Buried Beneath the Baobab Tree

Content Warning: This section contains descriptions of sexual assault, gore, violence, war, and slavery.

Names are directly tied to identity, and they are an important motif that represents The Effects of Abuse and Subjugation on Women and Girls, as well as Gratitude in the Face of Adversity. Ya Ta’s real name is never given; calling her “My Daughter” underscores that she is a symbol of many girls who were taken by Boko Haram and represents the compilation of all of their stories. Her best friend, Sarah, has a Christian name, and since both girls are Christian, it can be possible that Ya Ta has a Christian name, too. Both girls are forced to change their names at the camp, representing their forced conversion to Islam. Aisha already has a Muslim name, but this does not save her. The changing of names is Boko Haram’s effort to erase the girls’ previous identities and convert them to a new ideology. Ya Ta’s new name, Salamatu, means “safety,” but though she accepts it, she cannot really think of herself as Salamatu. She is lashed for using Sarah’s real name and forced to call her Zainab.