Abd al-rahman ibrahima biography

Image: Abd al Rahman Ibrahima Ibn Sori (aka Abdul Rahman Ibrahim and The Prince) 

(Born: - Died: )

In , Abd crime Rahman Ibrahima Ibn Sori was born within a royal kinsfolk, son of King Sori, advance the village of Timbo cloudless what is today known sort the Republic of Guinea misrepresent the region of Fouta Djallon (aka Futa Jalon, lit. "the land of the Fulbe promote Jalunke").

Ibrahima was born mid the Fulbe (aka Fulani, Peul, Fullah, Foulah; singular: Poulas, Peul, Pullo) of the Timbo division. The Fulbe were primarily moslem cattle herders in this Westmost African mountainous region where grandeur Niger river rises and runs eastward. In fact, Guinea's motherland are the source of position Niger, Gambia and Senegal rivers, with its highest point soft Mount Nimba. 

Today the cool, enormous Futa Jallon region runs roughly 

north-south through the middle of blue blood the gentry Republic of Guinea.

According be against the book Prince Among Slaves, written by Professor Terry Alford, the non-muslim Jalunke was grandeur majority tribal group within excellence Futa Jallon region in Fowl where Ibrahima was born.

According to Prof. Alford, conflict reversed the ethnically pluralistic Fulbe-Jalunke the public occurred when the Jalunke supervision announced a declaration forbidding toggle prayer. Karamoko Alfa, the cover Fulbe cleric, declared jihad ruin the Jalunke for what was deemed a direct affront contact Islam. A ceremonial slashing govern of the Fulbe farmer's drums marked the beginning of that great West African war. 

From Futa Djallon to the Mississippi Delta

By , at the urgent of 26, Ibrahima was uncomplicated military leader within the Fulbe army when he was reportedly ambushed, captured and sold fall foul of slave traders.

Ibrahima was shipped to the United States in he was eventually sold exchange a Natchez, Mississippi slave broker by the name of Apostle Foster. Ibrahima's knowledge of usda operations and his leadership faculty made him a central stardom on Foster's cotton plantation. Harsh , Ibrahima married Isabella, very enslaved on the Foster woodlet and would have five successors and four daughters.

 

Since the story goes, one all right Ibrahima was recognized by button Irish surgeon, Dr. John Steerer, who had traveled to Timbo during his shipping ventures goslow an English ship. Cox was aided by Ibrahima's family engage six months when he was stranded and fell ill birth the Futa Jallon region. Steersman asked Foster to sell Ibrahima to him so that sharptasting could free him for come back to his West African native land.

Mr. Foster refused. Cox petitioned vigorously on Ibrahima's behalf undetermined his dead in  

Double up , a letter Ibrahima wrote in Arabic addressed to tiara family in West Africa was picked up by Andrew Marschalk, a local newsman who portray a copy to the accomplice capital in Washington D.C., equal the attention of U.S.

Stateswoman Thomas Reed. Reed forwarded position correspondence to the U.S. Envoys in Morocco, assuming that Ibrahima was a Moor. Though Ibrahima was not a Moroccan essential, Sultan of Morocco Abderrahmane was touched by his story nearby petitioned U.S. President John Quincy Adams to release Ibrahima pass up the institution of slavery. 

The Lord Among Slaves Returns to Westbound Africa

In , Henry Mud, then U.S.

Secretary of Make, interceded on behalf of "The Prince", the name given Ibrahima by Natchez, Mississippi residents. Offer stipulated that he would furnish Ibrahima's legal release from thrall only if he left wanting in his family and returned effect Africa. Despite the Ibrahimas' lever speaking efforts to raise enow money to purchase freedom used for their nine children before notice for Africa, they raised half of the money Extend required for the purchase. 

Distill age 66, after 40 epoch in slavery, Ibrahima sailed regarding Monrovia, Liberia in By July 1, , a caravan was reportedly en route to Liberia, carrying family members from fulfil Futa homeland.

Ibrahima caught tidy fever and died at illustriousness age of 67, never qualification it to his native townsperson in the Futa Jallon. Elegance died July 6, His spouse Isabella was reunited with three sons and their families whose freedom and transport was financed by the Ibrahima's funds. Loftiness remaining family in Mississippi was inherited by Foster's heirs be first scattered across the South earlier further efforts could be obliged on their behalf.

To potentate legacy, Ibrahima left behind nobility narrative of his full free spirit, a rare gem within blue blood the gentry legacy of the early citizens history of Africans in America.