Freedom Braids

Monique Duncan author Oboh Moses illustrator

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Lantana Publishing

Published:3rd Oct '24

Should be back in stock very soon

Freedom Braids cover

A work of historical fiction inspired by enslaved African women in Colombia who braided maps and seeds into their hair.

In the sugarcane plantations, Nemy stumbles upon a group of women braiding each other’s hair. Will the paths these courageous women weave guide Nemy to a new home where she can be free?

Day after day, Nemy is forced to sow seeds in the sugarcane plantation, until one night, she follows a woman called Big Mother to a hidden shack. There, she finds a group of women braiding each other’s hair. But these are no ordinary braids. Hidden in each elaborate pattern is a secret – a message that signals their intent to flee and a map to guide them in their escape. Will the paths these courageous women weave guide Nemy to a new home where she can be free?

A picture book of love, liberation and legacy inspired by the true story of enslaved African women in Colombia braiding maps to freedom.

“A captivating tale of struggle, female empowerment, and redemption that will leave you awestruck” – Leo Boix, poet and author


Freedom Braids pays loving homage to an imagined child’s journey, embodying the experiences of countless people who endured the horrors of the Translantic Slave Trade, and honouring traditions forged in community.” —Uma Krishnaswami, author of Threads of Peace: How Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. Changed the World


"A poignant tale of courage and resistance and of long-standing cultural traditions. Quietly tinged with hope, Duncan's narrative demonstrates how those in bondage used skills passed down over generations to find the liberty they desired. Moses’ digitally rendered art depicts intricate braid patterns; his dramatic use of color during the escape scene heightens the drama, bathing characters in deep blues as they make their way to freedom." – Kirkus Reviews


“A show-stopper of a picture book. The combination of a fantastic storyline, based on historical facts, and wonderful illustrations has created a book that simply has to be read. Put simply, this book should be in every school library!” - Spy Readers


“As picture books go this is a stunning book to behold. An absolute must for Black History Month and for all year round. This book is essential for Primary Schools and Children’s sections in public libraries, and parents looking to share Black history with young readers.” – The Kids Book Curator


"Nemy’s story leaves us to consider what a miracle it is that a body can grow the strands of her own survival, and what ingenuity it takes to comb and style a path to freedom." – The New York Times

ISBN: 9781915244802

Dimensions: 260mm x 260mm x 9mm

Weight: 300g

32 pages