"It is no accident that the places in the world where we see the most
instability are those in which the rights of women and girls are denied.
Isha Sesay's indispensable and gripping account of the brutal abduction
of Nigerian schoolgirls by Boko Haram terrorists provides a stark
reminder of the great unfinished business of the 21st century: equality
for girls and women around the world."-- Hillary Rodham Clinton
The first definitive account of the lost girls of Boko Haram and why
their story still matters--by celebrated international journalist Isha
Sesay.
In the early morning of April 14, 2014, the militant Islamic group Boko
Haram violently burst into the small town of Chibok, Nigeria, and
abducted 276 girls from their school dorm rooms. From poor families,
these girls were determined to make better lives for themselves, but
pursuing an education made them targets, resulting in one of the most
high-profile abductions in modern history. While the Chibok kidnapping
made international headlines, and prompted the #BringBackOurGirls
movement, many unanswered questions surrounding that fateful night
remain about the girls' experiences in captivity, and where many of them
are today.
In Beneath the Tamarind Tree, Isha Sesay tells this story as no one
else can. Originally from Sierra Leone, Sesay led CNN's Africa reporting
for more than a decade, and she was on the front lines when this story
broke. With unprecedented access to a group of girls who made it home,
she follows the journeys of Priscilla, Saa, and Dorcas in an uplifting
tale of sisterhood and survival.
Sesay delves into the Nigerian government's inadequate response to the
kidnapping, exposes the hierarchy of how the news gets covered, and
synthesizes crucial lessons about global national security. She also
reminds us of the personal sacrifice required of journalists to bring us
the truth at a time of growing mistrust of the media. Beneath the
Tamarind Tree is a gripping read and a story of resilience with a
soaring message of hope at its core, reminding us of the ever-present
truth that progress for all of us hinges on unleashing the potential of
women.
