Al-Kurkuman was the Barbary corsair captain of the slave ship Flame of Tripoli. He was of mixed Arabian-Indian blood, and had a strong affinity for gold, as he wore gold jewelry and chains, and even plated his teeth in the metal. Kurkuman also dressed in a variety of silks and wore a black turban with a ruby.
Al-Kurkuman maintained a friendly relationship with Raphael Thuron, even though Thuron disapproved of his trade. When the La Petite Marie later encountered the Greek Navy vessel the Achilles, Thuron reported Kurkuman's location to them.