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Edward Wilmot Blyden

Edward Wilmot Blyden-

“As a writer, Blyden is regarded widely as the

"father of Pan-Afrikanism”

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Edward Wilmot Blyden

Early life and education

Blyden was born on 3 August 1832 in Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (then under Danish

rule) to slave parents who were Igbo people

from present-day Nigeria.[1][2]

According to the historian Hollis R. Lynch, in

1845 Blyden met the Reverend John P. Knox, a

white American, who became pastor of the St.

Thomas Protestant Dutch Reformed Church.[3]

Blyden and his family lived near the church,

and Knox was impressed with the studious,

intelligent boy. He became his mentor,

encouraging his considerable aptitude for

oratory and literature. Mainly because of his

close association with Knox, Edward Wilmot

Blyden decided to become a minister, which

his parents encouraged. In May 1850, Blyden,

accompanied by Reverend Knox's wife, went

to the United States to enroll in Rutgers

Theological College, Knox's alma mater. He

was refused admission due to his race. Efforts

to enroll him in two other theological colleges

also failed. Knox encouraged Blyden to go to

Liberia and the colony set up by the American

Colonization Society (ACS), where he thought

Blyden would be able to use his talents.[4]

Marriage and family

Later that year, Blyden arrived in Liberia and

was soon deeply involved in its development.

Blyden married Sarah Yates, an Americo-

Liberian from the prominent Yates family. She

was the niece of the Liberian vice president,

Hilary Yates. She had three children with

Blyden.

Blyden later in Freetown, Sierra Leone had a long-term relationship with Anna Erskine, an

African American from Louisiana. She was the granddaughter of the President of Liberia James

c 1860s, London

Born 3 August 1832

Saint Thomas (now Virgin Islands)

Died 7 February 1912 (aged 79)

Freetown, Sierra Leone

Nationality Creole, Americo-Liberian

Other names Eddy, Ed

Occupation educator, writer, diplomat, politician

Known for "Father of Pan-Africanism"

Liberian ambassador and politician

Religion Christian

Spouse Sarah Yates

Partner Anna Erskine

Children Pay'ton Blyden

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Edward Wilmot Blyden

Spriggs-Payne. Blyden had five children with Anna Erskine, and his descendants in Sierra Leone

are descended from this union. Some of Blyden's descendants still reside in Freetown, among

them Sylvia Blyden, publisher of the Awareness Times.

He died in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on 7 February 1912 and was buried at Racecourse Cemetery

in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Career

From 1855-1856, Blyden edited the Liberia Herald and wrote "A Voice From Bleeding Africa".

He also spent time in other British colonies in West Africa, particularly Nigeria and Sierra

Leone, writing for early newspapers in both colonies. He maintained ties with the American

Colonization Society and published in their journal, African Depository and Colonial Journal.

As a diplomat, he served as an ambassador for Liberia to Britain and France. He also traveled to

the United States, where he spoke to major black congregations about his work in Africa. Blyden

believed that Black Americans' suffering racial discrimination had a role to play in the

development of Africa by returning to the continent. He was critical of African Americans who

did not associate with Africa.[5]

As a young man, Blyden was appointed the Liberian Secretary of State (1862–1864). He was

later appointed Minister of the Interior (1880–1882).[6]

In addition to holding many positions of leadership in politics and diplomacy, he taught classics

at Liberia College (1862–1871). He also served as its president (1880–1884), leading the college

through a period of expansion. From 1901-06, Blyden directed the education of Muslims at an

institution in Sierra Leone.[6]

Writings

As a writer, Blyden is regarded widely as the "father of Pan-Africanism". His major work,

Christianity, Islam and the Negro Race (1887), promoted the idea that Islam, a major religion in

sub-Saharan Africa, has a more unifying and fulfilling effect on sub-Saharan Africans than

Christianity. Also a major religion in Africa, the latter was introduced mostly by European

colonizers and Blyden believed it had a demoralizing effect, although he continued to be a

Christian. He thought Islam was more authentically African, although it had been introduced by

Arab colonizers. This work was controversial in Great Britain, both for its subject and because

many people at first did not believe that a black African had written it. In later printings, Blyden

included his photograph as the frontispiece.

