Life of Olaudah Equiano

Oluaduh Equiano

The Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, The African Written by Himself is a two-volume memoir of the author's being bought and sold like cargo during the heyday of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Divided into twelve chapters, The Life of Olauduh Equiano begins with the author's description of his own people and culture in West Africa. From the outset, Equiano uses a tone of humility and warns the reader that he understands that in writing his memoir is succumbing to a type of pride or vanity. He tells the reader exactly why he is writing his memoir: not to create a literary masterpiece but to share a story that he feels is truly unique even among Africans. "I believe there are few events in my life, which have not happened to many…did I consider myself a European I might say my sufferings were great: but when I compare my lot with that of most of my countrymen," he states, he has been blessed (p. 8). Describing the culture of West Africa, the author refers to the Guinean kingdoms that extended as far as Abyssinia. He describes West African culture with detail, writing about food, government, and gender norms.

Chapter Two starts the autobiography proper. Here, Equiano and his sister are kidnapped. Equiano is the youngest of his parents' sons and hence the "favorite," (p. 31). He was already being groomed to be a warrior, and actually watched from his perch in a tree while his kidnappers raided the compound. Equiano was aware even at his young age that something like this might happen, and describes the kidnapping as his "fate," especially as none of the adults were around at the time to help. Their mouths were bound and hands tied as the kidnappers carried them through the woods. After several days of camping the kidnappers separated brother and sister from one another even "while they were clasped in each others' arms," (p. 33). Equiano's early days in captivity were spent in Africa, but eventually he was hauled to the coast. Here for the first time Euiano encounters people who speak languages he does not understand. He also happens to see his sister and they scream upon their reunion, while the human traffickers allow them their brief moment of emotional bonding. "I was more miserable, if possible, than before," when they were once again separated (p. 37). Equiano was brought to Tinmah, which he describes lovingly as "the most beautiful country" he had seen in all of Africa (p. 39).

For two months, Equiano lives happily among the wealthy, even though he is a slave because he is treated well. Equiano's brief spell of happiness among the lush cocoa nut trees vanishes, as his is taken away again "even among the uncircumcised," (p. 40). He suffers six or seven arduous months traveling with a surly band of human traffickers, passing through various hands along the way until reaching the sea and beholding the slave ship. He felt acute "terror" as he was hustled on board by people with strange complexions, "horrible looks, red faces, and long hair," (p. 41). He states, "I was now persuaded that I had gotten into a world of bad spirits, and that they were going to kill me," (p. 43).

The trans-Atlantic voyage is grueling, and included stop-overs in the West Indies while the chattel are being bought and sold. "This is a new refinement in cruelty," which "adds fresh horrors even to the wretchedness of slavery," states Equiano (p. 52). The author also notes that the slave traders are "nominal Christians," meaning they profess to love God while treating people terribly in the name of greed (p. 52). He lands in Virginia, and at first sees no fellow Africans. He is left alone on a plantation and is more sorrowful than ever.

However, Equiano is soon sold again and put on board another ship bound for England. He has already picked up a little English, and some of the fellow passengers tease him that the ship is going back to his home country. The captain of the ship gave Equiano the name Gustavus Vassa, and if he did not respond to the new name he was smacked. The voyage was again grueling, with insufficient supplies and ample verbal abuse. Equiano's only respite was Richard Baker, a well-educated American boy who treates him kindly and soon becomes his friend. They remain friends "til his death," and Baker becomes Equiano's "constant companion and instructor," (p. 58). Baker was fifteen at the time and his family owned slaves but he was able to overcome the prejudices that his society imposed upon them.

It was spring of 1757 when Equiano arrived in England. He was twelve years old. He sees snow for the first time and thought it was salt. Equiano also visits his first church service, and is curious. Richard, who he calls Dick, teaches him as much as possible about English culture. Equiano is surprised at some English customs, including their lack of personal hygiene.

During this time, Equiano also develops a curiosity for reading. After some relatively happy months in Falmouth, Equiano is trafficked again. However, he remains with Richard as his friend and becomes increasingly aware and self-conscious about the color of his skin and how it marked him as being an outsider among the English children. The captain who took a liking to Equiano has him travel on board his military ship from place to place, and gradually, Equiano's fears subside as he gets used to they rhythms of his life. He has his first fight with a white boy. Their ship sails all around the British Isles and off the coast of France.

Equiano acquires small pox. However, the master has been promoted to be first Lieutenant of the war ship the Preston. Equiano "could not think of leaving my master, to whom I was very warmly attached," and accompanies his master onto the Preston even though it means being separated from Dick. The Preston sails via Tenerife to St. George, Halifax and Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. It is summer of 1758. Equiano learns of the French and English conflicts brewing in Canada. Equiano experiences a whirlwind of travel on war shops and witnesses many skirmishes between the French and the English in North America as well as the Mediterranean. During this time, Equiano becomes more religious and is baptized; he also learns how to write and do basic math. He returns to England with the war ship and suddenly with no warning, "without having before given me the least reason to suspect any thing of the matter," his master turns on him (p. 98-99). After years of seeming friendship, his master sells Equiano. He spends years suffering, and using his burgeoning Christian worldview to contemplate and make sense of his situation.