Since the population had depleted in such a huge manner, the economic development of the African continent was hindered. African society was largely based on agriculture – the farming of land and the raising of livestock. As more and more men were taken away from their responsibilities, and as women became overspread, existing labour dependant economies were abandoned. Tunde Obadina writes:
The predominance of the slave trade prevented the emergence of the business classes that could have spearheaded the internal exploitation of the resources of their societies. (Obadina, 2000)
Before the European connection, African societies thrived on home manufactured iron and steel objects such as weapons. But when the Europeans arrived their lower quality articles, especially cutlery, began replacing all of the home made products. This shows that the lack of a labour force due to the plunder of the slave trade led to the underdevelopment of Africa’s up and coming industries.
The Atlantic slave trade also brought with it a racial attitude which is now a cunning legacy throughout the whole world. Back in ancient times, anyone could have been enslaved. But as Madge Dresser writes, “…by the 18th century slave status was increasingly associated exclusively with Africans. It was this association which served to denigrate black people whatever their status.” (Dresser, 2003)
White people declared their superiority over black people during slavery and the slave trade. Many of the white slave traders were illiterate, crude and drunken men in the business of selling black people to the new world for the price of alcoholic beverages and weapons. As far as the slave traders were concerned, that was all they were worth – these young African men and women were but a commodity.
As time went by, theories circulated regarding the intellect of the black man and white people further became sarcastic toward the black man. During the slave trade, Africans themselves began to feel insecure and a belief of inferiority began to creep in. This resulted in a loss of confidence in the development of themselves and their culture.
A harsh reality of the slave trade was demonstrated in the way the slaves were acquired. Most were taken by kidnapping and tribal wars. An ex-slave named Olaudah Equiano published his memoirs in 1789. Here he depicts how a raid was carried out:
“When a trader wants slaves, he applies to a chief for them, and tempts him with his wares. It is not extraordinary, if on this occasion he yields to the temptation with little firmness, and accepts the price of his fellow creature’s liberty with as little reluctance, as the enlightened merchant. Accordingly, he falls upon his neighbours, and a desperate battle
ensues... if he prevails, and takes prisoners, he gratifies his avarice by selling them.” (Obadina, 2000).
Before long, there was a high rise in the commercial slave trade due to the needs of European traders setting out for the New World. Enslaving ones enemy became more of a reason to go to war rather than a consequence of war. African kings began “dealing in people” for foreign goods such as guns, iron, cloth and tobacco, alcohol and cowie shells which was the main currency in West Africa at the time.
In 1770 Ottobah Cugoano was kindnapped in Ajumako which is in modern-day Ghana. He was 13 years old. With reference to his own capture he wrote the following after regaining his freedom:
“I must own, to the shame of my own country men, that I was first kidnapped and betrayed by some of my own complexion, who were the first cause of my exile and
slavery...If there were no buyers there would be no sellers.” (Obadina, 2000).
It may also be thought-provoking to add that if there were not any sellers, surely there would not have been any buyers.
As wars were waged for political as well as commercial purposes, there began to be distrust and suspicion between communities. These find of feelings between neighbours became the norm just to survive. The world of the African became culturally and socially deformed. Superstitious beliefs and customs arose from the rising number of uncertainties they faced, many anxious for their lives and the future.
Though these impacts are clearly obvious, there is contention between a few historians on whether certain of these aspects are in fact valid with regards to the Atlantic slave trade. Walter Rodney, a West Indian historian and Patrick Manning, a historian from Northeastern University, USA, place their ideas on the impacts of this trade in two totally different areas.
Rodney argues that population loss, taking Africans from a growing productive society, European imports into Africa which undercut African products and the placing of Africa in a subordinate relationship with the capitalist European nations were the four main reasons Africa’s development was held up.
Manning on the other hand is interested in the comparisons of two schools of thought. He compares the view of African societies being static, which is from older historians, to that of more modern historians who suggest “African Dynamism”. Furthermore, he sees a dispute between thinkers of “Emergent Africa” (history controlled from within) and “Afrique Engagée” (external domination). Manning puts Rodney in this latter category and disagrees with his view that while parts of Africa were being stifled, other parts were fast developing during the slave trade. In his book ‘Slavery and African life: Occidental, Oriental and African Slave trades (1990), Manning emphasises the interconnectedness of the demographic and social effects of the slave trade.
The impacts of the slave trade went far beyond depopulation and varied widely in Africa. It caused an increase in warfare can contributed to the underdevelopment of a rich culture. Upon the arrival of Europeans to Africa, they found a continent partitioned into a series of stable feudal states. The effects of the slave trade depended on the length and amount a society was involved, whether those within a community were slaves or slavers and how well a community adjusted to the pressures created by the trade itself. Altogether, the long term effects of the Atlantic slave trade on Africa were political, social, and economical disruptions which unjustly led to the breakdown of a historically strong social structure, a loss of security and self confidence.
Examine the impact
Of the
Atlantic Slave Trade
On Africa.
Kari Williams - 03027111
PH102
Amanda Sackur / Paco Romero
5th December 2003
Bibliography
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Foner, E. (1983) Nothing but Freedom: Emancipation and its legacy. Louisiana State University Press, USA
Calvert, S. & Calvert, P. (1996), Politics and Society in the Third World. T.J. International Ltd, UK
Allen, T. & Thomas, A. (1992), Poverty and development in the 1990’s. Oxford university press, UK
“Slave trade: a root of contemporary African crisis” (2000),
Baylis, J. & Smith, S. (2001) The Globalization of World Politics. An introduction to international relations. Oxford, USA
Northrup, D. (1994), The Atlantic Slave Trade. D.C.Heath and Company, USA
“The Atlantic slave trade” (2003),
McNeill, J.R. & McNeill W. H. (2003), The Human Web. A bird’s-eye view of world history. Norton, USA.
“The impact of the Atlantic Slave Trade on the Cultural Roles of West African Women” (2000),
“The impact of the slave trade on Africa” (1998), Le Monde diplomatique,
“The Story of Africa” (2003), BBC World Service,
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Kari Williams – 03027111
