Aniaso was born around 1792 as a member of the Igbo tribe in West Africa. The main character was born in Africa but, at a young age, was
transported to Jamaica, where he remained until his death. As a member of
the Moravian mission he had a third identity: he was part of a global
brother- and sisterhood of fellow Moravians of different ethnic
backgrounds. Because of the interest his fellow Moravians took in his
life, his biography was recorded, translated, and published in various
Moravian periodicals, and finally preserved in their archives.