Black Gold of the Sun - by Ekow Eshun (Paperback)

About the Book

At the age of 33, Ekow Eshun--born in London to African-born parents--embarks for Ghana in search of his roots. He uncovers a long-held secret about his lineage that will compel him to question everything he knows about himself and about where he comes from.

Book Synopsis

At the age of thirty-three, Ekow Eshun--born in London to African-born parents--travels to Ghana in search of his roots. He goes from Accra, Ghana's cosmopolitan capital city, to the storied slave forts of Elmina, and on to the historic warrior kingdom of Asante. During his journey, Eshun uncovers a long-held secret about his lineage that will compel him to question everything he knows about himself and where he comes from. From the London suburbs of his childhood to the twenty-first century African metropolis, Eshun's is a moving chronicle of one man's search for home, and of the pleasures and pitfalls of fashioning an identity in these vibrant contemporary worlds.

Review Quotes

"A life-affirming memoir about belonging, identity, and hope." --Ebony"An impressive debut. . .An unusual memoir in which the personal and the political are entwined with great skill." --The Times (London)"Leavened with insight, self-awareness, and flashes of humor . . .Eshun is a skilled wordsmith." --Christian Science Monitor "Refreshing. . .Eshun's writing is fluid and self-assured. . .his wistfulness and wry sense of humor add to the book's charm. . .an engaging and eye-opening account of one man's journey toward self-discovery." --Black Issues Book Review

About the Author

Ekow Eshun is a former editor of the British men's magazine Arena and is now artistic director of the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London, where he lives. This is his first book.