Memoirs of 'Nicholas' Said: 1836-1882, a Life of Large Families and Big Households - Essay Sample

Introduction

The memoirs of Mohammed Ali 'Nicholas' Said document his life from 1836 to 1882 when he died. The text expresses how events occurred in the presence of Nicholas Said. Said writes about being the thirteenth born in a family of nineteen, an aspect which creates an impression that he came from a big household. It also shows that during that period, most families were large in number. Such explicit information assists the student to relate to what the writer experienced. The events enable the student to picture how and when the events went down in the life of Said.

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The relevance of this primary historical source is that it expounded on slavery in the 19th Century. Said writes about how a band of the Kindills captured him. It was at this time that he had been placed in the care of Malam Katory (Al-Ahari 2016). Such information provokes curiosity in the minds of the reader. The reader has a desire to get to know how slavery began in West Africa and what happened after the capture of Said.

The alternative relevance of this historical source is that it shows the journey of Said. He traveled from Bornu, Nigeria, to Arabia, Turkey, Russia, and finally to the United States of America. It was while he was in Russia that Said, born in an Islamic family, was converted to Christianity by his master Prince Nicholas Vasilievitch of Russia. Suck kinds of twists in Said's life provoke the reader to want to know the reason as to why a devout Muslim would convert to Christianity. Most scholars argue that he converted to Christianity because it was at this point in his life that he was freed from slavery (Al-Ahari 2016). He was grateful to the prince for freeing him and for assisting him in learning Russian, French, and English. The prince also traveled with him all over the world to Austria, Italy, France, England, and Germany.

The other relevance of this historical source is that it provides information on how the American Civil War impacted on Europe in the 19th Century. Due to the war, most freed slaves left Europe and traveled to America to find other jobs. It was at this time that Said left Russia and went to teach in Detroit, Michigan.

Revelations of the Document About the History

The record reveals that in the 19th Century, Africans were assumed to be illiterate and could not accomplish much. Said states in the preface of his memoirs that the intentions of the publication, was to show the world the extent and possibilities which could be accomplished by an African. He had functional purposes of stimulating other Africans to endeavor in their studies and improve their mental culture.

The document also reveals that in the 19th Century, Africans had well-organized systems of administration. Said states that his father was the eldest son of Katzalla Malagemou, who was the ruling chief of Molgoy in Bornou, in Soudan (Al-Ahari 2016). Therefore, according to this publication, Africa had kingdoms that were run by kings. The system was orderly, and there also existed enemies who fought other nations. Molgoys enemies included; the Hellas, Bargirmies, and the Kindills,

The memoirs also reveal the spread of Islam in West and Central Africa. Said states that he has no slightest idea as to when Mohammedanism was introduced to Central Africa. All he remembers is that once the religion spread in Central Africa, ruin and desolation reigned in the region. Said reveals that trade became difficult. Bigotry overruled the city; every non-followers of Islam were considered enemies of conversion. Most were massacred and sold into slavery.

The spread of Islam negatively impacted his town. Paganism was disbanded. Othman Danfodio, a Fellatah Chief, was among the chiefs who promoted the spread of Islam. He encouraged the murder of pagans stating that Allah had ordained him to spread the message.

Explicit and Implicit Biases in the Document

Scholars have contested some of Said's facts on his birth and childhood. Said states in his memoirs that he was born in 1836. However, some historians like Tabish Kair have estimated that he could have been born between 1831 and 1833. The reason for disputing his age have, yet, not been provided by historians.

The historians also dispute the place where Said was born. In his memoirs, Said states that he was born in a place called Kouka in the capital of Bornou Kingdom in Soudan. However, according to the contemporary map of the region, what he described as his birth town is located 1800 miles from Lake Chad in Libya (Al-Ahari 2016).

Prince Troubetzkoy allows Said to visit his native land for a year only for Said to state that he landed in the United States in 1867 together with De Sanddrost, a Dutch together with his wife. Most scholars argue that Sai must have fallen in the United States in 1857. The basis of the criticism is that the dates provided in his military documents and engagements vary in periods.

There are certain events that scholars believe Said omitted from his memoirs. According to an 1867 Atlantic Monthly article, it is believed that Said served in a Union Army for the colored from the years 1863 to 1865. The historians also believe that during this period, Said met and married a woman in the South of the United States. However, Said does not mention these events in his memoirs. It is not understood the reasons why he would omit such facts from the journals.

Lessons From Reading the Document

First, I have learned that Said had the desire to eliminate illiteracy among black people. He also had the urge to educate the rest of the world that Africans were not an illiterate and lazy bunch of people. When he landed in the United States, Said started teaching in Detroit and then settled in Alabama. He stated in his memoirs that, 'he felt an unsurmountable desire to put an end to his peregrinations.' He loved education and wanted to render himself useful to his race.

Secondly, I have learned that Said was a patient and loyal servant who was ready to learn and serve others. At the time of his capture, his chances of surviving were very minimal. However, he was patient and prepared to learn any language which helped him survive in the regions he traveled. It was at this period that slavery was high (Al-Ahari 2016). But despite being a slave, he had good masters who supported his quest to study. The masters also traveled with him within the five continents. His patience later paid off when he decided to be a teacher to assist his race.

Additionally, I have learned of the traditions of the Bornou people in the 19th Century. Said states that under Islam, they were allowed to have up to four wives (Said 2014). A man of means was also entitled to have many concubines. Said recalls a man named Hadji Bichio, who had 75 wives and King Shagou Omar, who had 150 wives (Said 2014). In their culture, they also practiced agriculture and used hoes to plow their lands. The crops they grew included; millet, rice, tobacco, corn, and cassava. They also had warriors who protected their kingdom from invasion by the neighbors. Their army had an approximate of 60,000 warriors who were well-organized into cavalries and infantries.

Lastly, I have learned that African history in the pre-colonial period was rich with cultures and information which have remained unwritten. The memoirs of Said give a close interaction of how life was in the 19th Century. He captures the history in an intrinsic and captivating manner.

References

Al-Ahari M.A. (Ed). (2016). Five Classic Muslim Slave Narratives. Maritime Press.

Said, N. (2014). The Autobiography of Nicholas Said. Jazzybee Verlag.