Share

Olaudah Equiano biography

1 photo

Quick Facts

  • NAME: Olaudah Equiano
  • OCCUPATION: Activist, Journalist
  • BIRTH DATE: c. 1745
  • DEATH DATE: March 31, 1797
  • PLACE OF BIRTH: Essaka, Nigeria
  • PLACE OF DEATH: London, England
  • AKA: Gustavus Vassa

Best Known For

Olaudah Equiano wrote an autobiography depicting his experience in slavery. It served as one of the first testimonies in the abolition movement.


Quiz

Think you know about Biography?

Answer questions and see how you rank against other players.

Play Now

Profile

Olaudah Equiano was born in approximately 1745 in what is now Nigeria. He wrote an autobiography about his life, which recounts being kidnapped from Africa as a child and sold into slavery. He bought his freedom and became part of the abolition movement. Equiano’s account is considered an originator of the slave narrative. He died on March 3, 1797, in London.

© 2013 A+E Networks. All rights reserved.

Profile Connections
    Show More Connections
    Included In These Groups
    • Famous Black Writers

      They are the famous African-American writers who have fearlessly examined cultural stigmas, provided intimate life details, presented new ideas and created remarkable fiction through literary works. For their prophetic genius, these men and women have received Pulitzer Prizes, NAACP awards and even Nobel Prizes, among other honors. Our list of prominent African-American authors includes Toni Morrison, who has detailed the lives of black characters who struggle with identity amidst racism and hostility; Langston Hughes, a founder of the Harlem Renaissance; and Maya Angelou, who has eloquently chronicled various eras of her life through her autobiographies.

      View group

      Famous Black Writers 38 people in this group

    • Name Changers

      In entertainment, where the line between fiction and reality is often blurry, names are a crucial part of a celebrity's image. Stage names are often chosen to make an actor or musician's name easier to pronounce or remember, or simply to make it sounds more attractive. Here are famous celebrities who have changed their names.

      View group

      Name Changers 236 people in this group

    • Famous Black Activists

      African-Americans have a long history of activism in America, from fighting for the right to vote to pushing for integrated public spaces. Activists like Stokely Carmichael organized freedom rides, James Meredith fought to integrate blacks and whites at the University of Mississippi, and Rosa Parks instigated the Montgomery Bus Boycott. These protests were often legal and nonviolent, and made a powerful impact on civil rights in the United States. With the help of activists like these—and many others—the country slowly worked to acknowledge the basic rights and contributions of African-Americans. Activists outisde of the U.S. include Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela, who have fought against apartheid in South Africa. Learn more about the many black activists who fought against the odds in order to achieve equality.

      View group

      Famous Black Activists 133 people in this group

    See all related groups

    ADVERTISEMENT
    39207 39207
    profile id: 39207
    profile name: Olaudah Equiano
    profile occupation:
    related profile id: 39207
    related profile name: Olaudah Equiano
    related profile occupation:
    related profile img: /imported/images/Biography/Images/Profiles/E/Olaudah-Equiano-39207-1-402.jpg
    related profile URL: /people/olaudah-equiano-39207
    profile
    pop
    Your Connections

    Sign in with Facebook to see how you and your friends are connected to famous icons.

    specific profile connection
    Your Friends' Connections
    specific friend connection

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Celebrity Connections

    Show More Connections
    Fact Check: We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us!