Ayuba Suleiman Diallo
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Ayuba Suleiman Diallo (1701–1773), also known as Job ben Solomon, was a famous Muslim slave who was a victim of the Atlantic slave trade. Born in Bondu, West Africa, Ayuba's memoirs were published as one of the earliest first-person accounts of the slave trade in Thomas Bluett's Some Memories of the Life of Job, the Son of the Solomon High Priest of Boonda in Africa; Who was a Slave about two Years in Maryland; and afterwards being brought to England, was set free, and sent to his native Land in the Year 1734.
He came from a prosperous family, but at the age of 29, Ayuba was captured from his homeland. He was unable to defend himself from the group of Mandingoes who captured him. After being taken captive, Ayuba was brought to the coast some 300 miles away. Ayuba became a victim of the ever-growing slave exploitation of the Senegambia region. Before being boarded on his ship to the New World, Ayuba attempted to bribe the captain into giving him his freedom. However, the word never got to his father in time, and Ayuba was taken aboard. Ayuba was transported to Annapolis, Maryland and put to work. Unable to physically perform his work, he ran away. He was captured and imprisoned at the Kent County Courthouse. It was there that he was discovered by a lawyer, Thomas Bluett, travelling through on business.
The lawyer was impressed by Ayuba's ability to write in Arabic. When another African, who was able to speak Ayuba's native Wolof, was able to translate for him, it was then discovered that he was no ordinary slave. Bluett purchased his freedom, and the two went to England in 1733. He learned English, and when he got to England, he was in the company of many prominent people, including the royal family. In July 1734, Ayuba returned to Gambia and later returned to his homeland. His homeland was ravished by war, but being a prosperpous individual, he was able to regain his old lifestyle, which included owning his own household slaves. His memoirs were published by Bluett in English and French. Ayuba was an extremely rare exception in the slave trade. Due to his intelligence and monetary prowess, he was able to legally escape the hardships of slavery and return back home to Africa.
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[edit] References
- Painter, N. Creating Black Americans: African-American History and its Meanings, 1619 to Present, Oxford, 2005. ISBN 978-0-19-513755-2
- Bluett, Thomas. Some Memoirs of the Life of Job, the Son of Solomon, London, 1734.
