Asapchikki:


The overwhelming majority of enslaved Africans taken to various parts of the world had gloomy fates, while some were able to position themselves to have a tolerable or decent existence at least compared to other enslaved individuals. There existed even in a smaller group that was lucky enough to have been adopted by Royals of other nations offering them a life of comfort.

In this article, I’m going to be discussing about some of the African Slaves Who Became Royals of Foreign Nations, the lives of these enslaved Africans who were either taken care of by royal family members of foreign nations or became a part of the royal family themselves.

This article is not anyway intended to celebrate that enslaved Africans were accepted and embraced by the nobility of other nations but it’s simply a work documenting the journey of a small group of Africans that managed to survive and thrive in the highest positions of human civilization, with this in mind let’s begin.
So here is 5 African Slaves Who Became Royals of Foreign Nations

Omoba Aina

The first African on our list of African Slaves Who Became Royals of Foreign Nations is Omoba Aina also more properly known as Sara Forbes Bonetta. Omoba Aina was a Yoruba princess who was later orphaned due to warfare in her region.

The Fon people of Dahomey had been at war with their former Yoruba overlords for quite some time and during the life of princess Omoba, Dahomey gained the advantage over some Yoruba kingdoms.

In 1848 the Dahomey army invaded her region and kill her parents and put the young princess in Chains. The Dahomey ruler King Ghezo at the time had Omoba as a slave in his court but was planning on executing her.

The British during his time in an attempt to repackage their image and position themselves suggested the so-called legitimate trade which was supposed to be an alternative to the chaos of the present slave trade of the time. This was largely motivated by Britain’s desire to have more influence on local matters and expand imperial rule rather than any moral ambition.

Before she was executed Captain Frederick Forbes of the Royal Navy intervened, convincing King Ghezo to instead give her to Queen Victoria of England. Captain Forbes then renamed her Sarah Forbes Bonetta after his naval ship.

In England Omoba Aina met the queen who was impressed by her exceptional intelligence as she excelled in her education, over time Queen Victoria grew very fond of Omoba Aina and raised her as her goddaughter allowing her access to Windsor Castle regularly.

Sabac el Cher

The next African on our list of African Slaves Who Became Royals of Foreign Nations is Sabac el Cher was a young Nubian from Kordofan Sudan. His parents died during a rebellion in Nubia and he was then enslaved and taken to Cairo, Egypt where he received a traditional Egyptian education. Sabac was brought to Germany in 1843 by Prince Albert of Prussia who received him as a gift from the Egyptian viceroy Mehmet Ali while on his travels to North Africa. In Germany he was named Sabac el Cher which means good morning, he was given this name because that was the only Arabic word the Prussian Prince knew.

Sabac fared pretty well under the tutelage of Prussian royalty staying in the palace he grew to embrace Prussian life and culture, he later went on to marry a local woman and had a son named Gustav who became a respected soldier and an imperial bandmaster. Upon the death of Prince Sabac was elevated to the position of administrator of the palace where he served until his death.


Anton Wilhelm Amo

Anton Wilhelm Amo is said to have come from the Nzema people of Western Ghana. At a very young age, he was reportedly taken to Amsterdam by the Dutch West India Company.

Upon his arrival in Amsterdam, he was given as a CONTINUE READING