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The story of Prince Abdul Rahman Ibrahima Sori (1762-1829) is one of the most well-known stories to come out of the Natchez-Adams County area, but surprisingly, there is no historical marker or plaque that bears his name. There's nothing in Washington (Adams County) or Natchez that shares his extraordinary life history and nothing that honors his legacy.
This is unfortunate, but I'm hopeful this will soon change. A historical marker or monument for this important figure in our history is long overdue.
As most of us well know, Ibrahima was an African prince who was captured in 1788 and sold to slave traders. He eventually wound up in Mississippi. He spent 40 years enslaved on the Thomas Foster plantation near Washington in Adams County, just outside of Natchez, before he gained his freedom.
The world learned of Ibrahima through Dr. Terry Alford's book, "Prince Among Slaves: The True Story of an African Prince Sold into Slavery in the American South (Oxford University Press, 1977). In 2008, Unity Productions Foundation produced the film, "Prince Among Slaves," which was based on Alford's book. In May 2024, the film “From Prince to Slave” was shown at the Natchez Convention Center. The film was a collaboration between the elders of Timbo, the home of Ibrahima, and the U.S. Embassy in Guinea.
Over the last few decades, much has been written about the prince, and many parts of his story have been documented. Today we know about his descendants in the Natchez area and other parts of the United States, as well as those in West Africa. His story, including his faith as a Muslim, continues to generate interest among writers, historians, and scholars of multiple disciplines.
In an effort to determine the best way to honor him and display his story for years to come, I have spent several months doing research. During this time, I have had great conversations with local historians and Ibrahima descendants, all of whom agree that something needs to be done. Alford has been especially helpful in answering questions and guiding my research. David Dreyer, local historian, graciously gave me a tour of the places visited by Ibrahima, including Thomas Foster's plantation, where Ibrahima was enslaved. I’ve also received help from Historic Natchez Foundation, the Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture, and the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.
As I think about this topic, I am drawn to several sites that played a pivotal role in Ibrahima’s life. They are all noted in Alford’s book. They include:
* Under-the-hill. This is where Ibrahima arrived in Natchez as an enslaved man, and it’s also where he and his wife, Isabella, departed Natchez in 1828 with their freedom. It was from this location that they boarded the Neptune and waved goodbye to their children, who remained enslaved.
* Andrew Marschalk’s printing shop. Marschalk was a newspaper publisher. This building, which no longer exists, was located at North Wall and Franklin streets. It is where Ibrahima met with Marschalk and read from a book with text in Arabic. Marschalk initiated efforts that resulted in Ibrahima’s freedom.
* Pine Ridge Presbyterian Church. This church is located at M.L. K. Jr. Road and Airport Road. The original building no longer exists. Ibrahima visited the church with the Foster family.
* Area near Historic Jefferson College. It was in this area between 16 Old North St. and Highway 61 North in Washington that Ibrahima recognized Dr. John Coats Cox in 1807 at the market place. Cox tried for many years without success to buy Ibrahima’s freedom.
Obviously, there are other important sites, but the ones listed here deserve serious consideration when we think about honoring the prince.
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ROSCOE BARNES III, Ph.D., is the cultural heritage tourism manager for Visit Natchez.
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