To Whom Much Is Given: An Urban Tale About Triumph over Tumult, Turmoil, and Tragedy

About the Book

The novel delves deep into African American historical roots in the Southern United States and correlates that experience with Nigeria’s own distinctive tribal connectedness. In the story, the Ames family experienced racial injustice, tension, tragedy, and embarrassment. They struggled with economic freedom, infidelity, and love. But in the end, that family continued to grow and prosper. When granddaughter Sonora Francine Ames Zaid appeared in the story, she is thrust between maintaining and developing Native American and African American traditions and heritage, which she adopted from her mother and grandmother to reinforce, protect, and reestablish the sanctity of her Yoruba and Hausa tribal connections. Before long, Sonora learns that her different ethnic and cultural differences are bonded through one important and special connection—spiritual guidance by God. Through the biblical teachings, reminders, and reinforcements from Sonora’s African American or Native American grandmother, Jasmine, and her Nigerian grandmother Damilala, she learns to keep the promises laid by her murdered mother and father to acquire an education, to take social and judicial responsibility for the improvement and enhancement of human life, and to use money as a benefit to all according to biblical practice, not for selfish gain or greed.

About the Author

Cazembe Aruwali aka Donté Wylie was born in Baltimore, MD in 1972 to Pauline Wylie, who is now deceased. Donté graduated from Baltimore City College Senior High in 1992. He went on to attend Coppin State College (Coppin State University) where he acquired a Bachelor of Science in History and a Master’s of Science in Criminal Justice. In 2016, Donté acquired a Master’s of Education in Special Education from Loyola University. Donté went on to pursue a career in education and tutoring. But, he never stopped writing. He published his first book, Legal Tender (2010) and his second book, The Sable Quill (2014). He is currently working on getting these stories that he has written published: The Buffet, The Curse of the Raspberry Nightshade, The Legend of Ntashabe: Warrior Queen of Pa-Nehisi, The Age of the Safiyad Sultanate 1899-1972: The Era of Buffalo Corn, and Money Answereth All Things. Donté used to work as the Community Resource Connections Program Manager, a position that provides the services, programs, and resources for youths and young adults aged 13 – 26. Currently, Donté is the Special Education, Self-Contained Math Teacher at Sudbrook Magnet Middle School.