Wow. A beautiful painting. But he went back to the slave trade after suffering from it. He decided that benefiting from it was more important than being a human fighting against it. The portrait becomes a personification of the inhumanity of the times in which he lived.
We can draw parallel to the present times where slave labour is still being exploited for the constructions of buildings in Dubai and slave labour in garments factory. We are all complicit as we continue to buy £3 beef tops from Primark and the likes
Slavery was very postively seen in Islam. It wasn't that the slaves were given into Christianity. Muslims weren't enslaved by Muslim slave traders like his father. He being a practicing Muslim didn't have the cognitive dissonance with slave trade the way Christians like William Wilberforce had for slavery.
Sorry but as an African, I am stunned. You can't be a slave trader, then be traded and live the life of a slave yourself then return to be a trader, knowing the suffering you will inflict. He manipulated himself out of slavery to coldbloodedly return to his "business". Let's not sugarcoat his behaviour! We can't bring down Colston statue in Bristol UK then say that we will judge Diallo differently because "he is black" and the portrait is "beautiful"! Black people must stay rational. I think he is worse than the likes of Colston. Because he traded his own brothers and sisters!
Him going back to practicing slavery after experiencing it first hand says less about the time and more about the man. If you can have your freedom taken away from you, then be so lucky as to get it back, that should have been a moment of enlightening. You're then supposed to fight against those injustices with a renewed mindset.There were many people who were never enslaved, yet fought against slavery because they had empathy for their fellow human beings. How could he not feel compassion?
I really hate this whole idea of Africans "proving" their humanity. I don't have to look into the eyes of his portrait to know he's human. 250,000 years of human history told me that. To be human is to be AFRICAN. Africans are the origin of humanity. This narrator is really insecure. It's sad.
i totally agree with you, although its technicly 200.000 years of ''human'' history the modern human that is.. but i would say its easy for us to condemn this man, for his actions but he did what he had to do to survive probbably and thats all humans instinctively care about.. survival ... but trying to sugarcoat the story somehow and make us feel bad for him is a wierd way of getting attention for this story.
Unfortunately when Diallo went back and sold slaves after once being a slave he lost credibility and his stories means nothing to me. I am also a Muslim 😢😢
I see the ending of Mr. Diallo's story as less a reflection on the times and more of a reflection on him as a person. Anyone from any race can do despicable things to their fellow man. I don't know what prompted him to go back so maybe there was more to the story. Either way, his tale is one I don't think I'll soon forget.
To everyone saying his return to slave trading says more about the man than his time: it can say something about both, or can say very little about either. Is it a failure of his character that he didn’t quit owning slaves? Maybe. But, to him, slavery was part of the natural order which divided people. Throughout his ordeal, he could have still held that, as an aristocrat, he was above the slaves, and this would have given him solace and hope for escape. As well as psychologically holding himself apart from his conditions, this belief would have also held him apart from his fellow slaves and prevented him from humanising them. Many cultures are replete with stories of the noble-born hero who falls into a situation which is beneath him and which he must overcome to restore his birthright. For Diallo, this episode was likely a romantic story to tell the grandkids about that time he heroically escaped a terrible injustice only to restore himself to his rightful place. It is fascinating that, to contemporary eyes, his portrait serves to humanise not only him, but also those he enslaved.
By that reasoning the British are the true paragons of virtue, since in a world where slavery was normal, who ended the cycle? Ergo, immune to any form of criticism. Thanks. Fact is, this man proves his inhumanity, because most people will ignore the truth until it hits them in the face, at which time they are forced to recognise their own demons. If someone comes out of it with a smile on their face and ready to continue? there you have found a monster.
Art is very telling. This story sounds like a 'drug dealer' who knows the drug is bad for ALL PEOPLE , yet he is 'captured by the game'. So he goes back to selling drugs because everyone is still buying. Aloha from Hawaii. Leah Tunkara
he didn’t see them as brothers and sisters back in the day. They were of different kingdoms and ethnicities, therefore, they were different people, a different race, a different culture. The African Identity is a relatively new idea.
There is this concept that people use, "I can continue this but in a better way....." This is especially true for money, you take want was atrocious, and justify that you are making it better because it was profitable for you. He did exactly what humanitarian aid is doing, modern confinement of human being for profit with no means to deal with the bilateral consequences
Going back the slavery business it’s tells me he wasn’t compassionate and he didn’t regret what he’s family did to so many families. I hope he and all those who practice made business got from Almighty what they deserve.
