AfricaAfrica

Slavery and ColonialismSlavery and Colonialism

SlaverySlavery'Nowhere in the annals of history has a people experienced such a long and traumatic ordeal as Africans during the Atlantic slave trade. Over the nearly four centuries of the slave trade- which continued until the end of the Civil War - millions of African men, women, and children were savagely torn from their homeland, herded onto ships, and dispersed all over the so-called New World. Although there is no way to compute exactly how many people perished, it has been estimated that between thirty and sixty million Africans were subjected to this horrendous triangular trade system and that only one third-if that-of those people survived...'

Europeans wanted slaves for their Europeans wanted slaves for their plantations in the Americas.plantations in the Americas.

European traders traveled to Africa and European traders traveled to Africa and waited on the coast for African waited on the coast for African merchants to bring potential slaves to merchants to bring potential slaves to them. them.

Many Africans took part in the slave Many Africans took part in the slave trade. They had already been selling trade. They had already been selling slaves to other African rulers and Arabs slaves to other African rulers and Arabs and saw no difference in selling them to and saw no difference in selling them to Europeans.Europeans.

"One of the "One of the principal principal

institutions at institutions at Nyangwe is the Nyangwe is the kituka, or the kituka, or the market. . . . In market. . . . In

the market the market everything everything becomes becomes

vendible and vendible and purchasable purchasable

from an from an ordinary ordinary

earthenware earthenware pot to a slave. . pot to a slave. . . . How like any . . How like any

other other marketplace it marketplace it

was!"was!"

Goree IslandGoree Island

From the mid 1500’s until the mid From the mid 1500’s until the mid 1800’s, Europeans transported about 1800’s, Europeans transported about 20 million Africans through Goree 20 million Africans through Goree Island.Island.

The island was a slave house that The island was a slave house that housed captive Africans waiting for housed captive Africans waiting for transport to the Americas.transport to the Americas.

Goree Island is located off the coast of Goree Island is located off the coast of Senegal.Senegal.

“ “For weeks, months, sometimes as long as For weeks, months, sometimes as long as a year, they waited in the dungeons of the a year, they waited in the dungeons of the slave factories scattered along Africa's slave factories scattered along Africa's western coast. They had already made the western coast. They had already made the long, difficult journey from Africa's interior -- long, difficult journey from Africa's interior -- but just barely. Out of the roughly 20 million but just barely. Out of the roughly 20 million who were taken from their homes and sold who were taken from their homes and sold into slavery, half didn't complete the into slavery, half didn't complete the journey to the African coast, most of those journey to the African coast, most of those dying along the way.”dying along the way.”

The house of The house of slaves was slaves was

built in 1776. built in 1776. Built by the Built by the

Dutch -it is the Dutch -it is the last slave last slave

house to date house to date in Goree, the in Goree, the

first ones date first ones date back to 1536 back to 1536

and were built and were built by Portuguese, by Portuguese,

the first the first Europeans to Europeans to

set foot on the set foot on the Island in 1444.Island in 1444.

For three and a half centuries, people were For three and a half centuries, people were tracked, hunted down, ripped out of their tracked, hunted down, ripped out of their

native land. It is on this brutal deportation of native land. It is on this brutal deportation of millions of black people that most of the New millions of black people that most of the New World built its political, economic and social World built its political, economic and social

foundations. foundations.

Cells like these, each 2.60m by 2.60m, were Cells like these, each 2.60m by 2.60m, were reserved for men and contained up to 15 to 20 reserved for men and contained up to 15 to 20

people, seated with their backs against the people, seated with their backs against the wall, chained around the neck and arms.wall, chained around the neck and arms.

Here, you have the type of chain that the slave Here, you have the type of chain that the slave carried when he went to the toilets outside. In carried when he went to the toilets outside. In the middle of the chain, there was a big iron ball the middle of the chain, there was a big iron ball which the slave had to carry between his two which the slave had to carry between his two hands and two legs.hands and two legs.

This small house This small house contained between contained between 150 to 200 slaves-150 to 200 slaves-men- women-children men- women-children who had to wait for who had to wait for very long periods, very long periods, almost three months almost three months before being carried before being carried away. away.

Their departure to Their departure to the Americas also the Americas also depended on the depended on the buyers, the father buyers, the father went to Louisiana in went to Louisiana in the USA, the mother the USA, the mother headed for Brazil or headed for Brazil or Cuba, the child to Cuba, the child to Haiti or the West Haiti or the West Indies. The separation Indies. The separation was total. was total.

And this is And this is where children where children were stored. were stored. The mortality The mortality rate was the rate was the highest in the highest in the house. house.

The children in The children in the gallery laid the gallery laid next to each next to each other, packed other, packed together.together.

