Prince Among Slaves by N.H. Senzai illustrated by Anna Rich
This 48 page biography tells a story that we all should know, yet are probably hearing for the first time. The story of how West African Prince, Abdulrahman Ibrahim Ibn Sori, was forcefully taken and sent to America to be a slave on a plantation, what he endured for decades, and how he made his way back to the African continent. The large emotional illustrations and poignant text tell of his his life in Fouta Djallon, the painful journey to Mississippi, the trials as a slave, the joy of being a husband and father, and his attempts to return home a free man. With each challenge and at each stage, him additionally showing amazing strength and trust in Allah swt. The heartbreaking tale unearths so much evil, ignorance, and faith, that the story is not meant to be read once, it begs to be reflected on, pondered over, and shared far and wide. The treatment of Prince Abdulrahman shown in some of the illustrations are difficult to look at, as they should be, there is also a very passionate kiss shown up close between him and his wife. I think the story’s words and illustrations emphasize the anguish, the strength and the humanity, but I mention the illustrations for each to decide on their own. There is not a biography or sources in the book, but rather mentions in the Author’s Note the source matter being a film by Unity Production Foundation. It is not unusual to adapt a biography from a film, and I read an ARC, but I do hope the final copy will be sourced. The book is for middle grade readers, and I cannot wait to add a physical copy on my own bookshelves, and gift numerous ones to teachers to share in their classrooms.
WARNING: SPOILERS: THE SYNOPSIS CONTAINS A FULL RETELLING, as it is historical, I hope that is ok, but in no way shape or form is my summary taking away from the details, emotion, and writing the actual book contains.
In 1762, the Fulbe enjoyed prosperity and peace under the king, and when Abdulrahman was seven he started school in Timbo. He loved learning about the Prophets in the Qur’an, and excelled at his studies. So much so that his father sent him to Timbuktu to continue his studies at age 12. Five years later he returned to train as a warrior, when the first white man, a surgeon, Dr. John Cox appeared injured and lost, they helped heal him and sent him back home to Ireland.
By age 26, Prince Abdurrahman was a warrior, a scholar, soon to be king, a husband and a father of a son. One day while on patrol, he was captured. He and 170 others were loaded on a ship, for eight months, and sent over 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean.
On August 16, 1788 he arrived starved in Natchez, Mississippi, for $930 he and another man became the property of Colonel Foster. Resigned that this was his fate, he helped share his knowledge of cotton, and the plantation prospered. In 1975 he married, Isabella. They had nine children and eight grandchildren.
In 1807 while selling goods in the market, Abdurrahman sees Dr Cox (subhanAllah), and the doctor pleads with Colonel Foster to free the Prince. Foster could not be moved and when the doctor died, Abdurrahman once again accepted his fate.
His story though had started to spread, and a printer, felt a softness to the Prince turned slave and printed often embellished stories trying to help his cause. He asked the Prince to write a letter, the Prince wrote an ayah from the Quran and the printer passed it to Mississippi senator Thomas Reed explaining the Prince’s desire to return to Africa. Senator Reed got the letter to Henry Clay, the Secretary of State under John Quincy Adams, who then got the message to the President of the United States.
The letter was written in Arabic, and they assumed Prince Abdurrahman was thus from Morocco. The Sultan of Morocco was touched by his plight and petitioned for his release, and the Prince kept quiet not wanting the truth of where he was from to remove the help he was receiving.
He was finally freed and able to purchase the freedom of his wife Isabella with the help of those who had heard his story, but the efforts to free his children were not as successful. The truth about him not being Moroccan became known, and despite extensive travels and pleas, his declining health forced him to leave America with out his children. He arrived in Monrovia, Liberia, but would die before he could reach his home of Fouta Djallon.
