1845–1854: Mahommah Gardo Baquaqua was captured in the interior of the Bight of Benin and deported to Pernambuco, Brazil, where he was initially sold to a ba…

1845–1854: Mahommah Gardo Baquaqua was captured in the interior of the Bight of Benin and deported to Pernambuco, Brazil, where he was initially sold to a baker. After being resold to a ship’s captain in Rio de Janeiro, he successfully escaped his enslavement in New York City in 1847 and briefly sought refuge in Haiti. Baquaqua eventually moved to Canada to complete his autobiography, which stands as a powerful testament to his search for freedom and cultural adaptation. His narrative, published in 1854, details his conversion to Christianity and his enduring desire to return to Africa as a missionary.