Wonderful documentary, the portrait is very powerful and moving. Never knew anything about him untill now. Art is such an expressive tool to learn so much about history
We almost condemn the slavery as a Senegalese but we mustn’t forget our history . Ayuba Souleiman Diallo did not himself write the story of his life, which is known thanks in particular to the book by Thomas Bluett published in 1734 .Born in 1701 in Boundou, in the northeast of present-day Senegal, Ayuba comes from a family of Muslim scholars. During his childhood, he studied the Arabic language and the Koran in the company of the future king of Fouta-Toro and legendary Samba Gueladio Diegui. At 29, he was captured by Mandingos on the banks of the Gambia (river) when he himself had sold two captives against cattle. It is sold to Captain Pike, working for the account of English slave traders. The latter, authorizes him to send a message to his father to redeem him against two slaves, but when the messengers return from Bondou, it is too late, the ship had already left for the New World. Ayuba is therefore brought to Annapolis in the state of Maryland and put to work in a tobacco plantation. After only a few weeks of work, he escapes. Picked up and held in an inn in Kent County (Maryland), he met an Anglican lawyer and pastor, Thomas Bluett, then on a business trip, who became his first biographer. After many adventures, the Royal African Company sent him back free to his country in July 1734. The director of the company hoped that Ayuba would help him establish a trade in gum arabic. Indeed, the country of Ayuba is close to a forest of gum trees, and this product is prized by Europeans, especially for the textile industry. Meanwhile, Ayuba passed through England where he met eminent personalities such as the doctor, naturalist and collector Hans Sloane, the Duke of Montaigu and even King George II. A year later, after engaging in translation activities, he returned home to Boundou in Senegal. His father is dead and one of his wives, who thought he was dead, remarried. But judging that he “returns from the land of the dead” ,he does not criticize him for it, any more than he does for her husband.
Wow tthanks for your message. Never heard of him. So I appreciate your addition. I'm going to look up more on him. This video does seem to show several things, at first the Africans who ended up participating in the selling of captured/indentured slaves to whites were not aware of the atrocities committed so to them it was normal. But after Aboubakar lived through it and was able to free himself, he also didn't mind it as much. Like, he just went back to business. I think this depicts the a bit of the attitude or way of thinking elites within the society thought of. Him being from a well-off family it was a disgrace for him to be treated as a slave not for the indentured ones, they would have been indentured slaves back home anyhow. He did not identify as a 'black enslaved man' but as a man of his tribe, the son of his father, a wealthy kid not part of the sorrows of the poor class. I think this is why some say Africans sold slaves too...it still doesn't justify nor excuse the racial aspect of slavery.
Remember, race did NOT exist back then. He was a Fulani and a Muslim so he did not see non-Fulani and non-Muslims the same as himself. This Western idea of "race" does not apply anywhere else in the world.
An amazing story, thanks for telling it to us Heni. Diallo’s tale is a side to the slave trade that I could have never had imagined. Its wild that he returned to that tragic business in the end. He sure would have been an interesting guy to have had a chat with to understand his logic. He’d be part of the 6 famous people dead or alive that I’d invite to my dinner party. I felt his face exuded kindness. Im was sure wrong there, the slaves he sold would have certainly said different.
Ayuba Suleiman Diallo (1701-1773), also known as Job Ben Solomon , was a prominent Muslim and slave who was a victim of the Atlantic slave trade . Born in Bundu , Senegal ( West Africa ), Ayuba's memoirs were published as one of the earliest slave narratives , that is, a first-person account of the slave trade, in Thomas Bluett 's Some Memories of the Life of Job, the Son of the Solomon High Priest of Boonda in Africa; Who was enslaved about two Years in Maryland; and afterwards being brought to England, was set free, and sent to his native Land in the Year 1734 . However, this version is not a first-person account. A first hand account of Ayuba's capture by Mandinkas and eventual return home can be found in Francis Moore's Travels into the Interior Parts of Africa .
I am a portrait artist And this is possibly the best I have ever seen! Quiet, intense, dignified, storied. I have been to the Louvre , the Met and many others but this is really special, it deserves its own space in the gallery not under some rich patron’s portrait!
A truly breathtaking portrait. I've seen it many times and heard a different history of the subject. Now I am older I can see myself why he went back into the slave trade after experiencing life as a slave. He was a Muslim, most slaves were not Muslims and that is why they were enslaved and why he could return to the trade of human misery and profit from their blood. This was a massive and complex crime against humanity with the criminals knowing fully what they were doing. I guess then, as now, money talks louder than decency.
