James Gronni0saw
James Albert Ukasaw Gronniosaw was a Muslim man from modern day northern Nigeria. James was born in the small city of Bournou, and he had five other siblings. He calls himself one of the princes of Bournou, merely because his mother was a daughter of the king. He was heavily devoted to his faith, and he describes his relationship with God, the heavens, and his family in his account.
"I had, from my infancy, a curious turn of mind; was more grave and reserved in my disposition than either of my brothers and sisters. I often teazed them with questions they could not answer: for which reason they disliked me, as they supposed that I was either foolish, or insane. 'Twas certain that I was, at times, very unhappy in myself: it being strongly impressed on my mind that there was some GREAT MAN of power which resided above the sun, moon and stars, the objects of our worship," he said on page 1. James was simply another African man who traveled via the Middle Passage. He was then bought by an American in Barbados. James documented his life story starting off when he was enslaved at the age of 15. James was sold on the island of Barbados. After many years on the island, James traveled to the Americas. He ended up living most of his enslaved life in New York City. |