John Naimbanna
John Naimbanna | |
|---|---|
 An illustration depicting John Naimbanna, J. Evans | |
| Died | 1793 Sierra Leone |
| Nationality | Temne |
| Other names | Frederick Henry Glanville |
| Years active | 1790s |
| Known for | Eighteenth century African visitor to London |
John Naimbanna (1768–1793) was a Temne Prince who visited London in 1791–1793.He was the son of Nemgbana, the regent of the Koya Temne. He met an untimely death after being educated in England, where he was known as Prince Naimbana. He had anticipated becoming a missionary in his homeland but tragically passed away on his return.[1]
John was the son of Naimbanna II, the Obai (King) of the Temne people of Robanna, near Sierra Leone. The king had three sons and resolved to send one each to Britain, Portugal and the Ottoman Empire to study Protestantism, Catholicism and Islam respectively. Thus in 1791 John was sent to England on the small merchant sloop Lapwing.[2] There he came under the tutelage of the reformer Henry Thornton.[3] While in London he became a Christian, adopting the forenames Henry and Granville to honour Henry Thornton and Granville Sharp.[4]
Early life
[edit]John Frederick Nemgbana, also known as the Black Prince, was sent to England for education in 1791, funded by the Sierra Leone Company. His elder brother, Pedro, also known as Bartholomew, had previously been educated in France. During his voyage, Nemgbana was accompanied by Alexander Falconbridge, an agent of the company. Falconbridge’s wife, Anna Maria, who would later write Narrative of Two Voyages to the River Sierra Leone (1794), took it upon herself to teach him reading and writing, recognizing his intelligence[5]
Influence in England
[edit]Upon arriving in England, Nemgbana caught the attention of Granville Sharp, a prominent abolitionist and Member of Parliament. Sharp, who was also the founder of the Province of Freedom for freed slaves, arranged for Nemgbana’s education under a Church of England clergyman, certified by two bishops. The hope was that Nemgbana would become as beneficial to Africa as historical figures like Alfred and Peter had been to their nations. His virtues were highlighted in a pamphlet titled The African Prince, which depicted him rejecting an inappropriate book.[6]
Return To Sierra Leone And His Death
[edit]John Frederick’s father, the regent, passed away in February 1793. Later that year, Nemgbana returned to Sierra Leone with aspirations of preaching the gospel and converting others. However, upon his arrival in Freetown, he was found gravely ill and soon died, having contracted an illness during his return journey. His brother Pedro alleged that John Frederick had been poisoned to prevent him from disclosing secrets about the white men to his fellow countrymen. This accusation led to a prolonged dispute between the ship’s captain and the family, further complicating the circumstances surrounding Nemgbana’s death.[7]
Naimbanna died of unknown causes in July 1793.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ P, Foray, Cyril (1768–1793). "Nemgbana, John Frederick". Dictionary of African Christian Biography. Retrieved 2025-02-18.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Lee, John (1811). . London: Cheap Repository Tracts.
- ^ Hall, Catherine (2012). Macaulay and son : architects of imperial Britain. New Haven: Yale University Press. p. 45. ISBN 9780300160239.
- ^ Rydings, H. A. (1957). "Prince Naimbanna in England". Sierra Leone Studies. New Series (8). Retrieved 20 December 2014.
- ^ P, Foray, Cyril (1768–1793). "Nemgbana, John Frederick". Dictionary of African Christian Biography. Retrieved 2025-02-18.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ P, Foray, Cyril (1768–1793). "Nemgbana, John Frederick". Dictionary of African Christian Biography. Retrieved 2025-02-18.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ P, Foray, Cyril (1768–1793). "Nemgbana, John Frederick". Dictionary of African Christian Biography. Retrieved 2025-02-18.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Death by Chamomile? The Alimentary End of Henry Granville Naimbana—The Appendix". theappendix.net.
