Equiano life's work honoured
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu will be among the guests at the commemorative service for the legendary 18^th century social reformer and freedom fighter, planned for Monday 9^th February.

Equiano, also known as ‘Gustavas Vassa, the African' dedicated his life to ending slavery and was a key figure in the 18th century abolitionists movement. This sucessful, self made man commited his resources and talents  to the pursuit of dignity and freedom for the millions of people who were taken from the continent of Africa  and forced into a system of chattel slavery during the transatlantic slave trade or  Maffa.

A survivor of the Middle Passage, which historians indicate led to the loss or displacement of over 22 million lives.
Equiano was torn from his family after he was kidnapped with his sister at  the age of 11.  He  experienced first hand the systematic violence and brutal treatment, which was routinely meeted out to those forced into chattel slavery. Managing to survive  the horrors of the of the middle passage he  was transported  to a plantation in Barbados, one of the many plantations dotted across the English colonies in the Caribbean at the time. 

The trade was a deadly system,  it is estimated that for every person who was taken captive from African and reached the America's or Caribbean alive, five others died during various phases.

Records show that the harsh reality of plantation life and the routine use of torture,  euphemistically referred to as ‘discipline' , meant that the  life expectancy after arrival on a plantation did not exceed more than six years.

Both the transatlantic slave trade and chattel slavery were acknowledged as a Crime against Humanity at the 2001, United Nation's World Conference, in Durban South Africa.

Inhumane trade in human lives
Those involved in this trade made great profits from this trafficking of human lives.  Equiano, like many others, was traded from one European owner to another . He was sold to a  British Naval officer, captain Henry Pascal and renamed Equiano, Gustavas Vassa. Equiano was then beaten until he answered to this new name.

Enduring unpaid servitude under a number of owner's Equiano, bought his freedom his final owner, a merchant named Robert King.

On purchasing his freedom Equiano went to England, and chose to work closely with Granville Sharpe and Thomas Clarkson in the Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade.

An erudite orator, Equiano spoke at a large number of public meetings, bringing to audiences across England, the first hand experiences of the horrific trade in human lives. The revenue for the trade had made great wealth for Britain,  much of which  fuelled the British industrial revolution.  Revenue from the slave trade was also used to establish of many of today's high street banks.  

Equiano published his  autobiography entitled,  The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa the African in 1789 . '  This proved to be the  single most important literary contribution to the campaign for abolition. The book was highly effective in arousing public opinion and was one of the very few texts written in English by a person of African descent during the eighteenth century. It is also one of the first accounts of a slavery written by one who had personally experienced it. 

The book appeared in 1789; the year in which the British parliament first seriously debated abolishing the slave trade and Equiano's  biography is a document in the Westminister debates, and serves as reminder of the sufferings of the  fore fathers of the majority of  black people who are from either America or the Caribbean today.

Equiano travelled throughout England promoting the book, which went on to be a bestseller that was also published in Germany (1790), America (1791) and Holland (1791).

Best selling author influencing politics

One of the few son's of African able to enjoy the fruits of his own labour during this time, Equiano's strongly abolitionist autobiography, furthered the anti-slavery cause. His financial prowess shone through this work, making him a wealthy man.  A best seller at the time, this book has now gone on to become an essential piece of literature in the study of African and African-American history and culture.

Equiano put all his talents and resources into the service of his community in their struggle against slavery.

His oustanding contribution will finally be commemorated  Monday 9 Feburary, with the unveiling of a permanent memorial, created by the African Caribbean London-based sculptor Marcia Bennett-Male . 

Bennett-Male trained as an architectural stone carver and letter cutter at the London Art School.

The memorial has been created by London artist Marcia Bennett Male to stand between Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament .

Arthur Torrington, Secretary of the Equiano Society said: "The memorial in St Margaret's Church is a fitting tribute to an African who made a significant contribution to Britain."

Canon Robert Wright, the Rector of St Margaret's, said: ‘we are all looking forward to the dedication of the memorial to Ouladah Equiano in St Margaret's Church, Westminster Abbey. It seems very appropriate that he was baptised in the church where the writers John Milton and Samuel Pepys worshipped.'