This summer, I embarked on a 21-day trip to Ghana, motivated by my deep admiration for Ottobah Cugoano, an important historical figure whose legacy is often overlooked.
Before my visit, I was astonished to learn that a statue of Malcolm X is set to be erected in Cape Coast. While I hold deep respect for Malcolm X, I believe that Cape Coast is not the right location for his statue. That historic site should honor Ottobah Cugoano, who was imprisoned within those very walls. My goal in traveling to Ghana was to revive his name and highlight his contributions. I firmly believe that Ottobah Cugoano deserves far more recognition than he has received
At the tender age of 13, I was labeled a radical. At the time, I struggled to grasp the full weight of that term, even after looking it up in the dictionary. When I turned 21, I left Jamaica to live in England, where I came across the book “Staying Powers,” written by Peter Fryer. Within its pages, I encountered this remarkable man, and for the first time, I truly understood the significance of being called a radical.
While others are drawn to Kemet (Ancient Egypt), or ancient Africa (our great civilizations and kingdoms), the Maafa is my favourite genre of history. Therefore, Cugoano is seen by me as the first hero of the Time of Sorrow.
Ottobah Cugoano
Why is it that we do not remember your name?
In the halls of AfriKa’s history
Where is your fame?
In the 18th century
You were one of the most radical voices
Standing firm
Against racial injustice
With your pen, you wrote a literary revolution
Pioneering the black radical tradition
Through your words
You exacted vengeance
For your people
AfriKa’s people
For the millions who were taken
For the millions who were stolen
Ottobah Cugoano
At a young age
You made a decision
To study the enemy’s language and religion
To strike back against the animalisation
The brutality and the damnation
Of your people
AfriKa’s people
Those who were forcibly taken into captivity
For their enemies’ economic productivity.
Ottobah Cugoano
You were merely a child of 13 years old
When darkness descended and snatched you away
Born a Fante in Ajumako
You were cruelly abducted and transported away
On the day of your capture
You had a premonition of impending doom
Yet unwilling to be labeled a coward,
you bravely stepped into the gloom
Of being severed from your roots
By those who were collaborating brutes
Ottobah Cugoano
You became one among countless souls in a tragic saga
But your story would become a heroic journey of the Maafa
You experienced the horrors of the dungeon on the AfriKan coast
And being taken onto a ship by cannibalizing ghosts
A planned uprising on board was aborted
because of treachery, a revolution did not get started
In Grenada you witness the atrocities
That came with being enchained
After about two years, a powerful fate
Made you lose those physical chains
You were taken to England
Where you eventually came to fame
Writing many letters and two books
To free your brothers and sisters from their chains
Ottobah Cugoano
You wrote Thoughts and Sentiments
Under your African name
Although baptised as John Stuart
You reasserted your claim
To identify yourself as a Son of AfriKa
And co-founded an organisation called Sons of AfriKa
Demonstrating your pride in your lineage
And your powerful Afrikan heritage
Ottobah Cugoano
Where are your statues
Or the library created in your name
You are one of the pioneers of Ghana’s protest literary tradition
How come in Ghana, they are not singing your praise
Why are you standing
in the shadows of history
Not being remembered
Is a historical injury
Where are the many voices
to sing your praise songs
For a courageous man,
who helped to right a grievous wrong?
Ohhh, why is it that we do not remember your name?
Why in the halls of AfriKa’s history
You are not framed in fame?
Ottobah Cugoano
I dare to say that it is our crying shame
That you, a great son of AfriKa
We do not remember your name!
In a way that you deserve
For the enormous contribution you made before you left this earth.
Ottobah Cugoano
I salute you
Ottobah Cugoano
I thank you
I count you amongst the beautiful ones who were brave
May your name be engraved.
