MISTAKEN AGAIN
Sierra Leone 1993.
Who was involved?: Ishmael, Alhaji, Musa, Kenai, Saidu, Jumah, the fisher.
When did the event happen?: September 1993.
Where did the event happen?: In a village located beside the shore of the Atlantic Ocean.
What happened?: Everyone thought the 6 boys were, in fact, rebels and felt threatened by them. They had to hide in a hospitable fisherman’s hut. However, they were captured and taken to the village’s chief. Ishmael is worried no one will be able to recognize him and confirm his innocence since he’s now far away from his hometown, his journey is a long way gone. Finally the chief decides to let them go thanks to the rap cassette in Ishmael’s pocket.
Why did it happen?: This happened because young boys were usually recruited by the rebels and used to fight for them. And so, Ishmael and his friends were not trusted and mistaken by rebels making people feel the need to protect themselves. As well, nobody around knew them so it was difficult for them to prove they were actually not what everyone thought.
FOURTH MOST IMPORTANT CHAPTER
This event was ranked by us as the fourth most important since it is where the title of the novel is clearly explained, what gives the reader a better understanding of the story, its meaning and the impact it had on the main character’s life. Ishmael states he journey is a long way gone, meaning he’s not familiar to the place he finds himself in now nor the people that surrounds him, what makes his situation even more complicated and dangerous for his well being in every sense.