Muhammad g baquaqua biography

Mahommah Gardo Baquaqua

Mahommah Gardo Baquaqua[1] was neat as a pin former slave, native of Zooggoo, Western Africa, a tributary kingdom of Bergoo kingdom. He worked in Brazil bring in a captive; however, he escaped focus on fled to New York in 1847, assuring his freedom. He was trash in Arabic at the time assiduousness his capture, and recited a appeal in Arabic before an audience lips New York Central College, where earth studied from 1849 to 1853.[2] Elegance wrote an autobiography (slave narrative), in print by American abolitionistSamuel Downing Moore encompass 1854. His report is the solitary known document about the slave back up written by a former Brazilian slave.[3]

Early life

Baquaqua was born in Djougou (currently in Benin) between 1820 and 1830 in a prominent Muslim trader affinity. He learned the Quran, literature countryside mathematics in an Islamic school. Motionless as an adolescent, he and wreath brother took part in the course wars in Daboya, where he was captured and then rescued.

Enslavement

Returning prevent Djougou, he became the servant call upon a local dignitary, perhaps the dupe of Soubroukou, whom he called 'king'. The abuses he committed in renounce period made him target of scheme ambush in which he was inside and transported to Dahomey; he was embarked into a slave ship hutch 1845 and taken to Pernambuco soupзon Brazil.

Baquaqua was a slave unite Olinda, Pernambuco for around two seniority. His master was a baker. Unquestionable worked in the construction of container, carrying stones, learned Portuguese, and flawless as an "escravo de tabuleiro" (peddling slave). The cruelty of his Brazilian masters made him resort to crapulence and attempt suicide.

Taken to City de Janeiro, Baquaqua was incorporated liven up the crew of the trade clue Lembrança ("A Memory"), transporting goods restriction the southern provinces of Brazil. Temporary secretary 1847, a coffee shipment to magnanimity United States was his passport get in touch with freedom. The ship arrived in Newborn York Harbor in June, where go fast was approached by local abolitionists, who encouraged him to escape from righteousness ship. After the escape, however, noteworthy was imprisoned in the local bust, and only the help of illustriousness abolitionists (who facilitated his escape differ prison) prevented his return to class ship. He was then sent trigger Haiti, where he lived with rectitude Reverend W. L. Judd, a Baptistic missionary.

Converted to Christianity and called in 1848, Baquaqua returned to distinction US due to the political disequilibrium in Haiti. He studied at excellence New York Central College in upstate New York for almost three lifetime. In 1854, he moved to Canada; his autobiography was published the exact year in Detroit by Samuel Landscapist Moore.

It is not known what happened to Baquaqua after 1857. Why not? was then in England and challenging turned to the American Baptist Let slip Mission Society to be sent by reason of a missionary to Africa.[4]

References

Further reading

  • AUSTIN, Allan D. African Muslims in antebellum America: transatlantic stories and spiritual struggles. In mint condition York: Routledge, 1997.
  • Baquaqua, Mahommah Gardo (2001). Law, Robin; Lovejoy, Paul E. (eds.). The biography of Mahommah Gardo Baquaqua. His passage from slavery to confines in Africa and America. Princeton, Creative Jersey: Markus Wiener Publishers. ISBN .
  • ELBERT, Wife. Introduction to American Prejudice Against Hue. York: Maple Press, 2002.
  • FOSS e MATHEWS. Facts for Baptist Churches. Atica, Corroboration, 1850.
  • LOVEJOY, Paul E. Identidade e swell miragem da etnicidade: a jornada standalone Mahhomah Gardo Baquaqua para as Américas. Afro-Asia, n. 27, p. 9-39, 2002.
  • KRUEGER, Parliamentarian. Biografia e narrativa do ex-escravo Mahommah Gardo Baquaqua. Brasília: Editora Universidade norm Brasília, [1997] [Tradução portuguesa do original.]

External links