Senegal in 1714

We were on our knees; our village had been found. A thick chain was tied around my neck strapping my hands behind my back down to my ankles, I could not move. It was only a few hours before dawn when we were found by the Senegalese authority. They were hunting for slaves. The commander examined us one by one, searching for fertility, strength and beauty. My wife was beside me. She was the most beautiful woman of the village. It was my turn. The men lift me up to examine the thickness of my teeth and density of my muscles.

-“Detdet, bail co.” Not good enough, he said in Wolof.

I was refused by the commander. Next was my wife. They lifted her up and the commander examined her. He got closer to her.

-“Bakhna, defa nërkh.” She’s perfect, he said with admiration.

The sergeants escorted her towards the carriage.

“Haraal” the officer commanded. Wait. He crept up behind her, put his mouth to her ear and whispered “maybe I should keep you to myself.”

-“Let. Her. Go.” I hissed through my teeth. The commander turned and slowly walked towards me.

-“Well, we have quite the brave man here.” he smiled sarcastically.

-“If you touch her, I will kill you.” I said through my teeth.

He laughed. The commander took me by my hair, forced my head to the ground and put his knee on my neck. I couldn’t breath.

-“If anybody is going to kill somebody, it will be me and if you say another word, I will kill you in front of your wife.” He let go.

My head was still on the soil, I was panting trying to catch my breath when I saw a little black book in the dark night. I slid the book with my forehead in between in my legs. The officers unleashed us and were ready to take off with our loved ones. My wife was still tied up on the carriage. We locked eyes until she was out of sight.

I went to my hut panting back and forth. I looked inside of the little black book and I could not believe my eyes. Inside this book was information that was worth a lot of money. I am not sure how much, but I knew that this information was priceless. I could buy my wife, and the people of our village, with this book. I gathered my belongings.

-“What are you doing, son?” My mother walked in with terror in her eyes. I stopped.

-“Mother, I am going to save Aminata and the village.”

-“But you can’t do that son, they will kill you.”

-“I have to go Mother, even if I die trying.”

My mother sat me down on the ground near the fire light.

-“Listen, son. I cannot stop you. You are now a grown man. I believe that anything that is done with love is done with the grace of God. Carry love inside of your heart and you will be invincible.” My mother left the room. I continued to gather my belongings.

Our village had a horse from when the white men first came to our land. He was abandoned on the battlefield once the fight was over. The village gathered around as they saw me prepare for departure.

-“What are you doing?” asked the chief of our village.

-“Sir, please excuse me, I am going to save our village.”

-“How are you going to do that?” he asked.

-“The commander dropped a book of vital information. I am going to sell it and buy our village.”

He nodded. “Be safe.”

The sun was rising as I was on my way to Dakar. The weather was dry and water was scarce. I stopped at a small lake to drink some water and continued on with my journey. It only took a day to travel to Dakar by horse. Two days by foot. I arrived right before dusk and was greeted by two white officers. They were wearing heavy uniforms, armed, and I only wore a tissue that covered my groin area.

-“I would like to buy some slaves.” I insisted. They laughed.

-“And how do you plan on doing that?”

-“I would like to speak with the commander.” I replied.

-“This man can’t be serious.” One of the officers said to the other.

-“I have something of great value that belongs to him. Tell him that I have his little black book.” I said.

A half of an hour passed and I was sitting near the horse thinking of Aminata. She was on the island of Gorée, where they brought the people of the native land to sell as slaves. Has she been sold yet? No, It hasn’t even been twenty four hours yet… But she is so worthy. The officers came and I stood up straight.

-“Come this way.”

I followed as they brought me on a boat. I thought of my mother and the advice she gave me before I left and all of the fear in my mind vanished as I focused on the love that I had in my heart. Do these officers feel this powerful sensation of love? They must because they are human. But how can they partake in something so inhuman? I never knew white humans existed until they came to steal our land and people. I have never seen another human being killed or mistreated. We have hunted for food, but we would never kill without consuming our kill. I was taught to never judge because only God can judge. But I cannot understand these actions and it is out of my control. The only control that I have is how much awareness I have of love.

We arrived on the island in the darkness. The atmosphere was weary and cold. I followed the officers to a building that was shaped like a boat. The commander’s home.

-“Wait here.” The officer insisted.

The commander walked in.

