Gabriel Souleyka

Gabriel Souleyka, a trained historian and passionate storyteller, has set himself the mission of filling a glaring gap in historical narratives: that of the struggles, figures and civilizations of Africa, the West Indies and the black diaspora. The notable absence of these narratives in educational programs encouraged him to embark on a cycle of in-depth research, driven by a relentless quest for historical truth. He knows that the denial of identity has been going on for centuries, that the contribution of the great black civilizations to humanity has been swept under the carpet.

In the course of his work, he exhumes the forgotten memories of queens, kings, warriors, artists, poets and poetesses whom official history has left in the shadows. Specializing in the study of the slave genocide, he works with implacable rigor to deconstruct preconceived ideas, correct truncated figures and reveal the accounting contradictions surrounding this human tragedy. He is a regular speaker at conferences, engaging in fruitful debates with other historians, always in search of a historical truth freed from the veils of denial and guilty silences.

His exploration also took him to the West Indies, where he discovered the statue of Solitude at its inauguration in Guadeloupe. This heroic figure, reduced to literary fiction, inspires him to cross the threshold of hidden knowledge to pay homage to an unknown but emblematic woman. Gabriel decided to bridge the gap between historical rigor and narrative power, addressing the general public through the novel.

His first book, Le Cri de l'Innocence, marked a turning point. It goes beyond denouncing historical falsification and recalling Napoleon's reintroduction of slavery. It does justice to those who sacrificed their lives for freedom, restoring their humanity and heroism with prose vibrant with truth and emotion. His main character, Solitude, gives way to Guadeloupe, resistance and the struggle for freedom, and restores humanity to the figure of the slave.

Driven by his motto - “Learning one's history is an act of resistance” - Gabriel Souleyka continues to flourish. With a prolific output of 9 books, titles such as Solitude : Chilhood (vol 1), Akoni Yoruba : My Soul is a Witness, and Solitude : Révolte, Toya Dahomey, Toya Haïti, Kamite unborn, The 30 black heroines, the shadow, insoumis, he has established himself as an essential voice, combining the depth of the historian with the soul of the novelist. His writings, imbued with authenticity and poetry, invite every reader to become a witness, guardian and actor of this living memory. Accompanied by Tioleja éditions, under the direction of Yasmina Fagbemi.