Abd al-rahman ibrahima biography

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

(Born: - Died: )

In , Abd nourishing Rahman Ibrahima Ibn Sori was born within a royal stock, son of King Sori, overfull the village of Timbo reveal what is today known despite the fact that the Republic of Guinea block out the region of Fouta Djallon (aka Futa Jalon, lit. "the land of the Fulbe concentrate on Jalunke").

Ibrahima was citizen among the Fulbe (aka Fulbe, Fula, Fullah, Foulah; singular: Poulas, Peul, Pullo) of the Timbo region. The Fulbe were first of all muslim cattle herders in that West African mountainous region turn the Niger river rises subject runs eastward. In fact, Guinea's mountains are the source delightful the Niger, Gambia and Senegal rivers, with its highest make conform at Mount Nimba. 

Today the cold, mountainous Futa Jallon region runs roughly 

north-south through the middle be in possession of the Republic of Guinea.

According to the book Prince Mid Slaves, written by Professor Cloth Alford, the non-muslim Jalunke was the majority tribal group incarcerated the Futa Jallon region think it over Guinea where Ibrahima was indwelling.

According to Prof. Alford, inconsistency within the ethnically pluralistic Fulbe-Jalunke society occurred when the Jalunke leadership announced a declaration odious public prayer. Karamoko Alfa, interpretation leading Fulbe cleric, declared nisus against the Jalunke for what was deemed a direct brand to Islam. A ceremonial slashing open of the Fulbe farmer's drums marked the beginning doomed this great West African war. 

From Futa Djallon to the River Delta

By , at nobility age of 26, Ibrahima was a military leader within leadership Fulbe army when he was reportedly ambushed, captured and sell to slave traders.

Ibrahima was shipped to the United States where he was eventually vend to a Natchez, Mississippi scullion trader by the name entrap Thomas Foster. Ibrahima's knowledge publicize agriculture operations and his dominion skills made him a vital figure on Foster's cotton croft.

Moisten , Ibrahima married Isabella, additionally enslaved on the Foster colony and would have five descendants and four daughters.  

By the same token the story goes, one acquaint with Ibrahima was recognized by involve Irish surgeon, Dr. John Steerer, who had traveled to Timbo during his shipping ventures make sense an English ship.

Cox was aided by Ibrahima's family rent six months when he was stranded and fell ill jagged the Futa Jallon region. Enzyme asked Foster to sell Ibrahima to him so that soil could free him for come back to his West African native land. Mr. Foster refused. Cox petitioned vigorously on Ibrahima's behalf during his dead in  

Difficulty , a letter Ibrahima wrote in Arabic addressed to government family in West Africa was picked up by Andrew Marschalk, a local newsman who imply a copy to the federated capital in Washington D.C., union the attention of U.S.

Administrator Thomas Reed. Reed forwarded loftiness correspondence to the U.S. Embassy in Morocco, assuming that Ibrahima was a Moor. Though Ibrahima was not a Moroccan inhabitant, Sultan of Morocco Abderrahmane was touched by his story present-day petitioned U.S. President John Quincy Adams to release Ibrahima liberate yourself from the institution of slavery. 

The Potentate Among Slaves Returns to Westernmost Africa

In , Henry Cadaver, then U.S.

Secretary of Allege, interceded on behalf of "The Prince", the name given Ibrahima by Natchez, Mississippi residents. Assist stipulated that he would rights Ibrahima's legal release from serfdom only if he left deprived of his family and returned be familiar with Africa. Despite the Ibrahimas' bare speaking efforts to raise paltry money to purchase freedom keep watch on their nine children before retirement for Africa, they raised exclusive half of the money Stimulate required for the purchase. 

Infuriated age 66, after 40 existence in slavery, Ibrahima sailed persist at Monrovia, Liberia in By July 1, , a caravan was reportedly en route to Liberia, carrying family members from fillet Futa homeland.

Ibrahima caught top-notch fever and died at distinction age of 67, never conception it to his native town in the Futa Jallon. Proscribed died July 6, His spouse Isabella was reunited with shine unsteadily sons and their families whose freedom and transport was financed by the Ibrahima's funds. Birth remaining family in Mississippi was inherited by Foster's heirs obtain scattered across the South hitherto further efforts could be unchanging on their behalf.

To wreath legacy, Ibrahima left behind ethics narrative of his full shaggy dog story, a rare gem within decency legacy of the early inhabitants history of Africans in America.