Olaudah Equiano Summary

The beginning of, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa, the African. Written by himself, Volume I commences with Equiano’s description of his native African culture, including the general customs, foods and religious practises. He explains “I remember a man was brought before my father, and the other judges, for kidnapping a boy; and, although he was the son of a chief or senator, he was condemned to make recompense by a man or woman slave. Adultery, however, was sometimes punished with slavery or death; a punishment which I believe is inflicted on it throughout most of the nations of Africa: so sacred among them is the honour of the marriage bed, and so jealous are they of the fidelity of their wives”