“Our Land is Uncommonly Rich and Fruitful . . .”: Olaudah Equiano Describes Benin

Background: According to his autobiography, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Olaudah Equiano was kidnapped at age eleven from his home in the Benin Empire on the Guinea coast in southern Nigeria, sold into slavery, and brought to the New World. During his decade of enslavement, Equiano served an English naval officer and worked in the shipping business of a Montserrat merchant, finally purchasing his freedom with money earned by trading on his own. The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, published in London in 1789, also includes this description of the West African world of his childhood. While some scholars question whether Equiano was in fact born in Africa, most still consider his account a rare source of information about Africa in this period, one probably based on a mixture of his own and others’ experiences.

The Kingdom of Benin . . . is divided into many provinces or districts, in one of the most remote and fertile of which I was born, in the year 1745, situated in a charming, fruitful vale named Essaka. The distance of this province from the capital of Benin and the seacoast must be very considerable; for I had never heard of white men or Europeans, nor of the sea; and our subjection to the king of Benin was little more than nominal. . . . 

We are almost a nation of dancers, musicians, and poets. Thus every great event, such as a triumphant return from battle, or other cause of public rejoicing, is celebrated in public dances, which are accompanied with songs and music suited to the occasion. The assembly is separated into four divisions [or age grades]. . . . Each represents some interesting scene of real life, such as a great achievement, domestic employment, a pathetic story, or some rural sport. . . . This gives our dances a spirit and a variety which I have scarcely seen elsewhere. We have many musical instruments, particularly drums of different kinds, a piece of music which resembles a guitar, and another much like a stickado [xylophone].

Our manner of living is entirely plain; for as yet the natives are unacquainted with those refinements in cookery which debauch the taste: bullocks, goats, and poultry supply the greatest part of their food. These constitute likewise the principal wealth of the country, and the chief articles of its commerce. The flesh is usually stewed in a pan. To make it savory we sometimes use also pepper and other spices; and we have salt made of wood ashes. Our vegetables are mostly plantains [bananas], yams, beans, and Indian corn. The head of the family usually eats alone; his wives and slaves have also their separate tables. . . . 

Our land is uncommonly rich and fruitful, and produces all kinds of vegetables in great abundance. We have plenty of Indian corn, and vast quantities of cotton and tobacco. . . . All our industry is exerted to improve those blessings of nature. Agriculture is our chief employment; and every one, even the children and women, are engaged in it. Thus we are all habituated to labor from our earliest years. Every one contributes something to the common stock; and, as we are unacquainted with idleness, we have no beggars. The benefits of such a mode of living are obvious.

Source: Olaudah Equiano, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano (1789).