Papa!

- Mama! - (Clamping)

Mama!

Papa!

Papa!

Mama!

Mama!

- (moaning) - Papa!

Mama! Papa!

No.

: I wondered what my father and mother

would tell me to do. Keep walking.

Don't fall. As I walked

over and over again,

I heard my father's words,

"Aminata, find your way home."

I'm Chekura I'm a Bamanan like you.

I heard this woman called you Aminata.

Here, drink some water.

You...

... give me that mango.

I only have the one.

Speak to the boy who gave it you.

I see him watching you.

Leave me alone.

- No praying. - (Amania continues praying.)

I said, no praying.

- (whip lashing) - (Aminata screaming)

Now, you can walk free.

It will take us a day to cross the sands.

Your moons are beautiful.

You are from the village of Kinta.

- How did you know? - I've seen those marks before.

In your village, how did they know you?

- My name's Chekura Tiano. - I bet my mother caught you.

- Caught me doing what? - Being born.

She catches babies and...

I always help her.

What is your mother's name?

My mother is dead.

How could you do this to us?

After my mother died,

my uncle sold me for 20 chickens and a goat.

More than you're worth.

I'd take 10 chickens and forget the goat.

I am no more free than you are.

: Alright, get up! Let's move!

Ah...

- (man): Right now, halt! - (man): Halt!

Is that a man

or an evil spirit?

It is a man,

but not a man that you want to know.

Soon, we will walk down to the big river.

Are you my captor or my brother?

: Here, boy!

Come here.

Go now.

Come on, you move! Move!

The big river touches the sky.

: One line! Get on line!

They will hold you overnight at Pan's Island.

Tomorrow, they will take you to a big canoe.

You are one of the lucky ones.

- Lucky? - Others have been dying slowly

waiting for their boat to fill up, but you won't have to wait.

Soon, we'll be parted.

Beware of your beauty among the strangers.

- I won't go. - You will go or you will die.

I will return back home.

I have taken many people to the sea,

but not once, have I seen a man return.

I'll sleep by day and walk by night until I see my village again.

Aminata Diallo.

Ah!

- No! No! - (Indistinct shouting)