HAPPY BIRTHDAY OLAUDAH EQUIANO

The birthday of a  prominent African free slave that supported British movement to end slave trade.

Olaudah Equiano was born on the 16th of October 1745 and died 31st March 1797. During his lifetime  he was know as Guatavus Vassa. Vassa was a prominent African in London, a freed slave that supported British movement to end slave trade.  In 1789, his autobiography was published and it helped in the creation of the slave trade Act 1807 which ended the African trade for Britain and its colonies.

Olaudah was part of an abolitionist group called sons of Africa, it is a that consists of prominent Africans living in Britain and he was among the active leaders of anti-slave movement in the 1780s.

His autobiography; The interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano (1789), it had nine edition and helped abolished the African slave trade.

Olaudah had a stressful life as a free man. Before he became a protestant Christian and found peace in his faith, he had suffered suicidal thoughts. He married a British woman and had two daughters. He died in 1979 in London and his death was recognised in Britain and American newspapers.

Since the late 20th century, when his autobiography was published in a new edition, he has been increasingly studied by a range of scholars, including many from his supposed homeland of Nigeria.

 

 

 

 

Leave a Comment