-“Brave man. You prove to me once again that your courage overcomes your fear. There are not many people who would have acted in your manner.”

-“I am here to buy my wife and the villagers you have stolen from me and my people.”

-“I understand. And where is your money?”

-“My money is in your hands. I believe that I have something, rather priceless, that belongs to you.”

-“How much do you want?” he asked.

-“Twenty thousand euros.” I said sternly.

-“Alright then.”

He reached into his pocket and grabbed a key. He then proceeded to walk over and unlock a metal case. Inside the case was thousands of euros. He divided the money and brought me my sum.

-“Here, brave man.” He handed the money over with a sarcastic smile.

I took the money and said “Now, I would like to buy some slaves. Where are the villagers you stole from my people?”

-“Follow me.”

We walked to another building that was being guarded by a soldier. We entered the house that smelled of body order and excrement. The smell was only a fraction of the horror that I witnessed. Men, women and children were seperated into tiny rooms. Hundreds of people were packed into small rooms that had little ventilation. Everybody was naked and connected to one another by chains on their hands and feet. There was no room to sit. Tears swelled my eyes as my throat got tight. I saw some familiar faces, but I did not see my wife.

-“How much is a person?”

-“10 euros.”

I bought approximately 500 of the native’s that were being held captive, fifty of them coming from my village but there was still no sign of my wife.

-“Where is my wife?” I asked the commander.

-“Your wife is a rare beauty. She was chosen by a white man to be used as his slave.

My heart stopped.

-“How much for my wife?”

-“Well I would have to speak with Mr.Thompson. Wait.”

I waited. My blood pressure dropped and I felt faint. He came back.

-“I have spoken with Mr. Thompson and he does not want to sell your wife. You will have to leave without her.”

This was not an option.

-“Let me speak with Mr. Thompson.”

I was escorted to Mr.Thompson’s home which was situated just on top of where the native’s were being held captive. I didn’t understand why a person would want to live on top of such a smell… Another thing I could not understand. They brought me to a room that looked off to the ocean. There was Aminata. She was fully clothed, clean, and beautiful. She bowed down to the officers and I as she greeted us in the home.

-“Mr.Thompson will be right with you.” She said in a proper manner.

My hands were wet and I felt nervous. Then I remembered what my mother said and suddenly love filled the room. Aminata looked at me, with a slight smile, and quickly looked away. A white man came in the room.

-“Hello.” he said.

-“Sir. Thank you for meeting with me.”

-“What brings you here?” The white man asked politely.

-“You have bought my wife.” I said and glanced at Aminata.

-“Oh.” he gasped. “This is your wife?”

-“Yes. Aminata. I have come to buy her back.”

He laughed. “Well I bought her for 50 euros.”

“I will buy her for 15,000 euros.” It was the remaining amount of money that I received from the little black book.

“That sounds interesting… But she is very beautiful. A rare beauty in my eyes.” The white man said.

“Listen, sir, I have traveled a long distance to save my wife. Last night, my village was bombarded by officers and they stole our people. We are human. We do not deserve to be treated as if we are animals. What I have seen downstairs is frightening and I do not understand how a human can only be worth 10 euros. Every human is priceless and to me, my wife is my life. I will not leave without her. If I must be treated as an animal to be in her presence, then that is what I will do.”

The white man was silent for what felt like a long time.

-“Alright, Mr...?”

-“Diallo. Abdou Karim Diallo.”

-“Yes, Mr. Diallo. I will sell you your wife for 15,000 euros. You must know, too, that all of this has spiralled out of control. It is not easy to sell human beings and separate them from their families, but the system does not care about hardship. The system cares about money, and we are all players of this system. We are being imposed to do this, but if it were up to me, it would all stop.”

I smiled for the first time in twenty four hours. I took the remaining 15,000 euros from my pouch and handed it to him. Aminata ran into my arms.

-“Let’s go.”

We left Gorée on a boat with the 50 villagers. When we arrived to Dakar Aminata and I jumped on the horse and the villagers, tired, followed us by foot. We arrived the next night. The people of the village were packing up our commodities, we were no longer safe in this place, they knew where to find us. The whole village ran towards us with joy as everybody was reunited with their loved ones. My mother came to Aminata and I.

-“Love always wins.” She said with a soft smile.

And she was right; love always wins.