You mentioned "Most Slaves were not Muslims". I have to stop you there. Have you done your research to gain an understanding of the percentage ? Omar Ibn Said - ca 1770 - 1863 was enslaved in the American South. He was also from Senegal. He wrote an Autobiography in Arabic, which was not interpreted by the perpetrators of this Evil. This is available for research to All Truth Seekers. Also, I would like to mention the "Slave Bible" with passages deliberately taken out to justify the European Enslavement of Africans. This is now on display in Washington Dc. I can understand the reasons as to why, more young Black Males are running to Islam. Malcolm X mentioned this in the sixties.
Yes he was Muslim, but he was not perfect, Islam is perfect, it has been against slavery from day one, being a Muslim is what freed him, but being a human made him not perfect, my we as muslims learn from his mistakes, and we as humans learn how important freedom for all of humanity is the only reality!
Thank you so much I throughly enjoyed this piece of history and the irony of this story wow it deep that he went back. Yes it should remain on permanent display
Another African whose portrait flashes by in video is Equiano who fought against slavery in Europe, the Caribbean and returned to Africa to continue fighting against slavery. So no, the narrator is wrong, it says nothing about the times and everything about this individual. There have always been human beings in EVERY age who have opposed slavery and recognized it as inherently evil, and then there are those who go along to get along and don’t give a f>
Great he help fight for the abolition of slavery. Disappointing he went back to sell his fellow man his human brothers. He could have helped fight slavery in his home, imagine the lives he could have saved the wonderful hero he could have been for his countrymen. Brave moral men that stay true to their values, they are out there, unfortunately he did not live this belief, a dignity he did afford his countrymen.
I share the same last name as this man. The name Diallo is very common in west Africa. This man and all men of his time that were engaged in this trade had really corrupted morales. In my book, he is un redeemable. Maybe Allah/God in his mercy will. But let’s not sugar coat it. This is the true evil and is shameful. Never that again. I agree that we should probably preserve these portraits, but certainly not in a context where we would be honoring this man. He had no honor.
💛💛 At the beginning of this video I though "What a simple but dignified portrait !!!!!" And the end of this video said it. I was like "OMG I'm right 😮!!" 💛💛
What’s so great about this slave trader? What did he accomplish? What did he do to create positive change for slaves. Did I miss something? I may need to do some research on this. After experiencing and witnessing the atrocity of slavery, when the opportunity presents itself he goes right back to doing it. Sounds like just another self serving individual who cares little next to nothing about his fellow man. What I see when I look into his eyes is an empty soul...
Him being sold into slavery for two years and the released just to then again sell slaves, shows how much it was simply a normal part of the culture, different times….
We think that slavery is in the past but please research modern slavery. It is estimated 40 million people are in slavery right now. We are all complicit in it if we buy fast fashion, cheap plastic things, electronics, or even food. Not knowing where things come from and how they are made, we all support modern slavery in some way.
The man was admirable and yet the time was so different. Slavery had been established for 100's of years. Abolition was radical and an early step towards human rights. Diallo's World was different. We talk about a new normal today, what was normal then was very different and requires consideration when judging actions at that time.
His story say some about a class system and the mentality that goes with it. I wonder what happen if we tried a universal education system were rich and poor are educated together?
Jon ubick but yet he became a victim of the slave trade. in other words, the white world and Arab world never cared about black's tribalism or one tribe believing that they are better than the next tribe.
The people he enslaved were also born with the same dignity value and rights, but were not Muslim or of his tribe. The Arab Muslims were heavy into the slave trade.
Diallo needed to be emancipated from himself,to abolish slavery in himself but in a way he considered himself a slave owner,a person who can have conversations with westerners and sit at the same table in which they ate from and sat on.
In Islam a slave has rights and you cannot do particular things or you'll get punished by the ruling class . Dude acted like Islam and Christianity had the same basis of slave trading --they didn't. Islam doesn't allow racial slavery or racism. How is that the same?
His life truly is so fascinating! Thank you for presenting his life! Made my day:)❤️❤️💜Beautiful Light of wisdom on his face. Sura Balad, 90:1-13, “I do call to witness this City;-and thou art a FREEMAN of this city…verily We have created man into toil and struggle…..Have We not made for him a pair of eyes-and a tongue and a pair of lips?--and shown man the two highways?//But man hath made no haste on the path that is steep,//And what will explain to thee the path that is steep?-It is FREEING the bondsman /slave; or the giving of food in a day of privation//to the orphan with claims of a relationship, or to the indigent down in the dust.//Then, will he be of those who believe and enjoin patience, constancy, and self-restraint, and enjoin deeds of kindness and compassion.//Such are the Companions of the Right Hand.” (Alhumdullilah-All praise to Allah who created us all as individuals, without original sin, that He already forgave).
