Who was Omar ibn Sayyid and why does Davidson have his Arabic Bible?
Omar Ibn Sayyid was a Muslim African slave who lived in the southern states in the early 1800s. He was likely the most educated slave in North Carolina, as well as the author of the only known slave autobiography written in a native language. Lastly, he is one of the best documented examples of a practicing-Muslim slave.
In the Smith Rare Book Room, we have a copy of an Arabic Bible that belonged to Omar ibn Sayyid. Donated by Mrs. Ellen Guion (the daughter of Governor James Owen, who purchased Omar). whose family in 1871, this Bible is a 1811 Newcastle-upon-Tyne translation into Arabic. This particular volume has Arabic notations and marginalia written by Omar.
Resources about Omar ibn Sayyid include:
- Encyclopedia entry about Omar ibn Sayyid
- Online exhibit about the Arabic Bible, featuring pages of the Bible with marginalia.
- A brief blog post about the Bible, from our blog, Around the D.
- Research guide from UNC and this article from UNC about items they loaned to the Smithsonian.
- The Library of Congress Omar Ibn Said Collection
- A Story Map project from the Library of Congress
If you would like to know more about the Omar ibn Sayyid or the Arabic Bible, please email archives@davidson.edu.