PRINCE AMONG SLAVES

The bittersweet story of Abdulrahman Ibrahima Sori’s early life, enslavement, and eventual freedom.

Warrior, scholar, devout Muslim: Abdulrahman (1762-1829), son of the king of West Africa’s Fouta Djallon, is everything a prince should be. But when he’s captured by an enemy tribe and sold to English traders who traffic enslaved African people, his royal title cannot shield him from the brutal reality of the Middle Passage and the nearly 40 years of enslavement by a Mississippi planter that will follow. Abdulrahman gains a reputation for integrity, wisdom, and expertise. Having never forgotten his home, his faith, or himself, he leverages the influence of several white men—from an acquaintance he first met in Fouta Djallon to a newspaper printer to President John Quincy Adams—and finally secures his freedom. Drawing directly from Terry Alford’s biography as well as from the work of various African studies scholars, Senzai retells an incredible story of devastation and resilience, emphasizing the historical presence and impact of Muslim identity in America and beyond. The text is heavy with weighty truths of racial violence and enslavement, and although Abdulrahman dies in Liberia without seeing his home again, the author balances tragedy with themes of hope and togetherness. The narrative ends with Abdulrahman’s dream realized as his African and American descendants gather nearly 200 years later. Rich’s illustrations strike a similarly nuanced balance, offering visual counterweights of gentleness and community alongside powerful emotional spreads.

A captivating biography and history made accessible for younger readers.