Tania Tinoco collects the story of the ‘new Mandela’ in her recent book

For Habid, the happiest day of his life was when he was given a document with his name on it. “That piece of paper proved that she existed”, emphasizes Tania tinoco, who at that time looked back at his own life and reality to understand that, in places like Mauritania, identity is more than just a role: it is a privilege of life.

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The social communicator will present her book this afternoon Biram Dah Abeid and the pact of rebirth and discussion, an authorized biography of this Mauritanian politician, who is known as the “Mandela of Mauritania” for his fight against slavery, impunity and injustice, which has led him many times to be imprisoned.

This cause for human rights has allowed him to be worthy of numerous awards, such as the UN International Award, in 2013; or the recognition of the magazine Time, in 2017, as one of the 100 most important personalities in the world.

The book begins with the origin of this African leader, whose exact birthday is unknown, and who at the age of 12 made a promise of life to his father: save his people from slavery through education. “At the age of 12, he saw how his father suffered, because they sold his first wife and his two brothers on the mother’s side. One of the last actions this man did, who at least drew attention within his own country, is to prevent two girls from being given as a wedding gift “, says the communicator.

He says that the idea of ​​writing the history of this Mauritanian politician, who fights for the freedom of his people, arises from a conversation he had with his friend Antonio Sola, Spanish strategist. “I know the story of this man who is the son of slaves, and how he has experienced firsthand what it means to be the son of slaves in a country like Mauritania, where 20% of the population lives in a system of slavery. I am intrigued by what is happening in the world today, and I am going to Mauritania “, says the journalist, who landed on the spot to do a report that finally ended up being the book she is talking about today.

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That is why, when asked how an Ecuadorian journalist is telling the story of an African, she responds: “Why not? There are causes that go beyond geography”.

In 1981 Mauritania abolished slavery, but it was not until 2005 that all the necessary laws were implemented to stop one man from owning property over another. “To arrive in Mauritania is to discover a fourth world, which the western world does not want to see, or the developed world does not want to see”.

At the scene, he interviewed approximately 20 people, he says. Among them, ex-slaves and ex-slaves who with their testimonies testify to how they grew up invaded by the absence of rights. Upon his return, it took him about five months to finish the book.

“These lines of this book serve to make someone wonder about what they are doing in front of others, wonder about how grateful they should be living in a society where basic human rights are respected”, dice.

Talk about the lack of mercy

Through this work, Tinoco seeks to be a voice that speaks aloud about the world that sometimes we do not want to see. “A world where human rights – which we all believe are given, understood, like the right to identity – in certain places (…) are a privilege”, He points out.

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“This book is a cry to indifference, to the lack of mercy in this world. But that is not only for Mauritania, but for us. Sometimes we raise walls, not only to protect ourselves due to insecurity, but to avoid seeing what is happening, beyond what our eyes can see “, Add.

For the communicator, many of those walls can be seen reflected in Ecuador. “In our country, there are things that we don’t want to see. We lack mercy, as Alberto Borges used to say; We lack philosophy, Saramago said … A little sensitivity, mercy “, dice.

Being before a community, such as the African, with a thirst for justice, equity and human rights made her think about the conditions in her country. “When I returned from Mauritania, I arrived with many reflections, and one of them is thinking about how blessed we are, how grateful we should be; and unfortunately what we see in Ecuador is a society that complains, that remains in regret, and they want to get everything done, unfortunately “.

Tinoco maintains that the book, published by the Spanish foundation Lead with Common Sense (directed by Sola), has no profit motive, all proceeds will go to the cause of Biram Dah Abeid. its presentation will be this Tuesday at 4:00 p.m., in the river station of the Historical Park (next to Casa Julián). Solo will participate, Susana gonzalez and Tinoco. The moderator will be Gabriela Galvez. (I)