5 enslaved Africans who became royals and noble members of Western societies

August Sabac el Cher

Before he came to be known as August Sabac el Cher, he was a young Nubian boy growing up in Kurdufan in Ancient Nubia (modern-day Sudan.) from a dynasty that fell during the Egyptian invasion of Nubia. His father died in the rebellion and his mother died by suicide according to a traditional custom. Cher was then taken to Cairo, where he received an education.

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Around 1843, the youngest brother of Prussian King Fredrick Williams IV, Prince Albrecht travelled to Egypt and was given Augustus as a servant gift and named him the only Arabic phrase he knew, ‘Sabac el Cher,’ which means ‘good morning’.

On arrival in Berlin, he stayed at Prince Albrecht’s palace. After the death of Prince Albrecht in 1872, Cher was made the silver administrator of the palace by Albrecht’s eldest son.  He served in this position until his retirement in 1876 due to ill health.