Description

Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade in Precolonial West Africa delves into the complex history that set the stage for one of the most brutal chapters in world history: the forced transportation of millions of Africans to the Americas. This comprehensive exploration examines the socio-political, economic, and cultural dynamics in West Africa before European colonization and the onset of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.
Unlike the traditional narrative that focuses solely on European involvement, this work emphasizes the roles played by African kingdoms, traders, and various local structures in the development of the slave trade. It uncovers the deep roots of the trade—examining existing forms of slavery and servitude, inter-tribal conflicts, and economic systems that predated the European transatlantic trade.
The book also takes a critical look at the early interactions between European traders and African elites, the initial establishment of trade routes, and how the economic demands of the slave trade transformed the African continent in ways that still resonate today.
Richly researched and meticulously presented, Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade in Precolonial West Africa is a must-read for those seeking a nuanced understanding of the historical foundations of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and its profound effects on African societies and the world.