SHANICE HERCULES
Stuart W Ramon-Fortuné, business consultant, entrepreneur and podcast host, describes himself as an "activist author." His first book, From Ibadan to Hell Yard, is driven by his mission to educate readers about national history.
From Ibadan to Hell Yard is a novella that explores the complex history of Trinidad and Tobago, spanning from the 1800s-1962. The narrative follows the protagonists John, Sally, Jackson and Jacob, and traces the nation’s journey from slavery and colonial rule to emancipation and independence.
It features pivotal aspects of TT’s diverse culture such as African traditions, the Canboulay Riots, Carnival, and the birth of the pan –"Hell Yard" being an old name for the All Stars steel orchestra.
Though he comes from a business background, writing has become a newfound passion for Ramon-Fortuné, going beyond a desire for profit: he has a mission to promote historical awareness through literature.
“I’m an activist author, meaning that it’s not necessarily about the number of units you sell, it’s more about the message getting out there. So in addition to selling the book, I would actually try to go out there and go to schools, and speak to students and get the message out there and teach people about their history…It’s about actively trying to improve a situation through your writing.”
[caption id="attachment_1092266" align="alignnone" width="1024"] First-time author Stuart W. Ramon-Fortuné. - Photo by Faith Ayoung - Faith Ayoung[/caption]
Ramon-Fortuné’s inspiration for the book came during the 2020 lockdown, amidst the covid19 pandemic. Seeking entertainment, he found himself engrossed in television series such as Netflix’s Vikings, an epic based on Norse mythology.
This sparked his curiosity: what would a local version of history and mythology look like?
“Everyone was putting out stuff (shows) about their history, and I always wondered why could Trinidad never have nice things, so I was like, what would (the) Trinidad version look like? And that is what led me to do the research.”
Driven by intense curiosity, Ramon-Fortuné’s research into local history soon became more than a personal pursuit of knowledge. As he shared his discoveries with family and friends, he was struck by how little they knew about their own history. This motivated him to delve deeper, ultimately leading to his book.
“When I did the research, I didn’t really have any intention of writing the book, but...I started to have conversations with friends, and nobody seemed to know the story.”
Rather than repeatedly sharing what he had learnt in conversations, Ramon-Fortuné decided a book would be the most convenient and helpful way to share his newfound knowledge. That way, he could reach not just his inner circle, but a wider audience.
“It’s a lot to go to one person one by one telling the story, so eventually I decided, ‘Let me write a book,’ so everybody could get the story and it’s not just me telling the story over and over (in conversations).”
He describes the two-year process o
