The Igbo Landing (also called Ebo Landing) is a historic and deeply symbolic site located at Dunbar Creek on St. Simons Island, Glynn County, Georgia, USA. It marks one of the most dramatic acts of resistance against slavery in the Americas—the mass suicide of Igbo captives from West Africa in 1803. This event has become a cornerstone of African American folklore and a symbol of freedom, defiance, and spiritual triumph over oppression.
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Background: The Arrival of the Igbo Captives
In 1803, a group of about 75 Igbo men and women were captured from what is now southeastern Nigeria—a region known for its proud and independent people. The Igbo were brought across the Atlantic through the transatlantic slave trade and sold in Savannah, Georgia, to two plantation owners and slave merchants: John Couper and Thomas Spalding.
Each Igbo captive was reportedly purchased for about $100, a significant sum at the time. The captives arrived aboard the slave ship The Wanderer and were subsequently transferred to a smaller coastal vessel called the York, which was to ferry them to St. Simons Island, where they would be resold to local plantation owners.
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The Revolt and the March into the Waters
During the voyage from Savannah to St. Simons, the Igbo captives rose in rebellion against their white captors. Accounts suggest that they managed to overpower the crew, leading to the drowning of some of the ship’s operators. In the chaos, the York ran aground in Dunbar Creek.
After reaching shore, the Igbo, still in chains and under the leadership of their chief, reportedly sang songs of freedom and walked together into the waters of Dunbar Creek, choosing death over enslavement. They believed that their souls would return to their homeland in Africa upon death.
This collective act of suicide is remembered as one of the largest and most powerful acts of mass resistance by enslaved Africans in American history.
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Cultural and Historical Significance
The Igbo Landing story has endured for over two centuries, passed down through oral traditions among African Americans in the coastal regions of Georgia and South Carolina, especially among the Gullah/Geechee people, descendants of enslaved West Africans.
The event became a spiritual symbol representing the refusal to submit to the inhumanity of slavery. In local folklore, it was said that the Igbo people at Dunbar Creek “flew” back to Africa, a tale that evolved into the myth of the Flying Africans. This story became a metaphor for freedom and transcendence—a belief that the human spirit cannot be enslaved.
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Historical Debate and Modern Verification
For many years, scholars debated whether the Igbo Landing event was myth or historical fact, as early written documentation was limited. However, post-1980 research—including archaeological findings, environmental studies, and analysis of shipping records—has provided credible evidence supporting the historical authenticity of the event.
Modern historians have confirmed:
The slave ship York did arrive in Georgia in 1803 with a cargo of African captives.
Records from local plantation owners and court documents corroborate a slave rebellion and drowning incident near Dunbar Creek.
Oral traditions from descendants align closely with the documented events.
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Legacy and Commemoration
Today, Igbo Landing is recognized as a sacred site and a place of remembrance. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and numerous plaques and memorials mark the area.
The story of Igbo Landing continues to inspire writers, artists, and musicians. It has appeared in works like:
Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon
Julie Dash’s film Daughters of the Dust
Beyoncé’s Lemonade visual album
For many, Igbo Landing stands as a symbol of resistance, cultural pride, and the unbreakable spirit of the African diaspora. It reminds the world that even in the darkest moments of human history, there were acts of courage that reclaimed dignity and agency.
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Summary
Event: Mass suicide of Igbo captives at Dunbar Creek, Georgia
Year: 1803
Location: St. Simons Island, Glynn County, Georgia, USA
Leaders: Unnamed Igbo chief and approximately 75 captives
Outcome: Death by drowning; symbolic resistance to enslavement
Legacy: Spiritual and cultural symbol of defiance, freedom, and ancestral pride
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