When I saw his picture, I thought, "The most beautiful person in the world." His eyes, his expression, his radiant skin, resplendent of the Divine Beauty, the sacred reality of The Black Light. In Islamic spirituality, the Black Light represents the annihilation of the ego and entrance into the Divine Presence. It is the highest spiritual station.
Spare me this feel good chat please. Ayuba was either too simple or too smart to worry about things such as respect me These are 21st Centuries insecurities. You want to be respected, than conduct yourself in a manner that brings respect to you.
The man was admirable and yet the time was so different. Slavery had been established for 100's of years. Abolition was radical and an early step towards human rights. Diallo's World was different. We talk about a new normal today, what was normal then was very different and requires consideration when judging actions at that time.
The story Job Ben Solomon alias Suleiman Diallo is a perfect story of Karma and it's ways. Suleiman's family business is slave-raiding. Sulaiman was a Fulani and during the slavetrade, Fulainis were classified as whites. What a lot of blacks do not GET is that to the Europeans, there are those termed white Africans and black Africans. Till this day, they are used to cause great strife and chaos in Africa. The Natives of large parts of Africa knows that certain immigrants of unknown origin among them are not same as them, ignoring clear evidence in features and hair, yet are amazed when these strangers rise up and start killing them off. If in doubt, check out the activities of Fulanis in West, Central and Eastern African countries to this day. It is FAR from the story of love or genetic connection.
What I see is the arrogance of somebody who is saying that he is superior to the other people he is trafficking. He thought it was wrong to enslave him, but fine to enslave others.
I took notice of that portrait in the National Gallery as well. Of course many works were absolutely stunning with evident skill, but that one was unique. I agree it should stay.
Humanity has such a long way to go .Today modern slavery comes down to minimum wage, that's besides people that abuse their domestic workers which is common practice. How do we solve this problem? We care on a global level but how many of us take advantage of others .
You do not have to say that because he is black.Countless blacks(and this is no disrespect),have proven who they are by being great rulers,great generals,great artists,musicians,etc.,and great human beings.I wrote this before watching the video,so I will watch it
DIGNITY! I don't think so! He has no SOUL!!! What you see in those eyes are a soulless human being who had his humanity beaten out of him as a slave and suppressed as a slaver.
Meanwhile, everyone here, esp the narrator, is missing the real point: we were largely educated Muslims before the Translatlantic trade, not wild creatures found in the bushes, like they teach in their HIStory books. We have been lied to so much in an effort to make us believe that we should appreciate our oppressors for “rescuing” and “civilizing” us when we taught them to be civilized and to bathe (something only the wealthiest Europeans did, and even then, it wasn’t a daily affair). We (“slave” descendants, mostly in the US and Western Europe-not the newer immigrants from the West Indies and Western Africa) are the same Tuareg Berbers (aka Moors) who built Southern Europe, as well as Northern Africa, and established a cultural empire in parts where none or the mere ruins of one existed during the “Dark Ages” (aka Europe under control of “dark” people). The flags of several European nations still bear the image of a Moor, a black man with curly hair, not to be confused with a modern Arab since they lie and tell us that the Moors were straight-haired Arabs, who are largely Caucasoid. Blackamoor art, depicted the regal stature of the black Moors who ruled. They were not slaves, as they lie and tell us; Blackamoors are almost always pictured as being adorned in gold because they were incredibly wealthy, which is how they were able to take over and build up Europe so easily. The “Enlightenment” (or the “Enwhitenment”) was the white European solution to driving out the Moors and most of the mulattoes (later repackaged and counted as Arabs) by rising up as a sovereign continent under the new banner of whiteness and white supremacy, which bonded previously warring factions and fortified them against further invasion from both Africans and Mongols, who had seized and controlled the majority of Europe, which lies in Russia.
lol listening to this man bloviate for 7 minutes about how noble and dignified this guy is while glossing over how he sold slaves before and after his capture is nauseating. Dude said he was the personification of anti slavery and abolitionism huh. the portrait isn't that moving and doesn't speak to all this universal nonsense he's implying. But when you want to make things sound cool you'll say whatever, portrait is cold and speaks to his wealth and privilege which he leveraged, thats it.