This is where the young girls were This is where the young girls were packed. They were separated from packed. They were separated from the women because they were more the women because they were more expensive.expensive.

And this is And this is where they kept where they kept the temporarily the temporarily unfit. A man's unfit. A man's value was based value was based on his weight. on his weight. The minimum The minimum weight for men weight for men was fixed at 60 was fixed at 60 kg. kg.

If they weighed If they weighed less than 60 kg, less than 60 kg, these men were these men were placed in cells to placed in cells to be fattened. be fattened. They fattened They fattened them with locally them with locally grown beans that grown beans that were very were very starchy. starchy.

Leaning over the balcony, in this staircase, the buyer and Leaning over the balcony, in this staircase, the buyer and European slave traders observed the slaves. The buyer and European slave traders observed the slaves. The buyer and trader were able to discuss the muscular value of each slave trader were able to discuss the muscular value of each slave because each African ethnic group had its quoted value just because each African ethnic group had its quoted value just like a cattle or horse breed.like a cattle or horse breed.

TThe floor above served as a residence for European traders. he floor above served as a residence for European traders.

And there is this slanting corridor referred to today as the And there is this slanting corridor referred to today as the gate of "the trip from which no one returned", because once gate of "the trip from which no one returned", because once the slaves left through this gate leading into the sea, it was the slaves left through this gate leading into the sea, it was their farewell to Africa. their farewell to Africa. Just outside this gate, there was a wharf made of palm wood, Just outside this gate, there was a wharf made of palm wood, which served as a loading dock, and some of the slaves which served as a loading dock, and some of the slaves awaited the loading to try to escape by plunging into the sea. awaited the loading to try to escape by plunging into the sea.

Of course, the poor Of course, the poor slaves could not slaves could not go far since they go far since they were either shot were either shot by the guards or by the guards or devoured by the devoured by the sharks. The sick sharks. The sick were thrown into were thrown into the sea and this the sea and this attracted the attracted the sharks. sharks.

The Pope visited The Pope visited this gate in this gate in February 1992. It February 1992. It was also from was also from this gate that the this gate that the Pope asked Africa Pope asked Africa for forgiveness.for forgiveness.

Triangular RouteTriangular Route The captives were about to embark on the infamous The captives were about to embark on the infamous

Middle Passage, the middle leg of a three-part Middle Passage, the middle leg of a three-part voyagevoyage -- a voyage that began and ended in Europe. -- a voyage that began and ended in Europe.

The first leg of the voyage carried a cargo that often included The first leg of the voyage carried a cargo that often included iron, cloth, brandy, firearms, and gunpowder. Upon landing iron, cloth, brandy, firearms, and gunpowder. Upon landing on Africa's "slave coast," the cargo was exchanged for on Africa's "slave coast," the cargo was exchanged for Africans.Africans.

Fully loaded with its human cargo, the ship set sail for the Fully loaded with its human cargo, the ship set sail for the Americas, where the slaves were exchanged for sugar, Americas, where the slaves were exchanged for sugar, tobacco, or some other product. tobacco, or some other product.

The final leg brought the ship back to Europe.The final leg brought the ship back to Europe.

The slaves were branded with hot irons The slaves were branded with hot irons and restrained with shackles. Their "living and restrained with shackles. Their "living quarters" was often a deck within the ship quarters" was often a deck within the ship that had less than five feet of headroom. that had less than five feet of headroom.

With 300 to 400 people packed in a tiny With 300 to 400 people packed in a tiny area -- an area with little ventilation and, area -- an area with little ventilation and, in some cases, not even enough space to in some cases, not even enough space to place buckets for human waste -- disease place buckets for human waste -- disease was prevalent. was prevalent.

Faced with the nightmarish conditions of the Faced with the nightmarish conditions of the voyage and the unknown future that lay beyond, voyage and the unknown future that lay beyond, many Africans preferred to die. But even the many Africans preferred to die. But even the choice of suicide was taken away from these choice of suicide was taken away from these persons. persons.

From the captain's point of view, his human cargo From the captain's point of view, his human cargo was extremely valuable and had to be kept alive was extremely valuable and had to be kept alive and, if possible, uninjured. A slave who tried to and, if possible, uninjured. A slave who tried to starve him or herself was tortured. If torture starve him or herself was tortured. If torture didn't work, the slave was force fed.didn't work, the slave was force fed.

"Every morning, perhaps, more instances than one "Every morning, perhaps, more instances than one are found of the living and the dead fastened are found of the living and the dead fastened

together."together."John NewtonJohn Newton - Slave Ship Captain - Slave Ship Captain

'After several voyages, 'After several voyages, NewtonNewton quit the slave trade, quit the slave trade, became a minister, and wrote the hymn became a minister, and wrote the hymn ""Amazing GraceAmazing Grace," with its autobiographical line ," with its autobiographical line "...that saved a wretch like me."'"...that saved a wretch like me."'

