Olaudah Equiano

 

Known as Gustavus Vassa until his autobiography was published - "The Interesting Narrative Of The Life Of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, The African." 

According to his book, Equiano was son to an ancient Benin kingdom Chief in south Nigeria. Equiano was kidnapped with his sister and traded as slaves of the 18th century. 

Equiano was brought into the British West Indies before been sold to a Royal navy officer who renamed him Gustavus Vassa. Before this he had been given various names on transport but Gustavus stuck. Olaudah Equiano was his name from his birthplace but Gustavus became his official name.

Through his master (navy officer) he was trained to work on a ship, became literate in Britain and converted into Christianity.

Equiano was sold twice more and brought back to the Caribbean where he worked and bought his freedom. He left for Britain because of his experience seeing freedmen captured back into slavery in the Caribbean, he knew he could only live as a Freeman in Britain where abolishment against slavery has already started.

Equiano became more vocal in his actions towards slavery when he published his autobiography after the American revolutionary war - the war was about erasing slavery.

Olaudah was married to an English woman and had two daughters. He worked with others in the establishment of Freetown, Sierra Leone where freed slaves were returned after the war but left because of financial mismanagement.

Equiano left behind the legacy of his autobiography which was a tourchlight into the horrors of slavery. He also made the point known that humans who made others slaves were not inhumane but they had a misunderstanding of humanity, treating all races as humans. His recurring theme of forgiveness blended well with the frustations and bitterness he experienced as a slave.