Akoni

In 1770, in the Benin village of Dabeya, Akoni, a mischievous 12-year-old boy, is preparing to undergo a rite of passage that will make him a man. His father Djibali is the King of the region, watching over his son and his people. But fate is about to take a turn for the worse, as slavers approach the village. Akoni will have to grow up faster than expected.

Gabriel Souleyka trained as a historian, and faced with the lack of credible accounts of the history of Africa, the West Indies and black culture, he set about writing his first books. With an eye for detail, he chose figures no one was talking about, unveiling his first novel, "Le Cri de l'innocence". On the strength of this success, he continues to publish novels of the same high quality, shedding light on a story that is not told.