The Story of Virginia Home About this exhibit For Teachers Resources Video Credits Schedule a tour Comments

Olaudah Equiano
Title page of Olaudah Equiano, (1745–1797),
The interesting narrative of the life of
Olaudah Equiano, or, Gustavus Vassa,
the African / written by himself

Olaudah Equiano

Call number: Rare HT869 .E64 1809

Snatched from his Ibo village in Nigeria at the age of eleven, Equiano was transported to Barbados, Virginia, and finally England, where he gained his freedom in 1766. He is the author of the only memoir by an enslaved African brought to Virginia, The Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano. After marrying an Englishwoman in 1792, Equiano converted to Methodism and became an active member of the abolitionist movement.











Image rights owned by the Virginia Historical Society. Rights and reproductions

Back to Contact and Conflict

Virginia Historical Society428 North Boulevard, Richmond, VA 23220    |    Mail: P.O. Box 7311, Richmond, VA 23221-0311    |    Phone: 804.358.4901
Hours   |    Directions   |    Contact us   |    Site map   |    Blog    |    Share this page Share                         Subscribe to RSS feed Find us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter YouTube