Who is Ishmael Beah from A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier and what is their importance?

Ishmael Beah is the author of this book, although his author's name was Ishmalel. Throughout the book he called himself Ishmael when mentioning his name. He wrote this book when he was older, living in New York City. Ishmael first learned about war when he was 10. He faced it personally when he was 12. A lover of hip-hop, Ishmael, his brother, and his friends formed a performing group and competed. He loved the music so much that he kept a cassette with him as he escaped from rebels and ran for his life. Ishmael was a troublesome child who radiated happiness when he was young. He didn't like being alone, and he also didn't like living in fear. Out of fear for his life, he became a boy soldier. Thanks to drugs he was given and a thirst for revenge, he became a remorseless killer until he was rehabilitated and repatriated by UNICEF. After this experience he became a spokesperson for children in Sierra Leone, traveling to speak at the United Nations about the children's plight.