Sons of Africa facts for kids

Olaudah Equiano, a prominent member of the Sons of Africa.

The Sons of Africa was a special group in Britain during the late 1700s. They worked hard to stop the buying and selling of enslaved people from Africa. This group was made up of educated African men living in London. Many of them had been enslaved themselves but were now free.

Historians call the Sons of Africa Britain's first black political group. Its members included important figures like Ottobah Cugoano and Olaudah Equiano. They were closely connected to another group, the Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade, which started in 1787.

How the Sons of Africa Started

In Britain during the late 1700s, many groups began to form. Their goal was to end the slave trade and eventually stop slavery completely. The Quakers, a religious group, were already working on this.

Then, the Sons of Africa joined the fight. This new group was made up of Africans who had been freed from slavery. They lived in London and used their education to make a difference. They wrote letters to the government and newspapers. They also gave speeches to teach people about the horrors of slavery.

The Sons of Africa worked closely with the new Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade. This society included both Quakers and Anglicans, another religious group. One important member was Thomas Clarkson. The Sons of Africa called him "our constant and generous friend."

Fighting for Change: Their Actions

Olaudah Equiano learned about a terrible event called the Zong massacre. This involved an insurance claim related to enslaved people being thrown overboard. Equiano contacted Granville Sharp, a person who fought against slavery. Sharp helped bring this sad story to public attention.

The Sons of Africa held public meetings. They gave lectures to explain how cruel slavery was. They also wrote many letters. For example, they sent letters to important people like Sir William Dolben, a member of Parliament. These letters often described the terrible conditions of the Middle Passage. This was the journey enslaved Africans were forced to take across the Atlantic Ocean.

Their letters and efforts helped create public discussion. Soon after hearing from them, Sir William Dolben suggested a new law. This law aimed to make conditions better on slave ships. The Slave Trade Act 1788 was the first law to control the slave trade. It set rules for how many enslaved people a ship could carry based on its size.

Equiano also led groups of the Sons of Africa to Parliament. They tried to convince members of Parliament to completely stop the Atlantic slave trade. This goal was finally achieved with the Slave Trade Act 1807. This law made the transatlantic slave trade illegal for Britain. It also allowed Britain to use its navy to stop illegal slave ships. The Sons of Africa continued their work, fighting to end slavery in all British colonies.

Who Were the Sons of Africa Members?

The Sons of Africa had many members who worked together. Here are some of the people who were part of this important group:

• Olaudah Equiano
• Ottobah Cugoano (who sometimes signed his name as John Stuart)
• George Mandeville
• William Stevens
• Joseph Almze
• Boughwa Gegansmel
• Jasper Goree
• James Bailey
• Thomas Oxford
• John Adams
• George Wallace
• John Christopher
• Thomas Jones
• Thomas Carlisle
• Daniel Christopher