‘Activist author’ blends history with fiction in From Ibadan to Hell Yard

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 Trinidad and Tobago’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.”

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 of writing the book as filled with “heartbreaks and joy.”

Ramon-Fortuné credits his postgraduate studies with preparing him for the lengthy research process he undertook. With such ambitious subject matter, it was imperative to keep as much historical accuracy as possible while telling a compelling story.

“I had to be as real as possible. I had to tell it properly.”

He consulted several sources, including the Pan Trinbago archives, the works of local historians such Dr Kim Johnson, video interviews with respected people in the pan arena, and historical documentaries about the African peoples and their historical links to the Caribbean. Ibadan, for instance, a city in Nigeria, was part of the Yoruba Oyo Empire, which he learnt about during his research and which helped inspire the book's title.

“The information – at least luckily for my story – was out there...Their stories are out there. You just have to read it and learn.”

He says writing this book was one of the biggest challenges of his life. Although his grandfather, Barnabas J Ramon-Fortuné, was a writer, Ramon-Fortuné never saw himself as an author.

Ever the businessman, he applied his training and acumen to the literary world. In the early stages of writing, he enlisted the help of his cousin, a schoolteacher, as his proofreader. He also conducted extensive research into the publishing industry and assembled a team, including his editor, Zahra Gordon, to support his ambitious project and credits much of his success to their efforts.

“I look at the book as a business product, right? The same things that I would normally advise people to do for their business, I did it for myself – put together your team, find out what the industry is like, find out everything and then put together my product.”

Along the way, Ramon-Fortuné came across the Tobago Writer's Guild, which is dedicated to supporting and promoting Caribbean literature. He joined it and is now its marketing director. This role has allowed him, as a first-time author, to gain an inside perspective on the book industry, connect with other writers, and give back by sharing his business and marketing expertise.

“In this world it’s all about game theory. It’s not about you winning and everybody else losing – everybody has to win. So you have to bring value and get value back in return.”

Fortuné published From Ibadan to Hell Yard in 2023. He recalls spending countless hours from St Augustine across the country like a travelling salesman to promote and sell his book, leveraging his background as a business consultant and entrepreneur.

“Remember, this is my first book, right? So nobody knows about me. So I had to build these relationships and go to the people. It’s an investment I have to make as an author...I have to run down people and make it happen...you have to make an investment in it.”

Ramon-Fortuné’s “investment” has yielded returns. He was a featured author at the NGC Bocas Lit Fest’s New Voices showcase in April and received recognition through the National Library and Information System Authority's (Nalis) annual First Time Authors Appreciation (FTA) programme in May. Additionally, he's engaged with foreign ambassadors, presenting them with his book and sharing its historical insights, visited schools and taken part in local cultural events.

“It definitely has been a whirlwind where people (are) recognising me as an author. Never thought that was in my future (or) in any part of my life...People think victories (are) these huge things, but I’m taking every small victory because that’s what keeps you motivated with the process.”

A standout personal achievement for him was having the book formally added to the library of the President's residence. Of that honour he said: “That was a shock, a welcome surprise. When that happened – it might sound morbid – but I was like, ‘All right, I could dead now. I would live on. At least I’ll be remembered because my book is there in perpetuity. I left back something that will last.'”

Ramon-Fortuné advises aspiring writers: “Just start. You will never get to the end unless you start.” He added that they should be patient, with themselves and the material; enlist the help of professionals, and do their due research into the industry and their book's target market.

On what he hopes readers will take away from his book, he says, “At the end of the story you’re supposed to have a better idea of yourself...I want people to understand who they are, their journey, and really make better decisions moving forward.”

From Ibadan to Hell Yard is available at local bookstores RIK, Paper Based, Metropolitan Book Suppliers, Charran's Bookstore, the Blue Edition, and at New Beacon Books (London, UK) and via Amazon.