Thomas Peters was a slave who was taken to America from somewhere along the West African coast. Historical accounts state that the black settlers had been promised land grants, no taxation on the lands of the first settlers, and a democratic government. Nevertheless, the black settlers blamed him for persuading them to come to Africa, only to be deceived. Peters fell ill soon after his conviction and died in Freetown, Sierra Leone in 1792. Peters, whose descendants are members of the Creole ethnic group that lives predominantly in Freetown, Sierra Leone, was in 1999 honoured by the Sierra Leone government as he was included in a movie celebrating the country’s national heroes.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 11, 2019 12:00 UTC