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Edward Wilmot Blyden

Works

Books

• "The Call of Providence to the Descendants of Africa in America", A Discourse

Delivered to Coloured Congregations in the Cities of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore,

Harrisburg, during the Summer of 1862, in Liberia's Offering: Being Addresses, Sermons, etc.,

New York: John A. Gray, 1862

• Christianity, Islam and the Negro Race, London, W.B. Whittingham & Co., 1887; 2nd

Edition 1888; University of Edinburgh Press, 3rd Edition, 1967; reprint of 1888 edition,

Baltimore, Maryland: Black Classic Press, 1994 (edition on Googlebooks).

• African Life and Customs, London: C.M. Phillips, 1908; reprint Baltimore, Maryland:

Black Classic Press, 1994.

• West Africa Before Europe: and Other Addresses, Delivered in England in 1901 and

1903, London: C.M. Phillips, 1905.

Essays and speeches

• "Africa for the Africans," African Repository and Colonial Journal, Washington, DC:

January 1872.

• "The Call of Providence to the Descendants of Africa in America", A Discourse

Delivered to Coloured Congregations in the Cities of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore,

Harrisburg, during the Summer of 1862, in Liberia's Offering: Being Addresses, Sermons, etc.,

New York: John A. Gray, 1862.

• "The Elements of Permanent Influence", Discourse Delivered at the 15th St. Presbyterian

Church, Washington, D.C., Sunday, 16 February 1890, Washington, DC: R. L. Pendleton

(published by request), 1890 (hosted on Virtual Museum of Edward W. Blyden)

• "Liberia as a Means, Not an End", Liberian Independence Oration: 26 July 1867; African

Repository and Colonial Journal, Washington, DC: November 1867.

• "The Negro in Ancient History, Liberia: Past, Present, and Future," Methodist Quarterly

Review, Washington, DC: M'Gill & Witherow Printer.

• "The Origin and Purpose of African Colonization", A Discourse Delivered at the 66th

Anniversary of the American Colonization Society, Washington, D.C., 14 January 1883,

Washington, 1883.

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Edward Wilmot Blyden

• E. W. Blyden M.A., Report on the Falaba Expedition 1872, Addressed to His Excellency

Governor J. Pope Hennessy, C.M.G., Published by authority Freetown, Sierra Leone. Printed at

Government office, 1872.

• "Liberia at the American Centennial", Methodist Quarterly Review, July 1877.

• "America in Africa," Christian Advocate I., 28 July 1898, II 4 August 1898.

• "The Negro in the United States," A.M.E. Church Review, January 1900.

References

1. "Edward Wilmot Blyden". Edward Wilmot Blyden. Microsoft Encarta Online

Encyclopedia. Retrieved 19 November 2008.

2. "publisher= Awareness Times (Sierra Leone)date=".

3. R. Lynch, Edward Wilmot Blyden: Pan-Negro Patriot, 1832-1912, New York: Oxford

University Press, 1967, p. 4

4. Lynch, Edward Wilmot Blyden, 1967

5. Runoko Rashidi post, "Africa for the Africans", The Global African Community -

personal website, 1998, accessed 3 January 2011

6. "African Legends". African Holocaust Society: "African Legends". Retrieved 4 January

2010.

7. Eluemuno-Chukuemeka R. Blyden, "Edward Wilmot Blyden and Africanism in

America", A Virtual Museum of the Life and Work of Edward Wilmot Blyden (1832-

1912), 1995, accessed 3 January 2011

8. George Bornstein, "The Colors of Zion: Black, Jewish, and Irish Nationalisms at the turn

of the Century", Modernism/modernity 12.3 (2005), Johns Hopkins University Press, pp.

369-384