The Tale of The Magic Okra Seeds

Two hundred years ago.  The West Coast of Africa.

“Shamu, tell us a story,” the children pleaded.  Black velvet would envy their skin—these children who loved Shamu who loved them and told them stories.  Shamu’s face usually brightened whenever the children crowded around him. But today Shamu’s face pained with worry.

“Where is Yusef?” he asked though he knew the boy was gone.  The children looked at one another.  No one knew. “Shamu, please!” Sela insisted, growing impatient. Sela was a beautiful dew drop of a princess child, daughter of the king and queen.  “Let us not wait any longer for Yusef!  I will tell him your story!” she demanded.  Shamu feared that could not be.  He knew in his heart Yusef was gone, sold to pale men who had come by water.

“Listen, children,” Shamu began.  “Fesuy was an obedient little boy who loved the water.  Every morning after he finished his work, Fesuy ran to the water.  On rest days, Shamu would find Fesuy at the water earlier than he found the sun.  Fesuy was eleven years old and he was careful not to lose his way back home when he ventured to take a different path to the water.  For Fesuy loved the okra, too, and he would drop okra stalks on the ground to mark an unfamiliar path to the shore.  From the water, Fesuy followed the okra stalks to find his way home.

“One morning as he was leaving the water, Fesuy was snatched three steps into his walk back home.  He was bound up, then taken to a cavern where he was held with other captives before he was put on a huge merchant ship days later.  Fesuy was awfully frightened, but he knew how to pray.  After he was stolen, there was never a time he didn’t have a prayer in his heart.

“Fesuy was taken aboard the ship.  Although his hands were bound, he managed to use his  fingers to reach into the fold of the cloth around his waist.  Fesuy removed one okra stalk and one okra seed and dropped both into the ocean.  The okra stalk was to mark his way back home and the okra seed was for the hope that Fesuy hoped would grow inside of him....”

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This is an unforgettable story of the African Diaspora. The author draws upon her childhood memories as well as her musings about her heritage and ancestry. The book is a family heirloom; the author dedicates the story to her family. 

The book includes an essay on the propagation of okra  from Africa throughout the world, discussion questions, and a tribute to acknowledge persons who have influenced the author.  This makes a wonderful gift---for a birthday, rites of passage, Christmas, Kwanzaa--or just because!