Title: Beneath the Baobab Tree.
In the vibrant town of Ifẹ́, Nigeria, 13-year-old Kemi spends her days listening to her grandfather’s stories beneath the ancient baobab tree. Her favorite tales are of the great Yoruba warriors, wise queens, and enslaved Africans who carried the strength of their roots across oceans. What she doesn't know is that her own bloodline traces back to one of the most resilient women in the African diaspora . Aminata Oke, a Yoruba priestess taken during the transatlantic slave trade.
As Kemi stumbles upon her great grandmother’s worn journal hidden in the walls of her grandfather’s house, she’s thrust into a world of memory and survival. The journal, written in a mixture of Yoruba and English, chronicles Aminata’s capture, her time on the slave ships, and her quiet rebellion in the American South where she kept her heritage alive through stories, drumming, and dance.
Kemi becomes obsessed with uncovering her family's past. Her journey takes her from Nigeria to the Gullah Islands of South Carolina, where descendants of enslaved Africans have preserved elements of Yoruba culture. Through the power of storytelling, Kemi connects with other youth of African descent, and together they form the Baobab Circle a community dedicated to reclaiming African roots and honoring the unbroken spirit of the Black diaspora.
In the vibrant town of Ifẹ́, Nigeria, 13-year-old Kemi spends her days listening to her grandfather’s stories beneath the ancient baobab tree. Her favorite tales are of the great Yoruba warriors, wise queens, and enslaved Africans who carried the strength of their roots across oceans. What she doesn't know is that her own bloodline traces back to one of the most resilient women in the African diaspora . Aminata Oke, a Yoruba priestess taken during the transatlantic slave trade.
As Kemi stumbles upon her great grandmother’s worn journal hidden in the walls of her grandfather’s house, she’s thrust into a world of memory and survival. The journal, written in a mixture of Yoruba and English, chronicles Aminata’s capture, her time on the slave ships, and her quiet rebellion in the American South where she kept her heritage alive through stories, drumming, and dance.
Kemi becomes obsessed with uncovering her family's past. Her journey takes her from Nigeria to the Gullah Islands of South Carolina, where descendants of enslaved Africans have preserved elements of Yoruba culture. Through the power of storytelling, Kemi connects with other youth of African descent, and together they form the Baobab Circle a community dedicated to reclaiming African roots and honoring the unbroken spirit of the Black diaspora.
