When a nation doesn’t know its history, it is condemned to relive it, Africa is the cradle of humanity, but the negation of our history, orchestrated by the architects of colonization, has created trauma and complexes. Our goal is to deconstruct all of this, to promote our cultures, and our pride in belonging to the African continent.
Yasmina Fagbemi Edwards – Publisher
Tioleja Editions is an independent publishing house that operates outside the traditional framework of the industry.
Our primary goal is to empower “us” to preserve and celebrate our stories, creating a legacy that pays homage to the triumphs, brilliance, and resilience of our shared heritage.
Under the leadership of author and historian Gabriel Souleyka, Tioleja Editions will illuminate African narratives through the lens of historical novels.
Our mission is to spotlight the stories of ordinary, unrecognized heroes.
Our dreams are limited only by our limits – Bruce Lee
Young Adult
Akoni is the first in a series of 12 novels that will be released over the coming months, exploring the history of Africa, the West Indies, and countries that trafficked in Black people during the slave trade. Telling the story through the eyes of children from several countries allows me to highlight varied cultures and different eras.
These books are for all ages, and can be told, read and reread, because I’ve chosen heroism over victimization.
Enjoy your reading.
Inspiring stories that elevate everyday heroes to their rightful places in history.
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Dans l’effervescence de Dakar en 1939, Awa et Ibrahim se marient, scellant ainsi leur amour dans l’innocence de leur jeunesse. Mais ce bonheur est rapidement assombri par la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Alors qu’Awa est enceinte, Ibrahim est arraché au foyer, enrôlé dans les tirailleurs sénégalais, envoyé au front en France.
Dans les tourments de la guerre, le destin s’acharne sur le jeune couple. Ibrahim disparaît dans les tumultes des combats de mai 1940, laissant Awa seule, en deuil et brisée par la perte de son enfant à naître. Mais même dans l’obscurité de son chagrin, un mince rayon d’espoir apparaît lorsque le recteur de la mosquée de Paris se présente à Dakar, sollicitant l’aide pour un réseau de résistance cachant des Juifs.
Awa saisit cette opportunité, voyant dans ce voyage vers la France l’espoir de rapatrier le corps de son époux bien-aimé. À Paris, elle se joint à la lutte clandestine en tant qu’infirmière, se jetant corps et âme dans la résistance active aux côtés du réseau des FTP, protégeant et sauvant autant de vies qu’elle le peut.
Hébergée par une famille juive, Awa croit trouver un refuge temporaire, mais le destin en décide autrement. La grande rafle du 16 juillet 1942 frappe, et Awa, qui porte une étoile jaune, car on lui prêtait des vêtements, est arrêtée, déporté dans
In the hustle and bustle of Dakar in 1939, Awa and Ibrahim married, sealing their love in the innocence of their youth. But their happiness was soon overshadowed by the Second World War. While Awa was pregnant, Ibrahim was torn from his home, enlisted in the Senegalese Tirailleurs and sent to the front in France.
In the turmoil of war, fate took its toll on the young couple. Ibrahim disappeared in the tumultuous fighting of May 1940, leaving Awa alone, grieving and shattered by the loss of her unborn child. But even in the darkness of her grief, a faint ray of hope appears when the rector of the Paris mosque shows up in Dakar, asking for help for a resistance network hiding Jews.
Awa seized the opportunity, seeing in the journey to France the hope of repatriating the body of her beloved husband. In Paris, she joins the underground struggle as a nurse, throwing herself body and soul into active resistance alongside the FTP network, protecting and saving as many lives as she can.
Hosted by a Jewish family, Awa thought she had found a temporary refuge, but fate decided otherwise. The great roundup of July 16, 1942 struck, and Awa, who wore a yellow star because they lent her clothes, was arrested and deported to the.
Ayomide is 14 years old and lives peacefully in the village of Dabeya in Benin. In 1771, her life is turned upside down when the village is attacked by slavers. Captured, she was taken to the port of Ouidah. Embarked on a slave ship bound for Guadeloupe, she was raped by a sailor and found to be pregnant. On arrival, she was sold to Jean Clermontois, one of the island’s worst colonists, and became a slave on a sugar plantation. Together, they face a life of servitude, but they refuse to accept this condition. The Maroons have lived in Guadeloupe for generations, rebelling against the injustice of slavery and taking refuge in remote corners, perpetuating African customs and life.
Ayomide and Solitude are desperate to join them, in the mad hope of returning to Africa, but the cruelty and unbearable barbarity of the colonists are not an option. This is a novel about the ordinary lives of women with extraordinary destinies. Immerse yourself in the daily life of the slaves of Guadeloupe, in this often neglected historical reality. There is no apology for violence in this novel, but rather an emphasis on courage, self-sacrifice and determination. The aim is to restore humanity to people who have never had it, since they have been totally deprived of this common good.
Solitude is a historical figure in Guadeloupe, honored by statues, stamps and tributes, so here’s her true story.
Ayomidé a 14 ans, elle vit paisiblement dans le village de Dabeya au Bénin, en 1771, sa vie bascule lorsque le village est attaqué par des esclavagistes. Elle perd sa famille, tout ce qui faisait son bonheur, capturée, elle est emmené au port de Ouidah. Embarquée sur un navire négrier, en partance pour la Guadeloupe, elle est violée par un marin, la voici enceinte.
A son arrivée, elle est vendue à Jean Clermontois, l’un des pires colons de l’île, elle est désormais une esclave sur une plantation sucrière. Elle donne naissance à une petite fille, qu’on prénomme Solitude, ensemble, elles vont devoir affronter une vie de servitude, mais elles refusent cette condition. Les Marrons vivent en Guadeloupe depuis des générations, véritable rebelles face à l’injustice de l’esclavage, ils sont réfugiés dans les coins reculés, perpétuant les coutumes et la vie africaine.
