The legend of Yasuke | The Untold Story Of Yasuke | First Black Samurai | Yasuke | #yasuke #blackhistory #blacksamurai #africanhistory

The legend of Yasuke, the first and only black samurai to ever exist, 1500's
Yasuke is a historical figure who is believed to be the first and only black samurai in recorded history. While there are limited historical records about him, his story has become the stuff of legend and has been passed down through oral tradition.
Yasuke was born around the 16th century in Africa, most likely in Mozambique. He was captured and sold into slavery and eventually found himself in the service of the Italian Jesuit missionary Alessandro Valignano. Valignano brought Yasuke to Japan in 1579 as his servant.
In Japan, Yasuke caught the attention of Oda Nobunaga, a powerful warlord during the Sengoku period. Nobunaga was reportedly fascinated by Yasuke's dark skin and towering stature, as he was significantly taller than the average Japanese person of that time. Nobunaga decided to recruit Yasuke into his service as a retainer and, according to historical accounts, granted him the rank of samurai.
Yasuke fought alongside Oda Nobunaga in various battles and became known for his strength and martial skills. He quickly gained the respect of the samurai and became a trusted member of Nobunaga's inner circle. His presence as a black samurai was reportedly a source of curiosity and wonder for the Japanese people.
However, Yasuke's time as a samurai was relatively short-lived. In 1582, Oda Nobunaga was betrayed by one of his generals and forced to commit suicide. Yasuke later joined the service of another feudal lord, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who sought to unify Japan. It is unclear what happened to Yasuke after Hideyoshi's death in 1598, as historical records regarding his later life are scarce.
The story of Yasuke remained relatively obscure for many years until it was rediscovered and gained attention in recent times. His legend has been revived through books, documentaries, and even a Netflix anime series titled "Yasuke" released in 2021.