https://blogs.bl.uk/untoldlives/2021/11/so-long-from-king-naimbanna-ii-manuscripts-from-an-18th-century-african-king.html * Catalogues & Collections * Discover & Learn * What's on * Visit * Business Support * Shop * Join THE BRITISH LIBRARY Untold lives blog * All our blogs * Latest posts * About this blog Search this blog [ ] Search Search Main Previous post Next post 25 November 2021 'So Long' from King Naimbanna II - Manuscripts from an 18th Century African King Within the Clarkson Papers there are a number of volumes relating to the settlement of Freetown, Sierra Leone, from 1791 onwards. These were explored in a series of Untold Lives blogs called The Lives and Letters of the Black Loyalists. We return to these papers to explore a number of fascinating folios of correspondence between John Clarkson and King Naimbanna II. King, or Obai, Naimbanna II (1720-1793) was a leader of the Koya Temne Kingdom on coast of Sierra Leone. Agents of the Sierra Leone Company negotiated with Naimbanna in 1788 and persuaded him to sign over some of his land for the Company's settlement. Naimbanna later stipulated that the deal had been negotiated too hastily and should not have been given consent. A digitised version of this treaty is available to view via the British Library's Endangered Archives Programme. When John Clarkson arrived in Freetown at the end of 1791 he made a conscious effort to engage with Naimbanna as the local leader. Documents from his papers show that collaboration was deemed essential in order for the new settlement to succeed. Instructions from abolitionist Thomas Clarkson to his brother John the Governor of Freetown to 'ingratiate yourself with Naimbanna and his secretary Elliot'Instructions from abolitionist Thomas Clarkson to his brother John, the Governor of Freetown, to 'ingratiate yourself with Naimbanna and his secretary Elliot'. Add MS 41262A, f.65. Public Domain Creative Commons Licence A note from John Clarkson to King Naimbanna inviting him to dine with him and explaining he has a letter for him from his son 12 May 1792A note from John Clarkson to King Naimbanna inviting him to dine with him and explaining he has a letter for him from his son, 12 May 1792. Add MS 41262A, f.105. Public Domain Creative Commons Licence A working relationship was established, as the documents below illustrate. Naimbanna gave these folios to John Clarkson when the governor was due to depart Sierra Leone for England at the end of 1792. First of two folios from King Naimbanna to John Clarkson described as 'His gift to Mr Clarkson on taking leave' 23 December 1792 Second of two folios from King Naimbanna to John Clarkson described as 'His gift to Mr Clarkson on taking leave' 23 December 1792Two folios from King Naimbanna to John Clarkson, described as 'His gift to Mr Clarkson on taking leave'. 23 December 1792. Add MS 41262A, ff 211-214. Public Domain Creative Commons Licence These fascinating folios stand out among Clarkson's papers. They are described as prayers or good luck charms. Written in Arabic, they consist of scraps of sentences from the Koran that the author hopes will protect the bearer on his journey. Other notes present with these papers describe the folios as badly written, but despite this criticism from Clarkson's contemporaries, these letters are important historical documents in their own right. They illustrate Naimbanna's cautious engagement with the new settlement and his relationship with its governor Clarkson. Naimbanna engaged diplomatically with the new settlement believing it could offer certain benefits. He backed the original abolitionist mission of its founders, aimed to benefit from a proliferation of trade and sought out specialist education for himself and his sons. Naimbanna sent his children abroad to experience different educations in different parts of the world. His son Prince John Frederic would travel to England in 1791 to receive an education under the sponsorship of abolitionist and activist, Granville Sharp. Announcement of the death of Prince Naimbanna Bury and Norwich Post 1 January 1794Announcement of the death of Prince Naimbanna, Bury and Norwich Post, 1 January 1794. British Newspaper Archive. With this openness and pragmatism of approach, Naimbanna hoped to both take advantage of the opportunities the new colony could open for the Kingdom, whilst retaining power as the rightful leader of the region. However, cordial relations would not last. Naimbanna died in 1793 as did his son, Prince John Frederic, whilst in transit back from England. Successive Temne dynasties fought with neighbouring communities in an effort to consolidate their lands, but ultimately these lands were taken by the British in the latter half of the 19th century. The British made Sierra Leone a British protectorate in 1896 and despite the Temne revolts in 1898 they would govern until Sierra Leone gained independence in 1961. Jessica Gregory Curatorial Support Officer, Modern Archives and Manuscripts Further Reading: Lives and Letters of the Black Loyalists, Parts 1-4. Ijagbemi, E. A. 'THE FREETOWN COLONY AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF 'LEGITIMATE' COMMERCE IN THE ADJOINING TERRITORIES', Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria, vol. 5, no. 2, Historical Society of Nigeria, 1970, pp. 243-56. Kup, A. P. 'John Clarkson and the Sierra Leone Company', The International Journal of African Historical Studies, vol. 5, no. 2, Boston University African Studies Center, 1972, pp. 203-20. . Posted by India Office Records at 09:00:00 in Africa , Commerce , Journeys , Manuscripts , Politics , West Africa Posted by India Office Records at 9:00 AM Tags Africa , Commerce , Journeys , Manuscripts , Politics , West Africa Elizabeth and Mary Royal cousins, Rival Queens Elizabeth and Mary Royal cousins, Rival Queens Book now for the Elizabeth and Mary exhibition Untold lives blog recent posts * Oysters in the Black-Out * Report of a crash-landing of a Japanese bomber * 'So Long' from King Naimbanna II - Manuscripts from an 18th Century African King * Miguel of Mazagon, Mumbai- Part Two * The danger of supporting German Cathedrals during the Second World War * Miguel of Mazagon, Mumbai - Part One * Life on the Home Front * Invalids in the Nilgiri Hills * Fireworks in India for Queen Victoria * Unexpected items found cataloguing Hans Sloane's natural history drawings Tweets by UntoldLives Archives * December 2021 * November 2021 * October 2021 * September 2021 * August 2021 * July 2021 * June 2021 * May 2021 * April 2021 * March 2021 More... 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