It was not atypical to see a massive school of sharks It was not atypical to see a massive school of sharks darting in and out of the wake of the shipsdarting in and out of the wake of the ships

filled with human cargo plying the Atlantic. For miles filled with human cargo plying the Atlantic. For miles they followed the battered and moldy vessels,they followed the battered and moldy vessels,

waiting to attack the disease-ravaged bodies that waiting to attack the disease-ravaged bodies that were periodically tossed into the ocean...were periodically tossed into the ocean...

Eventually, after the arduous 3,700 mile Eventually, after the arduous 3,700 mile voyage, the slave ship would reach North voyage, the slave ship would reach North America. In order to strengthen them before America. In order to strengthen them before sale, the slaves were normally fed better in sale, the slaves were normally fed better in the days directly before their arrival in the the days directly before their arrival in the new world, however their suffering was far new world, however their suffering was far from over. Before they could be sold, the from over. Before they could be sold, the slaves would be oiled to make their skin slaves would be oiled to make their skin shiny and any imperfections, such as scars shiny and any imperfections, such as scars from whippings, would be filled in with hot from whippings, would be filled in with hot tar in order to improve their appearance and tar in order to improve their appearance and get the best market price. get the best market price.

The Slave Deck of the Bark "Wildfire"The Slave Deck of the Bark "Wildfire"Published in the June 2, 1860 issue of Published in the June 2, 1860 issue of

Harper's WeeklyHarper's Weekly

On board the ship were 510 captives, On board the ship were 510 captives, recently acquired from an area of recently acquired from an area of Africa near the Congo River. The Africa near the Congo River. The

author of the article reported seeing, author of the article reported seeing, upon boarding the ship, "about four upon boarding the ship, "about four

hundred and fifty native Africans…in a hundred and fifty native Africans…in a sitting or squatting posture, the most sitting or squatting posture, the most of them having their knees elevated of them having their knees elevated so as to form a resting place for their so as to form a resting place for their

heads and arms." heads and arms."

The ship was captured by an American The ship was captured by an American steamer and brought to port at Key steamer and brought to port at Key West. The captured Africans would West. The captured Africans would

soon be freed.soon be freed.

ColonialismColonialism

Africa at the beginning of the 1800’s Africa at the beginning of the 1800’s was a home to great empires and rich was a home to great empires and rich cultures, such as the Zulu.cultures, such as the Zulu.

At the end of the 19At the end of the 19thth century Africa century Africa was a place of European colonial was a place of European colonial power and oppression.power and oppression.

Africa has not been the same since. Africa has not been the same since. Much of the poverty and violence of Much of the poverty and violence of the 20the 20thth century is a direct result of century is a direct result of colonization.colonization.

Europeans had been in Africa since Europeans had been in Africa since the 1500’s but had stayed mostly the 1500’s but had stayed mostly along the coast.along the coast.

What business did the Europeans do What business did the Europeans do in Africa between the 1500’s and the in Africa between the 1500’s and the 1800’s?1800’s?

Berlin ConferenceBerlin Conference1884-18851884-1885

In the 1800’s Europeans became In the 1800’s Europeans became interested in Africa because of the interested in Africa because of the abundance of natural resources.abundance of natural resources.

The Europeans did not want to fight The Europeans did not want to fight over Africa, so 14 countries met in over Africa, so 14 countries met in Berlin to lay down the rules for Berlin to lay down the rules for dividing Africa. No African leaders dividing Africa. No African leaders were invited to attend.were invited to attend.

European nations divided Africa without European nations divided Africa without regard for ethnic or linguistic groups. regard for ethnic or linguistic groups.

They set boundaries that combined They set boundaries that combined peoples that were traditionally enemies peoples that were traditionally enemies and divided others who were not.and divided others who were not.

Europe’s division of Africa is often cited as Europe’s division of Africa is often cited as the main cause of the violence in Africa in the main cause of the violence in Africa in the 20the 20thth century. Many new governments century. Many new governments had trouble getting different ethnic groups had trouble getting different ethnic groups to cooperate in building stable to cooperate in building stable democracies.democracies.

Most African nations gained their Most African nations gained their independence in the 1960’s.independence in the 1960’s.

When European nations withdrew from When European nations withdrew from Africa, they did not prepare the people for Africa, they did not prepare the people for independence. independence.

Stable governments were not in place and Stable governments were not in place and the people suffered through dictatorships the people suffered through dictatorships and civil wars.and civil wars.

Europe left the new African nations with no Europe left the new African nations with no money for transportation, education and money for transportation, education and industry.industry.