By Staff writer                                                                     18/02/09
Guests from both side of the Atlantic filled St Margaret's Church Westminster Abbey to attend the dedication of a memorial to Briton's first black political activist Olaudah Equiano.

A culmination in five years of work
A committed Christian this dedication service was held in honour of his contributions to Briton's history and also marked the 250th anniversary of his baptism in St Margaret's church, Westminster on the 9th February 1759.

This historic evening was the culmination of years of work by the Equiano Society who have been instrumental in securing this memorial.

‘This is the fulfilment of all the hard work that has had to go into this over the last five years.

Trying to convince Westminster Abbey was not an easy task, Equiano's plaque is the only thing of its kind on the site, and there is no other thing about black people represented there at all.

When we first approached the Abbey about the idea of a plaque they didn't think that Equiano was major figure.

I had to convince them of this and that that not only was Equiano was an important figure in Briton during the 1800's, but someone who has also made a significant contribution to this country's history,' Arthur Torrington, Co-founder and Secretary of The Equiano Society and Windrush Foundation told Black Mental Health UK.

The most important writing in the black literary tradition
Like millions of others Equiano was traded from one owner to another but managed to buy his freedom from, a merchant named Robert King. He then went to England and worked with Granville Sharpe and Thomas Clarkson in the Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade. 

In 1789 Equiano published his autobiography 'The Interes ting Nar rative Of The Life Of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa, The African' , which depicted the horrors of slavery, and became an immediate best seller.

This book proved to be a seminal work in influencing British legislators in the introduction of the 1807 Slave Trade Act.

Dr Wilfred Samuels, Prof of English at the University of Uttah in Salt Lake City, America flew in England especially for the memorial.  An expert on the life and works of Equiano, Prof Samuels has been writing on this subject for 20 years.

Commenting on Equiano's biography he said: ‘it is the most important writing in the black literary tradition in the entire canon of black literature. He gave us the text of a firsthand account of the experience of being taken away from one's home land, and enduring the transatlantic crossing  and the experience of slavery, being sold from one master to another.'

In the opening prayer of the memorial service Rector Rev Robert Wright quoted from Article 4 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights remembering ‘those who work to give the gift of freedom to all people.'

Equiano - an indomitable spirit

Rev. Dr. Joel Edwards spoke about Equiano's Spirituality and his conversion to committed Christianity after a near death experience. Jennette Arnold, the Chair of the Greater London Authority, read from Ephesians 4: 25-30 about putting away falsehood and speaking the truth. ‘I see Equiano as such an inspiration and I imagine that he was a very humble person who overcame and achieved so much in the face of horrific adversities. He is a very good example for our young men to be inspired by today,' she told Black Mental Health UK.

Equiano's contribution is now immortalised on a wall in St Margaret's church through the creation of a plaque by the architechtural stone carver adn letter Cutter, Marcia Bennet-Male. 

R David Muir - executive director of public policy at the Evangelical Alliance, used to teach political history and encouraged all his students to read Equiano's book.
‘For someone who had been enslaved, manacled, tethered, shipped from the land and only home they've ever known, and yet see himself as' a favourite of heaven' is saying something about his faith and is a powerful example of an indomitable spirit in the most dire circumstances,  there is a lot one can learn from that.'

The final prayer read by Sentamu was 'for those who work for peace in the word, especially for those who work to redress the legacies of slavery, those committed to the work of healing and reconciliation among individuals and communities; for the eradication of prejudice and discrimination, so that all men, women, and children may be set free to live in security, and with dignity.  Commenting on the plaque the Arch Bishop said: ‘it is wonderful and speaks of the spirit of Equiano and power that inspired him to stand up and not only be counted but to advocate for millions of others who were not able to speak out against injustices for themselves - it is wonderful inspiration to have this plaque here.'

‘The history of the church goes back to medieval times. It's an important site and an important building as it is just opposite parliament and MPs an Peers regularly use it and thousands of people visit that church all the time and look at the various plagues and what they represent.  Now Equiano is now among those people who stand out as a contributor to British History, there is a sense of fulfilment about this. Ten  or 15 years ago a thing like this would not have happened,' Torrington said.

Click here to view order of service .