Slave My True Story

by Nazer, Mende; Lewis, Damien

• ISBN13: 9781586483180
• ISBN10: 1586483188
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-04-27
• Publisher: PublicAffairs

Summary

Mende Nazer lost her childhood at age twelve, when she was sold into slavery. It all began one horrific night in 1993, when Arab raiders swept through her Nuba village, murdering the adults and rounding up thirty-one children, including Mende. Mende was sold to a wealthy Arab family who lived in Sudan's capital city, Khartoum. So began her dark years of enslavement. Her Arab owners called her "Yebit," or "black slave." She called them "master." She was subjected to appalling physical, sexual, and mental abuse. She slept in a shed and ate the family leftovers like a dog. She had no rights, no freedom, and no life of her own. Normally, Mende's story never would have come to light. But seven years after she was seized and sold into slavery, she was sent to work for another mastera diplomat working in the United Kingdom. In London, she managed to make contact with other Sudanese, who took pity on her. In September 2000, she made a dramatic break for freedom. Slaveis a story almost beyond belief. It depicts the strength and dignity of the Nuba tribe. It recounts the savage way in which the Nuba and their ancient culture are being destroyed by a secret modern-day trade in slaves. Most of all, it is a remarkable testimony to one young woman's unbreakable spirit and tremendous courage.

Author Biography

Mende Nazer is approximately twenty-three years old (the Nuba keep no record of birth dates). She was granted political asylum by the British government in 2003. She currently lives in London.

Damien Lewis is a British journalist who has reported widely from Sudan and helped Mende escape. He lives in Dublin, Ireland.

Table of Contents

Prologue	1	(8)
PART ONE MY CHILDHOOD WITH THE NUBA
1 My Home	9	(17)
2 Ba and Me	26	(13)
3 A Family Wedding	39	(8)
4 The Arab School	47	(6)
5 Of Snakes and Spirits	53	(9)
6 TheWrestling Time	62	(16)
7 The Cutting Time	78	(6)
8 My Dream	84	(9)
PART TWO INTO SLAVERY
9 Allahu Akhbar!	93	(8)
10 The Dark Forest	101	(9)
11 To Khartoum	110	(8)
12 The Slave Traders	118	(12)
13 Sold	130	(7)
14 Master Rahab	137	(14)
15 No Escape	151	(7)
16 Blood Rites	158	(5)
17 Death Threats	163	(7)
18 Identity Crisis	170	(10)
19 Hospital Horrors	180	(12)
20 Revenge	192	(4)
21 Rescue Me	196	(6)
22 Of Slavery and Chastity	202	(8)
23 London Bound?	210	(4)
24 They're Alive!	214	(5)
25 New Millennium, New Slave	219	(10)
PART THREE JOURNEY TO FREEDOM
26 Telling Lies	229	(8)
27 Nanu's Story	237	(10)
28 Fear of Flying	247	(11)
29 False Hopes	258	(21)
30 Death Wish	279	(9)
31 Salvation	288	(23)
PART FOUR TRULY FREE?
32 Fear of Freedom	311	(8)
33 Desperately Seeking Asylum	319	(10)
34 Sanctuary	329	(8)
A Note from Damien Lewis	337	(10)
Acknowledgments	347