Robinja

Slave is the harrowing autobiographical story of Mende Nazer, a Nuba girl in Sudan whose happy childhood was cut short at the age of 12 when the mujahideen attacked her village. Kidnapped and sold to a wealthy Arab family in Khartoum, Mende endured seven years of physical and psychological abuse as a slave, working without pay and under constant threats. She describes in detail life in the Nuba Mountains, the traditions of the Karko tribe, and the cruelties of slavery, including the prohibition of using her native language and contact with her family. After seven years, Mende was sent to London as a maid for a Sudanese diplomat. Although she initially seemed to be treated better, she remained a slave, sleeping in an unheated storeroom. With the help of her compatriots, she escaped in 2000 and sought asylum. Her fight for freedom attracted public attention, including from organizations such as Anti-Slavery International, and she was granted asylum in the UK in 2002. The book, steeped in oral tradition, testifies to the indestructible power of the human spirit and sheds light on modern slavery. Today, Mende advocates for the abolition of slavery and dreams of a career as a doctor.