Plinth to Olaudah Equiano in Telegraph Hill Park, unveiled on 14th June 2008 by The Mayor of Lewisham, Sir Steve Bullock
The plinth, along with a bed of Carribean plants, was created by year five children from the Edmund Waller school, with the help of an Abolition 200 grant from Lewisham Library. from Olaudah Equiano () was an African-born writer whose experiences as a slave prompted him to become involved in the British abolitionist movement. Equiano was born in west Africa, probably Nigeria, and was the son of a chief. At around the age of 11, he was kidnapped with his sister and they soon became separated. Equiano was shipped acorss the Atlantic or 'Middle Passage' to Barbados as a slave. He was then taken on to Virginia and bought by a British naval officer, Henry Pascal who renamed him 'Gustavus Vassa' after the 16th Century Swedish King. Later he was sold to Robert King, a Quaker Merchant in Philadelphia. He learned to read and write and was taught about Christianity. Equiano saved money carefully and in 1766 was able to buy his freedom. He then became a sailor, travelling all over the world. In 1773, he took part in an expedition to try to discover the Northwest Passage. In London, he became involved in the movement to abolish slavery which led to the publication in 1789 of his book 'The Interesting narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa, the African'. He then travelled throughout England promoting the book, which told of his childhood and experiences as a slave. It became immensely popular, helping the abolitionist cause and made Equiano wealthy. It is one of the earliest books published by a black African writer. In 1792, Equiano married an Englishwoman, Susanna Cullen and they had two daughters. Equiano died on 31st March 1797. Bill Brand BillBrand
Size: 5150px × 3448px
Location: Telegraph Hill Park, New Cross Gate, London, SE14, England, UK
Photo credit: © Bill Brand / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: abolition, abolitionist, bust, deptford, emancipator, equiano, horizontal, landscape, lewisham, olaudah, slave, slavery, statue, trade
