 In 1789 , The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano was published in London , England , written by Olaudah Equiano , a former slave . The book featured 79 Igbo words . In the first and second chapter , the book illustrates various aspects of Igbo life based on Olaudah Equiano 's life in his hometown of Essaka . Although the book was one of the first books published to include Igbo material , Geschichte der Mission der evangelischen Brüder auf den caraibischen Inseln St. Thomas , St. Croix und S. Jan ( German : History of the Evangelical Brothers ' Mission in the Caribbean Islands St. Thomas , St. Croix and St. John ) , published in 1777 , written by the German missionary C. G. A. Oldendorp , was the first book to publish any Igbo material . 
