Olaudah Equiano

Olaudah Equiano: The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano (1789)

Equiano's autobiography opens in his home country of Eboe, now modern Nigeria. He describes the customs of the country he grew up in. For example, his community was ruled by a group of wise elders, one of whom was his father. They made decisions on behalf of the group. Equiano's culture also worshipped their own god and valued art and music highly. He describes his home in such detail to educate his readers. Equiano uses his autobiography to expose the horrors of slavery and argue against its continuing. Many white people at this time believed that Africans were inherently inferior and, therefore, the trading of enslaved persons was acceptable. Equiano's description of Eboe shows that Africans are not inferior but merely different.

When Equiano is eleven, both he and his sister are kidnapped from their home and forced into slavery. They are separated and never see each other again. At first, Equiano is enslaved in various parts of Africa but is eventually put on a ship going to Barbados in the Caribbean. This is Equiano's first experience of the international slave trade. He speaks no English and is unable to communicate with the white enslavers onboard. Equiano finds himself terrified of these people and the cruelty they inflict on him and the other enslaved people.

A significant portion of Equiano's autobiography details his experiences as an enslaved person. He is first put to work on a plantation in the American state of Virginia but is soon bought by Michael Henry Pascal, a naval officer who wishes to make Equiano a part of his crew. Pascal refers to Equiano as Gustaulas Vassa as very few enslaved people were permitted to go by their real name.

Equiano then spends many years between England, where Pascal is from, and on various voyages with Pascal's crew. Equiano grows to understand both the English language and culture, becoming more comfortable in the country. Relatives of Pascal's also help him become educated and baptised into Christianity. As part of Pascal's crew, Equiano fights in the Seven Years War (1756-1763). He hopes that his bravery in battle will convince Pascal to give him his freedom. Instead, Pascal steals Equiano's money and sells him to another enslaver.

Equiano eventually ends up enslaved by a man who runs trade voyages in the West Indies, Robert King. He works on ships for him while attempting to earn enough money to buy his own freedom. Equiano eventually makes the sufficient amount and, with the help of one of the ships' captains, convinces King to allow him to buy his freedom. After some turbulent times in which Equiano is almost forced back into slavery, he escapes and returns to England.

Here, Equiano continues his education and study of Christianity, trying to decide if he wants to be part of the religion. Equiano also earns money by seafaring. After some time, he is able to reconcile what he has experienced as an enslaved person with Christianity and devotes himself to religion.

Equiano also becomes a prominent Abolitionist in London. He ends his autobiography with a plea to the British Government and monarchy to abolish slavery, arguing that he has proven that African people are not inferior and do not deserve the abuse they are currently enduring at the hands of enslavers.

Olaudah Equiano: Autobiography

The status of Equiano's text as an autobiography is also important. Equiano's text is thought to be one of the first published slave narratives, texts that detail what life was like for enslaved people. Equiano shed light on the barbarity and callousness that enslaved people suffered. This helped in making the case for the abolition of slavery. Many white people lived in ignorance of how enslaved people were truly treated by their enslavers.

Some defenders of slavery accused Equiano of lying, claiming that he wasn't really from Africa. Equiano was aware this could happen and, in his preface, included letters from his white friends that confirmed he knew nothing of the English language or culture when he arrived in the country. This lent validity to Equiano's text as defenders of slavery would not believe a black man, only other white people.

Olaudah Equiano: Facts

Even though he did not live beyond middle age, dying at fifty-two, Equiano had an extremely eventful and difficult life. Read on for some facts about it.

• As a free man, Equiano was eventually able to marry his wife, Susannah Cullen, a Cambridgeshire woman, in 1792.
• After the publication of his book, Equiano became a well-known figure in the global Abolitionist movement.
• Even today, historians debate over Equiano's origins. Some claim like many did at the time that Equiano was born in America and fabricated his upbringing in Africa for the sake of his anti-slavery text. Others still maintain that he was an African man, born and bred there. As Equiano lived many centuries ago, it is unlikely a conclusive answer will ever be found.
• As well as the abolition of slavery, Equiano was also part of campaigns for the reform of Britain's democratic system.
• Equiano also worked with a group attempting to bring poor, formerly enslaved people back to Africa, but he was removed from his position when he questioned the corruption that he saw.

Olaudah Equiano: Achievements

After the publication of The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Equiano became a figurehead of the Abolitionist movement. The book was reprinted multiple times to cope with the demand for it. Equiano's words exposed the true horrors of slavery and motivated many to fight for its abolition. He went on a book tour of England, Ireland, and Scotland, speaking about his experiences. Many also view Equiano's autobiography and his abolitionist work as a contributing factor to the passing of the Slave Trade Act of 1807 in the British Parliament. This act abolished slavery in Britain.

Fig. 2 - Frederick Douglass, another prominent Abolitionist and writer of a slave narrative.

Today, Equiano's text is recognised as pioneering the slave narrative genre. Other formerly enslaved people, like Frederick Douglass and Solomon Northup, followed in his footsteps, writing and publishing their own highly influential slave narratives.

Olaudah Equiano: Quotes

Equiano's only book, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, proved to be a highly influential slave narrative that contributed to the British Government's abolishment of slavery. Below are key quotes from the text.