The Hundred Wells of Salaga by Ayesha Haruna Attah

Slavery, kingship, courage, patriarchy, domestic violence, education, and love were some of the themes covered in this novel. This body of work displays Ayesha’s rich knowledge and storytelling, and subtle humor.

The role of women in the liberation and freedom of Ghana cannot be undermined in any way.

Great women fought for us! History taught us how fearless these women were. Many other women fought the good fight too, and these are the women whose names we know not off, the ones who suffered and died in slavery and oppression, the ones who were not royals, hence do not have their names recorded in history.

The hundred wells of Salaga by Ayesha Haruna Attah tells the story of two young women: a confident royal and a daydreaming commoner. Their lives intersect as they fight for freedom and liberation in their own separate ways.

15-year old Amina, a daydreamer, lives in a small village called Botu with her parents and her family. Amina lives in her imaginations, literally and often losing touch with reality. For a while, she had heard her people murmur about horsemen attacking villages and taking away inhabitants and enslaving them. This soon became a reality when horsemen attacked the village of Botu and kidnapped her and some others into slavery.

Miles and miles away from Amina’s village, Wurche, the only daughter of one of the lesser chiefs of Kpembe, is fighting for a seat in her father’s court, while she is tasked to marry a Dagbon prince to strengthen their ally, all for her father to gain ownership of the throne(Salaga)

Salaga is a bustling town where everything is sold, including humans. Salaga can be described as the hub of slavery. The British, Germans, Ashantis, Dagbons, Gonjas all wanted to control Salaga because whoever has Salaga has power!

Slavery, kingship, courage, patriarchy, domestic violence, education, and love were some of the themes covered in this novel.

This body of work displays Ayesha’s rich knowledge and storytelling, and subtle humor.