Ishmael Beah
Ishmael Beah
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Ishmael Beah is a Sierra Leonean author, former child soldier, and advocate for children's rights.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born: 1970 (exact date unknown)
Still alive as of the last available information
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Nationality: Sierra Leonean
Professions:
Author
Former child soldier
* Advocate for children's rights
Early Life and Background
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Ishmael Beah was born in 1970, in the city of Makeni, Sierra Leone. His family was part of the Mende ethnic group, which is one of the largest groups in Sierra Leone. When Ishmael was just 5 years old, his parents sent him to live with relatives in a different village due to concerns about his safety amidst the growing conflict. This decision would ultimately lead to his separation from his family.
Major Accomplishments
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Ishmael Beah's life took a dramatic turn when he became one of thousands of children forcibly recruited into the Sierra Leone Civil War. He survived this brutal experience and, upon being rescued in 1996 at the age of 13, was sent to a rehabilitation center for former child soldiers.
Notable Works or Actions
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Beah's experiences during the civil war are immortalized in his memoir "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier," published in 2007. This book provides a deeply personal and powerful account of his time as a child soldier, including the brutal treatments he endured at the hands of rebel forces.
Impact and Legacy
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Beah's story has not only shed light on the atrocities committed during the Sierra Leone Civil War but also raised awareness about the plight of children affected by war. His advocacy for children's rights and his efforts to support former child soldiers have made him an international figure in the fight against child soldiers.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Ishmael Beah is widely quoted and remembered for his courage in sharing his story, which has inspired countless individuals worldwide. His advocacy work continues to bring attention to the issue of child soldiers, inspiring others to join the fight against this injustice.
His memoir "A Long Way Gone" won several awards, including the 2008 Best Nonfiction Book Award from Barnes & Noble and the Booksense 76 Pick for Spring 2007. Beah's work serves as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable horrors and has made him one of the most recognized figures in the fight against child soldiers.
Beah continues to advocate for children's rights, speaking at numerous events around the world. His story is a powerful reminder of the importance of standing up against injustice and fighting for those who have been silenced by conflict.
Quotes by Ishmael Beah
Ishmael Beah's insights on:
We all find joy and radiance and a reason to move on even in the most dire of circumstances. Even in chaos and madness, there's still a beauty that comes from just the vibrancy of another human spirit.
Most of the staff members were like that; they returned smiling after we hurt them. It was as if they had made a pact not to give up on us.
There’s a saying in the oral tradition of storytelling that when you tell a story, when you give out a story, it is no longer yours; it belongs to everyone who encounters it and everyone who takes it in.
The only thing that consoled him, for a few seconds at least, was when the woman who had embraced him, and now cried with him, told him that at least he would have the chance to bury them. He would always know where they were laid to rest, she said. She seemed to know a little more about war than the rest of us.
It isn’t about knowing the most stories, child. It is about carrying the ones that are most important and passing them along.
This wasn’t a place for illusions; the reality here was the genuine happiness that came about from the natural magic of standing next to someone and being consumed by the fortitude in his or her humanity.
The day seemed oddly normal. The sun peacefully sailed through the white clouds, birds sang from treetops, the trees danced to the quiet wind.
Every time people come at us with the intention of killing us, I close my eyes and wait for death. Even thought I am still alive, I feel like each time I accept death, part of me dies. Very soon I will completely die and all that will be left is my empty body walking with you. It will be quieter than I am.
I was glad to see other faces and at the same time disappointed that the war had destroyed the enjoyment of the very experience of meeting people.