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AbolitionYou are in: Kent > Abolition > Equiano  Equiano EquianoEquiano was an African-born writer whose experiences as a slave prompted him to become involved in the British abolitionist movement.  Robert Hume Olaudah Equiano became involved in the movement to abolish slavery which led to the publication in 1789 of his book 'The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa, the African'. He then travelled throughout England promoting the book, which told of his childhood and experiences as a slave. It became immensely popular, helping the abolitionist cause and made Equiano wealthy. It is one of the earliest books published by a black African writer. Robert Hume, a teacher at Clarendon House School in Ramsgate, was brought up with the stories of Wilberforce and the Abolition movement, but he started to delve deeper into the subject when he realised it must have taken more than the efforts of one man. Equiano Rob SmithRob Smith has been talking to Robert Hume and listening to some extracts from the book read by students at the school: Help playing audio/video  Cheryl Ives The illustrations in the book were provided by Cheryl Ives, a former colleague of Robert's at Clarendon House School. She confesses to not having known much about the subject when she accepted the commission, but when she started researching Equiano's life she was shocked his story wasn't more well known. last updated: 01/04/2008 at 13:44
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