The Natchez Democrat
February 12, 2026
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NATCHEZ, Miss. — Natchez will soon dedicate the city’s second Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) historical marker honoring Prince Abdul Rahman Ibrahima (1762–1829), an African nobleman who was enslaved in the Natchez area for about 40 years before ultimately regaining his freedom.
The marker will be dedicated on April 8 during a public ceremony on Silver Street near the Under-the-Hill docks. The event is free and open to the public.
“I am so grateful for the continued progress we are
making in better telling all of the great stories of Natchez,” said Dan Gibson,
Mayor of Natchez. “The story of Prince Ibrahima is one of those remarkable
stories that for many years has gone largely untold. But gradually many are
learning this story. There are even books and documentaries on it — Prince
Ibrahima is a big deal. His is a story of love overcoming hate and of courage
overcoming fear. I am excited that this marker will soon grace our riverfront,
and I encourage all lovers of freedom to learn more about this amazing man and
his amazing story.”
The location was intentionally selected as the place
where Ibrahima first arrived in Natchez as an enslaved man and later departed
the city as a free man with his wife, Isabella. The dedication date marks April
8, 1828, the day the couple left Natchez following Ibrahima’s emancipation,
creating what organizers describe as a powerful “full circle” moment in the
city’s history.
Born into royalty in Futa Jallon in present-day Guinea,
Ibrahima was a scholar and military leader before being captured in battle and
sold into slavery. Transported to Mississippi, he spent decades enslaved before
an international campaign involving the U.S. government and global advocates
led to his release and return to freedom.
The new marker builds on ongoing efforts to expand and
deepen interpretation of African American history in Natchez through public
history initiatives, education, and community-led storytelling. The dedication
will complement February programming and look ahead to additional heritage
initiatives planned for spring 2026.
“This marker allows us to more fully tell Prince Ibrahima’s story in the very place where his journey in Natchez began and ended,” said Dr. Roscoe Barnes III, cultural heritage tourism manager at Visit Natchez and president of the Mississippi Historical Society. “It is an important addition to how our city showcases its history and a meaningful step in how we recognize the people that shaped this city.”
Additional details about the dedication ceremony and
related programming will be announced closer to the event.
See more at this link: https://www.natchezdemocrat.com/news/natchez-to-dedicate-second-historical-marker-honoring-prince-abdul-rahman-ibrahima-e8b00e0b
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