Ayomidé et Solitude veulent absolument les rejoindre avec l’espoir fou de rentrer en Afrique, mais c’est sans compter sur la cruauté et la barbarie insoutenable des colons. Ce roman est la vie ordinaire de femmes au destin extraordinaire. Plongez dans le quotidien des esclaves de Guadeloupe, de cette réalité historique souvent négligée, aucune apologie de la violence dans ce roman mais bel et bien la mise en valeur du courage, de l’abnégation, de la détermination. Afin de redonner l’humanité à des personnes qui n’en ont jamais eu puisque totalement privée de ce bien commun.
Solitude est une figure historique de la Guadeloupe, honorée par des statues, des timbres, des hommages, voici donc sa véritable histoire.
Akoni, né au Bénin, a 12 ans, en 1770, dans son village de Dabeya, grandit dans le bonheur de sa famille, fils du Roi Djibali. Les journées sont remplies de jeux innocents, d’histoires partagées autour du feu. Akoni est un garçon curieux et vif d’esprit, aimé de tous dans la communauté Yoruba.
Le récit commence par dépeindre la beauté de la vie quotidienne dans le village, où Akoni découvre le monde qui l’entoure avec émerveillement. Les traditions, les croyances et les coutumes Yoruba sont présentées avec une richesse de détails, transportant les lecteurs dans l’atmosphère enchanteresse de l’Afrique du 18ème siècle.
Cependant, le bonheur d’Akoni est soudainement ébranlé par l’arrivée d’étrangers portugais, des esclavagistes à la recherche de jeunes captifs pour les vendre aux plantations des Antilles. Le Roi veut protéger son peuple, la guerre est déclarée, l’issue sera tragique. Akoni est capturé, arraché à sa famille et à son foyer.
Akoni, born in Benin, is 12 years old, in 1770, in his village of Dabeya, growing up in the happiness of his family, son of King Djibali. Days are filled with innocent games and stories shared around the fire. Akoni is a curious, quick-witted boy, loved by everyone in the Yoruba community.
The story begins by depicting the beauty of daily life in the village, where Akoni discovers the world around him with wonder. Yoruba traditions, beliefs and customs are presented in rich detail, transporting readers into the enchanting atmosphere of 18th-century Africa.
However, Akoni’s happiness is suddenly shaken by the arrival of Portuguese strangers, slavers in search of young captives to sell to plantations in the West Indies. The King wants to protect his people, war is declared, and the outcome will be tragic. Akoni is captured, torn from his family and home.
Akoni, nacido en Benín, tenía 12 años en 1770, en su aldea de Dabeya. Creció en la felicidad de su familia, hijo del rey Djibali. Sus días estaban llenos de juegos inocentes e historias compartidas alrededor del fuego. Akoni es un niño curioso, ingenioso y querido por todos en la comunidad yoruba.
La historia comienza describiendo la belleza de la vida cotidiana en la aldea, donde Akoni descubre el mundo que le rodea con asombro. Las tradiciones, creencias y costumbres yoruba se presentan con todo lujo de detalles, transportando a los lectores a la encantadora atmósfera del África del siglo XVIII.
Sin embargo, la felicidad de Akoni se ve repentinamente truncada por la llegada de forasteros portugueses, esclavistas en busca de jóvenes cautivos para venderlos a las plantaciones de las Indias Occidentales. El Rey quiere proteger a su pueblo, se declara la guerra y el desenlace será trágico. Akoni es capturado, arrancado de su familia y de su hogar.
Akoni, nascido em Benin, tinha 12 anos em 1770, em sua aldeia de Dabeya, e cresceu na felicidade de sua família, filho do rei Djibali. Seus dias eram repletos de jogos inocentes e histórias compartilhadas ao redor da fogueira. Akoni é um garoto curioso e de raciocínio rápido, amado por todos na comunidade iorubá.
A história começa retratando a beleza da vida cotidiana na aldeia, onde Akoni descobre o mundo ao seu redor com admiração. As tradições, crenças e costumes iorubás são apresentados com riqueza de detalhes, transportando os leitores para a atmosfera encantadora da África do século XVIII.
No entanto, a felicidade de Akoni é subitamente abalada pela chegada de estrangeiros portugueses, traficantes de escravos em busca de jovens cativos para vender às plantações das Índias Ocidentais. O rei quer proteger seu povo, a guerra é declarada e o resultado será trágico. Akoni é capturado, afastado de sua família e de seu lar.
Akoni, nato in Benin, aveva 12 anni nel 1770, nel suo villaggio di Dabeya, e crebbe nella felicità della sua famiglia, il figlio del re Djibali. Le sue giornate erano piene di giochi innocenti e di storie condivise intorno al fuoco. Akoni è un ragazzo curioso e sveglio, amato da tutti nella comunità Yoruba.
La storia inizia con la rappresentazione della bellezza della vita quotidiana del villaggio, dove Akoni scopre con meraviglia il mondo che lo circonda. Le tradizioni, le credenze e le usanze yoruba sono presentate con dovizia di particolari, trasportando il lettore nell’atmosfera incantevole dell’Africa del XVIII secolo.
Tuttavia, la felicità di Akoni viene improvvisamente sconvolta dall’arrivo di stranieri portoghesi, schiavisti in cerca di giovani prigionieri da vendere alle piantagioni delle Indie occidentali. Il re vuole proteggere il suo popolo, viene dichiarata guerra e l’esito sarà tragico. Akoni viene catturato, strappato alla sua famiglia e alla sua casa.
