Sulejman Veličanstveni Epizode: Portrait of #AyubaSuleimanDiallo in #African dress, with the Qu’ran around his neck by #WilliamHoare. Photo by Christie’s. #Ayuba #Suleiman #Diallo: The Incredible Story Of An African-American-#Muslim #Slave FEB 1 4 2 01 3 Could you imagine returning home after a trip, only to be kidnapped and sold into slavery? That’s just what happened to Ayuba Suleiman Diallo in 1730. Born into a prominent family of Muslim scholars in #Senegal, Ayuba and his friend became victims of the African #slavetrade. Ayuba and his interpreter #LoumeinYoas were captured, their heads were shaved (to appear like war captives), and then they were sold to the Royal African Company. Unable to convince the people of their free-status, they were sent to America. Ayuba was sold to a Mr. Tolsey of Kent Island, Maryland. He initially worked in the tobacco fields, but was soon placed in charge of the cattle. While in captivity, Ayuba used to go into the woods to pray. However, after being humiliated by a child while praying, Ayuba ran away and was captured and imprisoned. At that point a lawyer, Thomas Bluett, discovered that he had aristocratic blood, and helped him write a letter to Africa. There, a James Oglethorpe, Director of the Royal African Company, was moved by the suffering Ayuba had endured and proceeded to purchase him and sent him to London. Bluett and Ayuba then traveled to England in 1733. Through persistent requests from interested men in London, the Royal African Company paid all the expenses and purchase price of the bond for Ayuba. He then proceeded to fraternize with London’s elite, obtaining many gifts and new friendships, including the royal family and the Duke and Duchess of Montague. He finally returned to his homeland in 1734, but by then his homeland had been ravaged by war, his father had died, and one of his wives had remarried. Fortunately he was able to re-establish himself, and due to continued pressure on London, he won the freedom of his friend and translator Loumein Yoas, who returned to #Gambia in 1738. by gods